Cuffing crime

This meticulously planned sting is part of an ongoing offensive against the ‘Ndrangheta’s grip on Italy. In a recordbreaking multinational effort and follows last week’s development where over 100 arrests were made across Europe, and more than €25 million in assets was seized.

Scores of underworld kingpins and corrupt officials are currently in jail, while others await trial. The Calabria­based ‘Ndrangheta operates as Italy’s most powerful mafia, stretching its influence across 40 countries.

Italian and Belgian investigators have also uncovered damning evidence of the syndicate’s drug smuggling operations, moving 25,000 kilograms of cocaine worth over €22 million between Calabria, Belgium, the Netherlands, and South America.

Italian officials are working with law enforcement worldwide, including in Australia, to bring down the mafia.