THE POLITICIAN

much to avoid prison, but to get away from the Second Mafia War being waged by Toto Riina, a merciless megalomaniac who wanted control of the drugs trade.

More than 400 mafiosi were killed in Riina’s ruthless campaign from 1981 to 1982, and Buscetta feared his life was in danger if he stayed in Italy, even in jail.

But once in Brazil, Riina asked him to helm a drug trafficking operation.

His polite refusal was seen as a betrayal, and he was in Riina’s crosshairs.

Riina went after those Buscetta’s loved ones loved first, as was the Mafia way.

In 1982, two of his sons were tortured, killed, then dissolved in acid. Riina then killed his brother, his son-in-law, his brother-in-law and four of his nephews.

Tired of the bloodshed, after being arrested again in 1983 and extradited to Italy, he agreed to cooperate with Italian and American law enforcement.

Cristina, now 70, recalled: “Breaking omerta was really the hardest decision of his life because he had this sensation he broke something sacred.”

Three days after arriving back in Italy, Buscetta began his historic testimony.

It lasted 45 days and ran into 3,000 pages, prompting Falcone to order 3,600 evidence checks and 366 arrest warrants

In a bid to scare him into silence, the

Buscetta also agreed to be a witness in the 1993 trial against then Italian prime minister Giulio Andreotti, who was accused of working with the Mafia.

Andreotti was acquitted, but for the first time, the world heard of the Mafia’s extraordinary grip on those in power.

Buscetta was sent to the US under its Witness Protection Programme.

A safe house in the New Jersey woods, guarded by a battalion of agents, was so secret, even prosecutors working with him weren’t allowed to know its location.

Lead prosecutor Louis Freeh, who later headed the FBI, says Buscetta was known as “this very charismatic, charming, educated, well-spoken man”.

Buscetta and his family remained under protection, living under adopted names in various states until he died.

Two decades on, they still fear that the Mob will exact revenge.

Buscetta’s son Roberto said last year: “The Mafia doesn’t ever forget.

“Somebody is going to know somebody who knows somebody and they’re going to come and get you.”