Raid on Money Laundering Hideout, 130 Million Euro Seized
18 Arrested, 57 Investigated... Italy's 3 Major Mafia Groups
Italian authorities raided a Mafia organization's hideout and seized 130 million euros (approximately 194.6 billion KRW).
The Italian Anti-Mafia Investigation Directorate (DIA) raided a money laundering hideout of a mafia organization and seized more than 130 million euros. Photo by AFP
On the 9th (local time), local media including the daily Corriere della Sera reported that Italy's Anti-Mafia Investigation Department (DIA) raided a Mafia organization's money laundering hideout and seized more than 130 million euros.
According to reports, the Anti-Mafia Investigation Department deployed over 500 investigators in multiple cities including Rome to conduct simultaneous raids, arresting a total of 18 Mafia members. The media also reported that 57 others are currently under investigation.
They are suspected of laundering illegal funds obtained through criminal activities, loan sharking, and extortion as members of the 'Ndrangheta and Camorra Mafia organizations.
The 'Ndrangheta, based in Calabria, and the Camorra, located in Naples, along with Cosa Nostra centered in Sicily, are considered the three major Mafia groups in Italy.
All three organizations have expanded their influence beyond Italy to overseas. The 'Ndrangheta is estimated to earn over 50 billion euros (approximately 74 trillion KRW) annually through drug trafficking.
According to a report published by Europol (European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation) in April analyzing the composition and activities of particularly threatening criminal organizations to public security, the 'Ndrangheta launders profits from drug and arms trafficking by investing in restaurants and other businesses.
In May of last year, police from eight European countries conducted the so-called 'Eureka Operation,' arresting over 100 members of the 'Ndrangheta and seizing assets worth 25 million euros (approximately 3.67 billion KRW).
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
