Over 100 Arrested in Large-Scale Police Operation Against Mafia in Germany and Italy

Italian and German police have arrested over 100 suspects in a coordinated and rapid operation against a mafia crime network, dismantling a major criminal group that had amassed wealth through bread, wine, and funeral service transactions. According to Italian police and the European judiciary, approximately 50 million euros in assets were also discovered and seized during this joint operation against the 'Ndrangheta mafia network. The powerful criminal organization, based in southern Italy, had infiltrated various business activities across Italy and Germany. Most of the 160 arrest warrants issued in this extensive operation were for suspects already imprisoned for other crimes, related to mafia collaboration, murder, money laundering, extortion, and illegal possession of firearms. The financial company of this criminal network, based in Ciro in Calabria, Italy, was led by Giuseppe Faro, a 70-year-old mob boss serving a life sentence but still managed operations from his prison cell, directing family members and associates. Giuseppe Faro and his sons were involved in several businesses in Italy, including bakeries, wineries, and olive groves, compelling restaurants to purchase their products. They also infiltrated other businesses such as funeral homes, laundries, plastic recycling centers, and docks, with local officials, including mayors, awarding them fraudulent contracts. This mafia network was also active in tourism, casinos, and even refugee and migrant care centers. According to reports from France, police wiretaps revealed that they expanded their operations in Germany, threatening pizzeria owners, ice cream shops, and restaurants to use products from companies controlled by this network. German police reported that 11 suspects aged between 36 and 61 were arrested in various states of the country on charges of extortion, threats, and money laundering. Although members of this network were accused of violent crimes, they did not primarily use weapons for extortion and most of their business income. Italian police stated that their goal was to minimize violence and avoid internal conflicts, as it was not beneficial for their business. The largest agricultural union in Italy reported that at least five thousand restaurants in the country are under the control of organized crime networks. This organization added that the volume of trade controlled by these criminal networks was approximately 22 billion euros in 2017, reflecting a 30% increase from the previous year. This situation affects all sectors of food production, distribution, and consumption, as well as the export of counterfeit goods labeled as Italian products.