A very strained one.

IANAH, but I know that Mussolini attempted - and nearly succeeded, thanks to the help of Cesare Mori (nicknamed the Prefetto di Ferro, or the "Iron Prefect") - to eradicate the presence of the mob from the island. He viewed them as rivals, and a dictator can't possibly share any power with anyone but himself... interestingly enough, the repression mostly targeted the 'smaller fishes'; the whole operation had to be brought to an halt because of the war and also the lobbying of those nobles/landlords (some of whom were members of the PNF) who were profiting from it.

If you're interested in the subject, I'd suggest reading Cosa Nostra: A History of the Sicilian Mafia by John Dickie.