Italian police launch large‑scale raids against migrant labor exploitation in Calabria

The Carabinieri carried out a night‑time operation on the State Road 106 in the high Cosentino area, using more than 40 personnel and a helicopter from the 8th Helicopter Unit of Vibo Valentia. The raid intercepted 35 minivans carrying 135 foreign nationals; ten individuals were flagged for possible document irregularities and one non‑EU migrant received an order to leave Italy within seven days.

A separate daytime sweep was coordinated by the Castrovillari prosecutor’s office, led by chief prosecutor Alessandro D'Alessio, targeting the Sibaritide agricultural zone across Amendolara, Villapiana, Cassano allo Ionio and Corigliano Rossano. The operation, also involving Carabinieri units, aims to uncover and disrupt illegal labor brokerage (caporalato) after the discovery of four foreign farm workers burned alive on 1 June. Investigators are examining possible exploitation networks linked to seasonal agricultural work in the region.