Italian law enforcement operations against ‘ndrangheta

Law enforcement authorities in Catanzaro, Italy, have conducted significant operations targeting criminal activities linked to the ‘ndrangheta.

In the “Aquarium” investigation, the District Anti-Mafia Directorate (DDA) and the Guardia di Finanza concluded a probe into the Maiolo clan of Acquaro, which is linked to the ‘ndrangheta’s Ariola local branch. Investigators identified Angelo Maiolo as the leader, promoter, and financier of a network specializing in the import and distribution of marijuana, cocaine, and hashish. The group, which allegedly operated since at least 2015, used encrypted communications to manage logistics across Calabria, Lazio, Piedmont, and Abruzzo. Sixteen individuals, including various members of the Maiolo family, are under investigation for mafia-style association and drug trafficking.

Authorities also dismantled a criminal network in the Melicucco and Tropea areas involved in auction rigging, money laundering, and fraud concerning European Union agricultural funds. By utilizing fictitious companies and front men in the real estate and agricultural sectors, the group manipulated Common Agricultural Policy (PAC) funds. This operation resulted in five arrests and the seizure of assets valued at over 35 million euros, including 32.6 million euros in real estate and 1.6 million euros across 15 agricultural companies in Calabria and Tuscany.

Recent inquiries have expanded to include financial fraud involving Catanzaro Servizi, a municipal company. Five individuals, including a former administrator and a legal auditor, are under investigation for the fraudulent purchase of non-existent tax credits between October 2023 and July 2024. Additionally, Annamaria Frustaci, deputy prosecutor of the Catanzaro DDA, has emphasized the threat posed by the ‘grey zone’—a network of professionals and officials who sustain criminal clans through social capital and resources.