The Mafia retaliated violently . In 1988 , they murdered a Palermo judge and his son ; three years later , a prosecutor and an anti-mafia businessman were also murdered . Salvatore Lima , a close political ally of the Mafia , was murdered for failing to reverse the convictions as promised . Falcone was killed on May 23 , 1992 with 400 kg of TNT positioned under the highway near Capaci , Sicily . Borsellino was also killed by a car bomb on July 19 , 1992 . This led to a public outcry and a massive government crackdown , resulting in the arrest of Salvatore Riina in January 1993 . More and more informants emerged . Many paid a high price for their cooperation , usually through the murder of relatives . For example , Francesco Marino Mannoia 's mother , aunt , and sister were murdered
killed by a car bomb
Via D'Amelio bombing
Sicilian Mafia