Hundreds of alleged mobsters will be sentenced Monday by an Italian court, the culmination of a historic, nearly three-year trial against Calabria's notorious 'Ndrangheta mafia.

Prosecutors are asking for guilty verdicts against 322 accused mafia members and their white-collar collaborators in what could mark the most significant blow to date against one of the world's most powerful organised crime syndicates, which enjoys a near-monopoly on the European cocaine trade.&nbsp;

The sentencing will cap Italy's largest mafia trial in decades, a "maxi-trial" in which vast numbers of defendants accused of being part of the same mafia criminal conspiracy face justice.

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The court of Vibo Valentia -- a province in the poor southern region of Calabria that is the birthplace of the 'Ndrangheta -- has heard thousands of hours of testimony since the trial began in January 2021, including from more than 50 former mafia operatives turned state's witnesses.

They and others have detailed countless examples of the 'Ndrangheta's brutality and its stranglehold over the local population, whether carrying out violent ambushes, shaking down business owners, rigging public tenders, stockpiling weapons, collecting votes or passing kickbacks to the powerful.&nbsp;

The accused are members or affiliates of the top 'Ndrangheta "clan" in Vibo Valentia -- one of the region's many economically depressed rural areas where the mafia has suffocated the local economy, infiltrated public institutions and terrorised its people for decades.&nbsp;

The undisputed boss of the territory, Luigi "The Supreme" Mancuso, 69, was cut from the defendants list last year to be tried separately. &nbsp;

The heavily secured courtroom bunker in the city of Lamezia Terme where the trial has taken place is able to accommodate hundreds of lawyers and is outfitted with more than 20 television screens to connect it with incarcerated defendants by video link.&nbsp;

With nicknames straight out of Hollywood like "The Wolf", "Fatty", "Sweetie" and "Lamb Thigh", the 'Ndrangheta of Vibo Valentia was entrenched in the local economy, feared by business owners and farmers, and protected by white-collar professionals and politicians.

Informants -- a relatively rare phenomenon within the 'Ndrangheta due to blood ties between members -- recounted how weapons were hidden in cemetery chapels and ambulances used to transport drugs, and municipal water supplies diverted to marijuana crops.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sicilian-mafia-boss-and-last-godfather-matteo-messina-denaro-in-a-coma-reports-638999">Sicilian mafia boss and ‘last godfather’ Matteo Messina Denaro ‘in coma’: Reports</a>

Those who opposed the mafia found dead puppies, dolphins or goat heads dumped on their doorsteps, sledgehammers taken to storefronts or cars torched.&nbsp;

Less lucky were those beaten or fired at -- or those whose bodies were never found.&nbsp;

<h2>- Cementing power -</h2>

Long dismissed as mere livestock thieves, the 'Ndrangheta flourished under the radar for decades as authorities concentrated efforts against Sicily's Cosa Nostra, defendants in the first, now-legendary maxi-trial of 1986-1987 in Palermo.&nbsp;

Today, mafia experts estimate that the 'Ndrangheta, made up of approximately 150 Calabrian families and their associates, bring in more than 50 billion euros ($53 billion) annually around the world from drug trafficking, usury, syphoning public funds and extortion.

In Calabria, the 'Ndrangheta has crept into practically all areas of public life, from city hall and hospitals to the courts.&nbsp;

But its scope is much wider and the 'Ndrangheta now operates in more than 40 countries, experts say. &nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/more-than-300-people-arrested-in-huge-italian-mob-swoop-269339">More than 300 people arrested in huge Italian mob swoop</a>

Relying on frontmen, shell companies and favours from the elite, the 'Ndrangheta reinvests illegal gains in the legitimate economy, cementing its power.

For the first time in such trials, the defendants list includes many non-mafia members, including a high-ranking police official, mayors and other public servants and businessmen.

Highest-profile is 70-year-old ex-parliamentarian and defence lawyer Giancarlo Pittelli, accused of being a fixer for the mafia and a go-between with the world of politics, finance and illegal Masonic lodges.

Hundreds of alleged mobsters will be sentenced Monday by an Italian court, the culmination of a historic, nearly three-year trial against Calabria's notorious 'Ndrangheta mafia.

Hundreds of alleged mobsters will be sentenced Monday by an Italian court, the culmination of a historic, nearly three-year trial against Calabria's notorious 'Ndrangheta mafia. Prosecutors are asking for guilty verdicts against 322 accused mafia members and their white-collar collaborators in what could mark the most significant blow to date against one of the world's most powerful organised crime syndicates, which enjoys a near-monopoly on the European cocaine trade. The sentencing will cap Italy's largest mafia trial in decades, a "maxi-trial" in which vast numbers of defendants accused of being part of the same mafia criminal conspiracy face justice. ALSO READ | NASA’s lost tool bag orbiting Earth can be spotted with naked eyes on Tuesday The court of Vibo Valentia -- a province in the poor southern region of Calabria that is the birthplace of the 'Ndrangheta -- has heard thousands of hours of testimony since the trial began in January 2021, including from more than 50 former mafia operatives turned state's witnesses. They and others have detailed countless examples of the 'Ndrangheta's brutality and its stranglehold over the local population, whether carrying out violent ambushes, shaking down business owners, rigging public tenders, stockpiling weapons, collecting votes or passing kickbacks to the powerful. The accused are members or affiliates of the top 'Ndrangheta "clan" in Vibo Valentia -- one of the region's many economically depressed rural areas where the mafia has suffocated the local economy, infiltrated public institutions and terrorised its people for decades. The undisputed boss of the territory, Luigi "The Supreme" Mancuso, 69, was cut from the defendants list last year to be tried separately. The heavily secured courtroom bunker in the city of Lamezia Terme where the trial has taken place is able to accommodate hundreds of lawyers and is outfitted with more than 20 television screens to connect it with incarcerated defendants by video link. With nicknames straight out of Hollywood like "The Wolf", "Fatty", "Sweetie" and "Lamb Thigh", the 'Ndrangheta of Vibo Valentia was entrenched in the local economy, feared by business owners and farmers, and protected by white-collar professionals and politicians. Informants -- a relatively rare phenomenon within the 'Ndrangheta due to blood ties between members -- recounted how weapons were hidden in cemetery chapels and ambulances used to transport drugs, and municipal water supplies diverted to marijuana crops. ALSO READ | Sicilian mafia boss and ‘last godfather’ Matteo Messina Denaro ‘in coma’: Reports Those who opposed the mafia found dead puppies, dolphins or goat heads dumped on their doorsteps, sledgehammers taken to storefronts or cars torched. Less lucky were those beaten or fired at -- or those whose bodies were never found. - Cementing power - Long dismissed as mere livestock thieves, the 'Ndrangheta flourished under the radar for decades as authorities concentrated efforts against Sicily's Cosa Nostra, defendants in the first, now-legendary maxi-trial of 1986-1987 in Palermo. Today, mafia experts estimate that the 'Ndrangheta, made up of approximately 150 Calabrian families and their associates, bring in more than 50 billion euros ($53 billion) annually around the world from drug trafficking, usury, syphoning public funds and extortion. In Calabria, the 'Ndrangheta has crept into practically all areas of public life, from city hall and hospitals to the courts. But its scope is much wider and the 'Ndrangheta now operates in more than 40 countries, experts say. ALSO READ | More than 300 people arrested in huge Italian mob swoop Relying on frontmen, shell companies and favours from the elite, the 'Ndrangheta reinvests illegal gains in the legitimate economy, cementing its power. For the first time in such trials, the defendants list includes many non-mafia members, including a high-ranking police official, mayors and other public servants and businessmen. Highest-profile is 70-year-old ex-parliamentarian and defence lawyer Giancarlo Pittelli, accused of being a fixer for the mafia and a go-between with the world of politics, finance and illegal Masonic lodges.

Hundreds face sentencing in historic Italian mafia trial

Convicted Italian mafia killer Edgardo Greco, who had been on the run since 2006, has been caught in France. He had, surprisingly, been hiding in plain sight, working as a pizza chef for at least three years at a popular restaurant in France.

Greco once even appeared in a local newspaper feature, in which he sang praises of his restaurant's "regional and home-made recipes" such as ravioli, risotto and tagliatelle.

He was captured in Saint-Étienne and is the second high-profile mafia to be arrested by Italian authorities in the past few weeks.

Earlier, Matteo Messina Denaro, who had been on the run for 30 years, was detained from a clinic in Sicily where he had gone for treatment.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-was-matteo-messina-denaro-a-fugitive-sicilian-godfather-whose-arrest-ended-a-30-year-manhunt-553183">Who was Matteo Messina Denaro, a fugitive Sicilian godfather, whose arrest ended a 30-year manhunt?</a>

Greco and Denaro, both, had committed some terrible crimes in the 1990s and killed several people.&nbsp;

Italy's Carabinieri military police, in a statement, said that investigators had been tracing Greco's support network since 2019 and that ultimately led them to Saint-Étienne, where he was captured.

Greco was a part of the 'Ndrangheta organised crime mob, the roots of which can be traced to Calabria region in Italy's deep south. The mob is now the most powerful mafia in Italy. They have a wide reach across several countries, especially in Europe and South America.

The 63-year-old had been convicted for murdering two brothers, Stefano and Giuseppe Bartolomeo, during a "mafia war" in the early 1990s. Their bodies were never found and reports suggest that Grec dissolved the remains in acid.

He was also accused of the attempted murder of another man.&nbsp;

 
How did he manage to hide his identity?

Greco went missing after a trial judge issued an arrest warrant for him in 2006. Around eight years later, he settled in the French city of Saint-Étienne and became a pizzaiolo at an Italian restaurant. He also changed his name to Paolo Dimitrio.&nbsp;

Around the same time, Italian authorities had issued him a life sentence. A European arrest warrant had also been released against him.&nbsp;

The newspaper article he appeared in had him sporting a&nbsp;grey stubble and glasses. It termed Greco an Italian by birth but at heart a local to Saint-Étienne.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Convicted Italian mafia killer Edgardo Greco, who had been on the run since 2006, has been caught in France. He had, surprisingly, been hiding in plain sight, working as a pizza chef for at least three years at a popular restaurant in France.

Convicted Italian mafia killer Edgardo Greco, who had been on the run since 2006, has been caught in France. He had, surprisingly, been hiding in plain sight, working as a pizza chef for at least three years at a popular restaurant in France. Greco once even appeared in a local newspaper feature, in which he sang praises of his restaurant's "regional and home-made recipes" such as ravioli, risotto and tagliatelle. He was captured in Saint-Étienne and is the second high-profile mafia to be arrested by Italian authorities in the past few weeks. Earlier, Matteo Messina Denaro, who had been on the run for 30 years, was detained from a clinic in Sicily where he had gone for treatment. Also Read | Who was Matteo Messina Denaro, a fugitive Sicilian godfather, whose arrest ended a 30-year manhunt? Greco and Denaro, both, had committed some terrible crimes in the 1990s and killed several people. Italy's Carabinieri military police, in a statement, said that investigators had been tracing Greco's support network since 2019 and that ultimately led them to Saint-Étienne, where he was captured. Greco was a part of the 'Ndrangheta organised crime mob, the roots of which can be traced to Calabria region in Italy's deep south. The mob is now the most powerful mafia in Italy. They have a wide reach across several countries, especially in Europe and South America. The 63-year-old had been convicted for murdering two brothers, Stefano and Giuseppe Bartolomeo, during a "mafia war" in the early 1990s. Their bodies were never found and reports suggest that Grec dissolved the remains in acid. He was also accused of the attempted murder of another man. How did he manage to hide his identity? Greco went missing after a trial judge issued an arrest warrant for him in 2006. Around eight years later, he settled in the French city of Saint-Étienne and became a pizzaiolo at an Italian restaurant. He also changed his name to Paolo Dimitrio. Around the same time, Italian authorities had issued him a life sentence. A European arrest warrant had also been released against him. The newspaper article he appeared in had him sporting a grey stubble and glasses. It termed Greco an Italian by birth but at heart a local to Saint-Étienne. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

On the run for 16 years, this pizza maker turned out to be an Italian mafia killer

An apartment believed to be the last hideout of Sicilian mafia boss Matteo Messina Denaro, who was arrested in Monday after a 30-year manhunt, was raided by the police on Tuesday. The search unravelled Matteo's love for a luxurious life with the police finding perfumes, designer clothes and sex pills in the apartment.&nbsp;

The 60-year-old was caught at a private hospital in Palermo and is being held in the central Italian city of L'Aquila, the Palermo prosecutor said. He was transferred from Sicily on the day of his arrest.

The apartment is housed in a modest building near the centre of Campobello di Mazara, a town in the Western Sicilian province of Trapani. The place is just a few kilometres from Messina Denaro's home town of Castelvetrano.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-was-matteo-messina-denaro-a-fugitive-sicilian-godfather-whose-arrest-ended-a-30-year-manhunt-553183">Who was Matteo Messina Denaro, a fugitive Sicilian godfather, whose arrest ended a 30-year manhunt?</a>

Clothes, shoes, a well-stocked fridge and restaurant receipts were also found, judicial sources said.

Matteo loved luxury and it was evident from most things discovered in the apartment. He owned designer clothes and expensive sunglasses and was wearing a watch worth 35,000 euros ($38,000) when he was arrested, the police said.

However, he also did the usual things common people do.

"He had a regular life, he went to the supermarket," said magistrate Paolo Guido, one the officials investigating Messina Denaro.

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&nbsp;

Neighbours described him as a friendly person.

"I live on the first floor of the building, sometimes I have seen this person, greeted him and nothing else. He responded in a cordial manner," Rosario Cognata told Italian media.

He was reportedly living in the apartment since one year and the police are searching for other places he might have inhabited.&nbsp;

Investigators believe Messina Denaro was driven on Monday to Palermo's La Maddalena hospital from Campobello di Mazara to be treated for cancer. His alleged aide Giovanni Luppino used to live in the town and was also arrested with him.

His doctor Alfonso Tumbarello is also under probe on suspicion of aiding and abetting the mafia boss, judicial sources said. However, he attended to Messina Denaro under a false name, Andrea Bonafede.&nbsp;

Bonafede was supposedly the name of the owner of the apartment Messina Denaro was living in. He is also under investigation.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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An apartment believed to be the last hideout of Sicilian mafia boss Matteo Messina Denaro, who was arrested in Monday after a 30-year manhunt, was raided by the police on Tuesday.

An apartment believed to be the last hideout of Sicilian mafia boss Matteo Messina Denaro, who was arrested in Monday after a 30-year manhunt, was raided by the police on Tuesday. The search unravelled Matteo's love for a luxurious life with the police finding perfumes, designer clothes and sex pills in the apartment. The 60-year-old was caught at a private hospital in Palermo and is being held in the central Italian city of L'Aquila, the Palermo prosecutor said. He was transferred from Sicily on the day of his arrest. The apartment is housed in a modest building near the centre of Campobello di Mazara, a town in the Western Sicilian province of Trapani. The place is just a few kilometres from Messina Denaro's home town of Castelvetrano. Also Read | Who was Matteo Messina Denaro, a fugitive Sicilian godfather, whose arrest ended a 30-year manhunt? Clothes, shoes, a well-stocked fridge and restaurant receipts were also found, judicial sources said. Matteo loved luxury and it was evident from most things discovered in the apartment. He owned designer clothes and expensive sunglasses and was wearing a watch worth 35,000 euros ($38,000) when he was arrested, the police said. However, he also did the usual things common people do. "He had a regular life, he went to the supermarket," said magistrate Paolo Guido, one the officials investigating Messina Denaro. × Neighbours described him as a friendly person. "I live on the first floor of the building, sometimes I have seen this person, greeted him and nothing else. He responded in a cordial manner," Rosario Cognata told Italian media. He was reportedly living in the apartment since one year and the police are searching for other places he might have inhabited. Investigators believe Messina Denaro was driven on Monday to Palermo's La Maddalena hospital from Campobello di Mazara to be treated for cancer. His alleged aide Giovanni Luppino used to live in the town and was also arrested with him. His doctor Alfonso Tumbarello is also under probe on suspicion of aiding and abetting the mafia boss, judicial sources said. However, he attended to Messina Denaro under a false name, Andrea Bonafede. Bonafede was supposedly the name of the owner of the apartment Messina Denaro was living in. He is also under investigation. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Designer clothes, expensive watches: Italian gangster Matteo Denaro's hideout proves his love for luxury

A manhunt for an Italian mobster spanning years finally came to an end when the Argentina's federal police arrested him on the outskirts of Buenos Aires. Carmine Alfonso Maiorano, a 68-year-old leader of the Italian 'Ndrangheta mafia, was captured last Wednesday in the town of Guernica in the province of Buenos Aires, the police said in a statement.

As per international authorities, Maiorano has been accused of carrying out drug trafficking and arms trafficking operations between Latin America and Europe. 'Ndrangheta is considered to be "one of the most extensive and powerful criminal organizations in the world" by The International Criminal Police Organization, also known as Interpol.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-generation-of-tiktok-obsessed-mafia-gangsters-posing-threat-to-code-of-silence-500465">New generation of TikTok-obsessed Mafia gangsters posing threat to 'code of silence'</a>

In 2015, an international arrest warrant was issued for Maiorano, following which in 2020, the Interpol coordinated international efforts to take down the criminal group.

The 'Ndrangheta mafia established itself in Argentina several years ago, the police statement said, and operates in tandem with Albanian counterparts in Europe. The detainee was placed at the disposal of Argentina's Federal Criminal and Correctional Court.

The 'Ndrangheta is an Italian mafia-type organization that dates back to the 18th century. It still follows its ancient rites which are passed down orally and through secret codes. It consists of autonomous clans known as 'ndrine which are based almost exclusively on blood ties. It has a monopoly on drug trafficking in Europe, and also deals in arms trafficking, money laundering, racketeering, extortion, loan sharking, and prostitution.

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Its narcotics trafficking, extortion and money laundering activities, as per a US diplomat, accounted for at least three per cent of Italy's GDP in 2010.

(With inputs from agencies)

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A manhunt for an Italian mobster spanning years finally came to an end when the Argentina's federal police arrested him on the outskirts of Buenos Aires. Carmine Alfonso Maiorano, a 68-year-old leader of the Italian 'Ndrangheta mafia, was captured last Wednesday in the town of Guernica in the province of Buenos Aires, the police said in a statement.

A manhunt for an Italian mobster spanning years finally came to an end when the Argentina's federal police arrested him on the outskirts of Buenos Aires. Carmine Alfonso Maiorano, a 68-year-old leader of the Italian 'Ndrangheta mafia, was captured last Wednesday in the town of Guernica in the province of Buenos Aires, the police said in a statement. As per international authorities, Maiorano has been accused of carrying out drug trafficking and arms trafficking operations between Latin America and Europe. 'Ndrangheta is considered to be "one of the most extensive and powerful criminal organizations in the world" by The International Criminal Police Organization, also known as Interpol. Also Read | New generation of TikTok-obsessed Mafia gangsters posing threat to 'code of silence' In 2015, an international arrest warrant was issued for Maiorano, following which in 2020, the Interpol coordinated international efforts to take down the criminal group. The 'Ndrangheta mafia established itself in Argentina several years ago, the police statement said, and operates in tandem with Albanian counterparts in Europe. The detainee was placed at the disposal of Argentina's Federal Criminal and Correctional Court. The 'Ndrangheta is an Italian mafia-type organization that dates back to the 18th century. It still follows its ancient rites which are passed down orally and through secret codes. It consists of autonomous clans known as 'ndrine which are based almost exclusively on blood ties. It has a monopoly on drug trafficking in Europe, and also deals in arms trafficking, money laundering, racketeering, extortion, loan sharking, and prostitution. × Its narcotics trafficking, extortion and money laundering activities, as per a US diplomat, accounted for at least three per cent of Italy's GDP in 2010. (With inputs from agencies)

Top Italian mobster belonging to the 'Ndrangheta mafia captured in Argentina