crime
Strike against Italian mafia – police in large-scale operation
A blue light can be seen on the roof of a police vehicle. photo
© Lino Mirgeler/dpa/symbol image
The police are taking action against members of the Italian mafia ‘Ndrangheta in several federal states. The suspects are accused of money laundering and drug smuggling, among other things.
With a large-scale operation in several federal states, the police took action against members of the Italian mafia ‘Ndrangheta on Wednesday. This was announced by the public prosecutor’s offices in Düsseldorf, Koblenz, Saarbrücken and Munich and the state criminal investigation offices in Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland on Wednesday morning. There were also searches in Thuringia.
The statement said: “The background is a procedure related to Italian organized crime, which is directed against those responsible and members of the ‘Ndrangheta association.” The suspects are accused of money laundering, gang tax evasion, commercial gang fraud and drug smuggling, among other things.
And further: “The procedure is being conducted by a joint investigation team in which Europol and Eurojust are involved.” In addition to Italy, which is the focus of the campaign, authorities from Belgium, France, Italy, Portugal and Spain also took part. The ‘Ndrangheta has its roots in Italian Calabria, but the mafia is also active in Germany.