Italy, March 14: In a sweeping operation, Italian police have arrested 27 alleged mafia members of the ‘Ndrangheta criminal organization, confiscating assets worth EUR 2 million.
“Twenty-seven were arrested,” Gianfranco Frisani from the financial police told AFP, adding that police were searching for six more.
Coordinated by Milan DDA, the investigation has resulted in the seizure of assets worth about EUR 2 million.
Frisani added that among those arrested was Mafia boss Giuseppe Flacchi who had served time in a prison in France and was later extradited to Italy.
Twenty-six of the criminals were arrested in Milan. The 27 are accused of criminal association, extortion; threatening behavior, drug trafficking and illegal waste dumping.
In another anti-mafia operation last week, police in Italy arrested 35 members of the ‘Ndrangheta.
At the same time, warrants were also issued for six more suspects in Germany, Canada and Australia.
‘Ndrangheta has become one of the world’s biggest cocaine traffickers over the past decade, mainly importing from Colombia.
It is not as famous abroad as the Sicilian Cosa Nostra, and is considered more rural compared to the Neapolitan Camorra and the Apulian Sacra Corona Unita; however, the ‘Ndrangheta managed to become the most powerful crime syndicate in Italy in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s.
Further activities include skimming money off large public work construction projects, money laundering and traditional crimes such as usury and extortion.
‘Ndrangheta invests illegal profits in legal real estate and financial activities.
—Courtesy:Presstv