Italy: Mafia Crackdowns

Published: 30 July 2013

By OCCRP

Italian police have made more than 100 arrests in anti-Mafia operations in two regions of the country, Al Jazeera reports

One operation targeted the ‘Ndrangheta mob based in Calabria and the other took place in Rome, making it the largest Mafia bust in the capital. 

Authorities say that they successfully broke up a multi-million euro insurance fraud racket run by the crime syndicate ‘Ndrangheta, who relied on a collusion of doctors, lawyers, and car repair shop owners.

Rodolfo Ruperti, a police officer based in a stronghold of the ‘Ndrangheta syndicate, said the bosses of the Giampa’ clan reported fake accidents that would bring in millions of euros each year and used the profits to pay lower-level mob members.

Although 65 warrants were issued, many of the suspects were already in prison for other crimes.

Police crackdown in the Rome seaside suburb of Ostia arrested 51 people suspected of involvement in a money laundering scam that used the town’s local businesses and bathing establishments. 

Informants aided in both crackdowns. Italy’s growing anti-Mafia campaign relies heavily on deserters, the SFGate reports.