Germany, Italy clamp down on Italian mob with raids, arrests

Police across Europe arrested dozens of people, raided homes and seized millions of euros in assets yesterday [Macau time], in a coordinated crackdown on Italy’s ’ndrangheta organized crime syndicate, one of the world’s most powerful, extensive and wealthy drug-trafficking groups.

The operation, coordinated by EU judicial cooperation agency Eurojust, aimed to dismantle a network that includes the n’drangheta, Colombian drug producers and paramilitary groups, and moves tons of cocaine to Europe and Australia each year.

The investigation uncovered how these networks used ports in Ecuador, Panama and Brazil to ship the Colombian drugs to northern European ports while also dealing in weapons. The drug proceeds were then laundered through restaurants, ice cream shops and car washes, and money sent back to Colombian drug producers via a Chinese wire transfer service, according to Italian officials and a Carabinieri press release.

“With today’s coordinated measures across Europe, law enforcement authorities have dealt a serious blow to the ’ndrangheta,” German Interior Minister said. “Today’s raids are one of the largest operations to date in the fight against Italian organized crime.”

In Italy, Carabinieri police backed by helicopters said arrest warrants were served on 108 people.