Police raided sites in Calabria on Wednesday and issued arrest warrants for 57 people — including politicians, bankers and businessmen — in the latest mafia sweep targeting drug trafficking and extortion rackets.
A local mayor and a tourism official were among those detained in early morning raids, Italy's ANSA and Apcom news agencies reported.
The raids were focused on the southern region of Calabria — home of the 'ndrangheta organized crime syndicate — and Umbria, in central Italy, the Carabinieri paramilitary police said.
The investigation, code-named Naos, uncovered an association between the 'ndrangheta and the Naples-based Camorra mob, with members working outside their traditional territories and alongside local criminal groups, police said.
The ring focused on drug trafficking and extortion rackets, with money reinvested in construction projects, particularly hydroelectric utilities and tourism buildings in Calabria, news reports said.
The 57 suspects are accused of mafia association, extortion, criminal association with the aim of drug trafficking and receiving stolen goods, as well as other charges, police said.
Perugia prosecutor Nicola Meriano told Sky TG24 television that construction and other businesses were involved, as well as "high-ranking" banking officials and people in public office who helped them.
Italy's top anti-mafia prosecutor, Pietro Grasso, told Sky that the investigation began by looking into the drug trade in Perugia and then expanded to uncover a trail of false checks and other illicit business dealings.
"Then, the probe turned toward the links with Calabrian clans and some local Calabrian politicians who guaranteed certain protection," Grasso said.
Source: AP News
