’Ndrangheta clan infiltrates Italian railway employment

An investigation known as ‘Epicentro’ has revealed extensive infiltration by the Tegano clan of the ’Ndrangheta mafia into the labor market in Calabria, Italy. Investigators from the Reggio Calabria District Anti-Mafia Directorate and the Carabinieri have documented a structured system where criminal pressure and union influence were used to control hiring processes.

The infiltration specifically targeted Ferrovie dello Stato (the Italian state railway) and various satellite companies, including those in the cleaning sector. According to investigative reports, mafia bosses and union representatives worked in synergy to direct new hires, neutralize competition, and secure public contracts.

Wiretaps have provided evidence of a mercantilist approach to employment. In one intercepted conversation, Francesco Borruto, an individual identified by investigators as being part of the Tegano clan, allegedly described a system where jobs were sold for a fee of 10,000 euros. The investigation also implicates union figures, including Bruno Nicolazzo, in facilitating this illegal control over employment.