Information
Italian police conducted a significant operation against the ‘Ndrangheta mafia in Cosenza, detaining 109 suspected members, including those from the Lanzino-Patitucci and Zingari clans as well as a customs and financial police officer. This large-scale raid was led by anti-mafia prosecutors and involved a coalition of law enforcement agencies, including Carabinieri special police, federal and local officers, and the economic crimes unit. The suspects arrested are primarily accused of engaging in drug trafficking, mafia association, and extorting local shopkeepers and business owners.
The ‘Ndrangheta has been identified as a dominant force in Europe’s illicit drug trade, controlling an estimated 80% of the continent’s cocaine market. The drugs, mainly sourced from Latin America, are smuggled into Europe hidden in shipments of food and timber managed by mafia-owned companies. Beyond drug trafficking, the ‘Ndrangheta is also involved in extensive money laundering activities, with Germany identified as a significant hub. In 2023, German authorities arrested over 30 members in a crackdown, underscoring the transnational scope of the ‘Ndrangheta’s criminal activities and the ongoing efforts by European law enforcement to dismantle their network.
Source: DW
So what
While many see the Italian Mafia as something of the past or from Holywood, they are clearly still a powerful force in the European underworld. While it is likely that these arrests will have an effect on the group’s operations in the short term, they will highly likely bounce back in the medium term to continue their operations. Italy has some of the strictest anti-organised crime laws, allowing them to arrest individuals just for association with the Mafia, despite this, they have managed to maintain a strong grip over local communities, particularly in the south of the country.
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