As part of a joint action, detectives campaigned across Europe on Wednesday morning against the Calabrian mafia organization ‘Ndrangheta. Also in Germany, where more than a hundred residential and commercial properties were searched and more than 30 arrest warrants were executed as part of Operation “Eureka” (video above).
The raids are aimed, among other things, at drug and arms trafficking, money laundering and fraud. In Germany, the raids were concentrated in the states of Bavaria, Rhineland-Palatinate, North Rhine-Westphalia, Saarland and Thuringia. The investigations, which are being carried out in close cooperation with the Italian judiciary, are reportedly still ongoing.
In Germany alone, more than 1,000 police officers rioted against ‘Ndrangheta members early Wednesday morning. The researchers also struck in other European countries, including Italy itself. There would also have been raids in France, Portugal, Belgium, Slovenia and Romania.
According to the German Federal Investigation Service (BKA), the ‘Ndrangheta is currently the “most relevant mafia group” with a dominant position in the European cocaine market. “It is trying to expand its territory and influence Calabrian migrant communities,” the BKA said.
Money laundering, drugs, tax evasion
According to the law enforcement authorities, the background of the raids is a procedure aimed at those responsible and members of the ‘Ndrangheta. The suspects are charged with money laundering, gang tax evasion, commercial gang fraud and drug smuggling, among other things.
The procedure will be carried out by a joint investigation team of Europol and Eurojust, the EU agency for cooperation in criminal matters. According to the Italian authorities, a total of 108 arrest warrants have been executed.
Organization has its roots in Calabria
The ‘Ndrangheta has its roots in Calabria, Italy, but the mafia is also active in Germany. According to the BKA, it has a hierarchical structure. Accordingly, she has repeatedly shown her ability to infiltrate business and politics in Italy. In addition, the group is mainly active in Spain, France, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Canada, the US, but also in Colombia and Australia.
The term ‘Ndrangheta comes from Greek and means something like courage or loyalty. The Mafia organization is said to have started in the 1860s when a group of Sicilians were exiled from the island by the Italian government.
Source: Krone
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