German and Italian police on Wednesday arrested more than 100 members of the Italian ’Ndrangheta' organised crime syndicate as part of a "wide-scale" operation. In Germany, more than 1,000 officers searched dozens of homes, offices and stores across Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Thuringia.

German and Italian police on Wednesday arrested more than 100 members of the Italian ’Ndrangheta' organised crime syndicate as part of a "wide-scale" operation. In Germany, more than 1,000 officers searched dozens of homes, offices and stores across Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Thuringia. Operations also took place in Belgium, France, Italy, Portugal and Spain. Calabria-based 'Ndrangheta' is regarded as the world's richest organised crime group and European authorities have been waging a war against it for years. The mafia group has managed to earn revenues in excess of tens of billions of dollars by selling cocaine over the decades. Police in Bavaria said the arrests on Wednesday were the culmination of a three-year investigation effort codenamed 'Operation Eureka'. Michael Ebling, State Interior Minister of Rhineland-Palatinate, said the arrests were an "effective blow" against organised crime. “Today sends out a very clear signal: There is no place for organised crime in Europe and there is certainly no place for it here with us in Rhineland-Palatinate,” Ebling was quoted as saying by dpa. WATCH | Italy's largest mafia trial opens for 'Ndrangheta mob group' × German state office of the criminal investigation said most of the suspects arrested are accused of money laundering, gang tax evasion, commercial gang fraud, and narcotics smuggling. According to reports, the investigators unearthed a widespread network of cafes, restaurants, pizzerias and ice cream parlours which acted as a front for the mafia organisation and took part in money laundering operations. Italian and Belgian investigators said the crime group smuggled close to 25 tonnes of cocaine worth $24.2 million between October 2019 and January 2022 from Calabria to Belgium, the Netherlands and South America. Notably, last year in November, Carmine Alfonso Maiorano, a 68-year-old leader of the mafia group was arrested in the town of Guernica in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Ndrangheta's genesis The mafia group's genesis dates back to the 18th century. Unlike most modern-day mafia groups, members of 'Ndrangheta' still follow ancient rites which are passed down orally and through secret codes. To avoid clutches of the law enforcement agencies, the group members avoid speaking on phones entirely, opting to drive hundreds of miles for a meeting. ALSO READ | Top Italian mobster belonging to the 'Ndrangheta mafia captured in Argentina 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. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Germany, Italy clamp down on notorious mafia group 'Ndrangheta'

One of Italy's largest mafia trial has kicked off with the fate of 365 suspected mobsters and their associates. The accused gangsters face an array of the charges including extortion, drug trafficking, and theft.

Italy's largest mafia trial opens for 'Ndrangheta mob group'

Police have&nbsp;arrested&nbsp;334&nbsp;people&nbsp;in one of the largest anti-mob&nbsp;operations ever seen in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/italy-ready-to-take-18-stake-in-ilva-steel-plant-266996">Italy</a>, highlighting the growing reach of the 'Ndrangheta mafia, prosecutors said on Thursday.

The 'Ndrangheta is based in the southern region of Calabria, the toe of Italy's boot, and has surpassed Sicily's&nbsp;more&nbsp;famous Cosa Nostra to become the most powerful mafia group in the country - and one of the largest criminal gangs in the world.

Police said they seized hundreds of suspects in early morning&nbsp;swoops around the country, with some arrests also carried out in Germany, Switzerland and Bulgaria.

Amongst the possible charges facing those detained were mafia conspiracy, murder, extortion, loan sharking, corporate fraud and money laundering.

"Politicians were involved, as well as lawyers, accountants, public officials, court clerks. All&nbsp;people&nbsp;who had jobs and did not need to put themselves at the service of the 'Ndrangheta," said prosecutor Nicola Gratteri, who led the investigation.

"The&nbsp;mobsters are not in a position to carry out sophisticated money laundering. To do that they need professionals," he added.

Gratteri said it was the largest haul of suspected&nbsp;mobsters in Italy since a massive anti-mafia&nbsp;swoop&nbsp;in Sicily in 1984 which led to the so-called Palermo maxi-trial when&nbsp;more&nbsp;than&nbsp;450 members of Cosa Nostra were tried.

The Palermo trial marked a turning point in the battle against the Sicilian crime gang, and their influence has waned dramatically over the past three decades, allowing 'Ndrangheta to surge to prominence.

Italian&nbsp;investigators say the group, which is made up of dozens of smaller clans that all answer nominally to senior leaders in Calabria, is now Europe's top cocaine broker.

Amongst those&nbsp;arrested&nbsp;on Thursday was a former lawmaker from Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right Forza Italia (Go Italy!) party, the centre-left mayor of a Calabrian coastal town and a senior official in the Carabinieri police.

"This has inflicted a very hard blow on the 'Ndrangheta," said Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese.

Investigators say that while the 'Ndrangheta is still centred on Calabria, one of the poorest regions in Europe, it has successfully managed to infiltrate the wealthy north.

The head of the Valle D'Aosta region, which borders France and Switzerland, resigned last week after being placed under investigation for alleged vote-rigging linked to 'Ndrangheta at 2018 local elections. He has denied the accusation.

Police have arrested 334 people in one of the largest anti-mob operations ever seen in Italy, highlighting the growing reach of the 'Ndrangheta mafia, prosecutors said on Thursday.

Police have arrested 334 people in one of the largest anti-mob operations ever seen in Italy, highlighting the growing reach of the 'Ndrangheta mafia, prosecutors said on Thursday. The 'Ndrangheta is based in the southern region of Calabria, the toe of Italy's boot, and has surpassed Sicily's more famous Cosa Nostra to become the most powerful mafia group in the country - and one of the largest criminal gangs in the world. Police said they seized hundreds of suspects in early morning swoops around the country, with some arrests also carried out in Germany, Switzerland and Bulgaria. Amongst the possible charges facing those detained were mafia conspiracy, murder, extortion, loan sharking, corporate fraud and money laundering. "Politicians were involved, as well as lawyers, accountants, public officials, court clerks. All people who had jobs and did not need to put themselves at the service of the 'Ndrangheta," said prosecutor Nicola Gratteri, who led the investigation. "The mobsters are not in a position to carry out sophisticated money laundering. To do that they need professionals," he added. Gratteri said it was the largest haul of suspected mobsters in Italy since a massive anti-mafia swoop in Sicily in 1984 which led to the so-called Palermo maxi-trial when more than 450 members of Cosa Nostra were tried. The Palermo trial marked a turning point in the battle against the Sicilian crime gang, and their influence has waned dramatically over the past three decades, allowing 'Ndrangheta to surge to prominence. Italian investigators say the group, which is made up of dozens of smaller clans that all answer nominally to senior leaders in Calabria, is now Europe's top cocaine broker. Amongst those arrested on Thursday was a former lawmaker from Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right Forza Italia (Go Italy!) party, the centre-left mayor of a Calabrian coastal town and a senior official in the Carabinieri police. "This has inflicted a very hard blow on the 'Ndrangheta," said Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese. Investigators say that while the 'Ndrangheta is still centred on Calabria, one of the poorest regions in Europe, it has successfully managed to infiltrate the wealthy north. The head of the Valle D'Aosta region, which borders France and Switzerland, resigned last week after being placed under investigation for alleged vote-rigging linked to 'Ndrangheta at 2018 local elections. He has denied the accusation.

More than 300 people arrested in huge Italian mob swoop

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