AFP reveal how 51 Italian mafia gangs have flown under the radar

An Aussie top cop has revealed dozens of mafia groups are operating across Australia but have managed to stay hidden – until now. SEE WHY.

Dozens of Italian organised crime gangs are behind illegal drug trade and money laundering in Australia, it’s been revealed.

The Australian Federal Police have confirmed they are investigating 51 mafia groups in Australia, of which 14 are part of the ’Ndrangheta, or Calabrian mafia families.

The criminal syndicates have been operating under the radar until now - with the Trojan horse app AN0M helping to unravel the puzzle.

“The ‘Ndrangheta are not just an Australian problem. They are a global problem. They are responsible for 70 per cent to 80 per cent of the world’s cocaine and they are flooding Australia with illicit drugs. They are pulling the strings of Australian outlaw motorcycle gangs who are behind some of the most significant violence in our communities,” AFP Assistant Commissioner Nigel Ryan told reporters on Tuesday morning.

“We believe we have about 51 Italian organised crime clans in Australia and to date we have confirmed at least 14 of these as being ‘Ndrangheta, which we believe have thousands of members in Australia.”

AFP Assistant Commissioner Nigel Ryan. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Joel Carrett

Commissioner Ryan said the ‘Ndrangheta have stayed under the radar for many years because they live a “modest” life. But they came undone when they invested in the AN0M encryption app, with data obtained by police via the service allowing unprecedented insight into the mafia clans.

“They have been able to stay under the radar by living modest lives in modest homes. They funnel their illegitimate wealth into their legitimate construction, agricultural and catering businesses,” he said.

Asked whether neighbours and friends would be oblivious to the criminal activities of those involved, Commissioner Ryan said: “It’s entirely possible that people would be living next door to members of the ‘Ndrangheta without knowing.”

The AFP is working with Italian, US, Spanish and Brazilian authorities to begin suffering the significant power of the ‘Ndrangheta, Commissioner Ryan revealed.

He added in co-operation with Italian authorities, the AFP has started mapping and assessing familial relationships of the ‘Ndrangheta in Australia.

“To target transnational serious organise crime, the AFP will attack their finances, their communications and their operations,” he said.

“Multi-million dollars a day are being laundered in Australia on behalf of illicit drug syndicates that try and conceal their source of wealth. Money laundering poses a significant threat to Australia’s national security as it subverts, exploits and distorts legitimate markets and economic activity. A key strategy in disrupting illicit drug trafficking involves dismantling the money laundering organisations that move and legitimise drug profits

“Unleashing this next phase will be long and challenging but the AFP is up to the challenge. And, to be frank, we need to be. If we don’t cut off the head and tail of organised crime, we face living in a very different Australia. “

Originally published as AFP reveal how 51 Italian mafia gangs have flown under the radar