- In the largest mafia trial in decades, “many hundred years” in prison were handed down, as the dpa writes.
- 300 suspected members or aides of the ‘Ndrangheta were put on trial.
- Among those convicted is a former MP from the ruling Forza Italia party.
A former Forza Italia MP has been sentenced to 11 years in prison. This is part of Italy’s largest mafia trial in decades. The conservative politician Giancarlo Pittelli was found guilty of working for the criminal organization ‘Ndrangheta. An ex-police officer and a former regional politician were also sentenced to prison because they were in the employ of the mafia.
The highest sentences were given to two bosses of the criminal organization ‘Ndrangheta, who each had to go to prison for 30 years.
Because of the scale of the proceedings, a call center in Lamezia Terme was converted into a high-security wing with a huge courtroom.
Legend:
This room was reinforced into a “bunker” for the trial against the most powerful mafia organization in Italy.
Keystone/SALVATORE MONTEVERDE
The trial, which has been running since January 2021, was based on statements from more than 50 different key witnesses who have renounced the ‘Ndrangheta.
The man who put the bosses and helpers in prison is now living somewhere else – under the strictest police protection.
Switzerland: Important base for the ‘Ndrangheta
The ‘Ndrangheta is one of the most important mafia organizations in the world, which is why it is the focus of global investigations. The Italian anti-mafia prosecutor Giovanni Melillo told SRF a year ago: “The presence of the ‘Ndrangheta in Switzerland is particularly worrying.” According to mafia fighters, the organization is also using Switzerland as a starting point for operations in Italy – a new development.
On August 22, 2014, the Calabrian police posted a video sequence called “Operazione Helvetica” online. The conversations shown revolve around “business opportunities” such as blackmail, cocaine, heroin and “society in Frauenfeld”.
On July 23, 2020, 15 suspected members of the Calabrian mafia organization ‘Ndrangheta were arrested at the same time in a coordinated operation in the cantons of Thurgau, Zurich and Valais.
Traces of a pan-European mafia raid in May also led to Switzerland. The investigation files revealed, for example, that an arms dealer from Switzerland supplies the ‘Ndrangheta. Drug trafficking via Switzerland was also mentioned in the intercepted phone calls.
Money mainly from drug trafficking
The ‘Ndrangheta probably makes around 30 billion euros a year in profits from drug trafficking alone. That is more than half of the estimated total sales. In the area of drug trafficking, it works closely with South American cartels. The mafia organization is also involved in other illegal activities: corruption, extortion, money laundering, arms trafficking, gambling and prostitution.
The ‘Ndrangheta in pictures
In the south of Italy, various mafia cartels rule over the respective regions. The ‘Ndrangheta comes from Calabria. According to experts, the group consists of around 150 families.
