Mafia files detail 'Ndrangheta’s hold on Australia

A SECRET dossier mapping out extensive alleged mafia operations in Australia — has been sent to Italy’s famed anti-mafia prosecutor Nicola Gratteri.

ITALY’S famed anti-mafia prosecutor Nicola Gratteri could swing his focus to Australia after receiving a dossier of alleged Calabrian organised crime, money laundering, drugs trafficking and intimidation claims by the group in Melbourne, Sydney and Western Australia.

The Italian embassy has confirmed it had received information directed to Mr Gratteri that maps out extensive alleged mafia operations, predominantly in the Australian construction industry and linked directly to southern Italy, Switzerland and Germany.

The material lists company names, flight movements and identifies alleged criminal dealings predominantly in money laundering over the past five years between Australia and figures allegedly linked to the 'Ndrangheta mafia group.

It was the 'Ndrangheta linked to the biggest ecstasy bust in the world on the Melbourne docks in 2007. Earlier this year Gratteri led mass raids in Italy and Germany arresting 160 people related to mafia activities and the 'Ndrangheta which controls at least 60 per cent of Europe’s cocaine market.

Anti-mafia prosecutor Nicola Gratteri, left attends a trial related to a bloody vendetta between clans of the 'Ndrangheta in Italy. Picture: AFP

A second dossier sent to Italian authorities from Australia earlier this year details Italian criminal activities since the 1980s and includes racketeering, extortion and drugs trafficking.

That detailed letter writer, spoken to by True Crime Australia, said they were a member of one of the principal families who had since broken away and were now in hiding and had no faith in Australian police taking any action with internal beliefs some were on the payroll.

“There is so much going on but so little interest,” they said. “For example there was just one large shipment of cocaine worth $60 million had been intercepted by police in South Australia and a lot of people were angry about this … there are a lot of groups, everyone knows each other … but it’s all mafia related, you only have to look at the names and nationalities to figure that one out,” they said.

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Last year an Italian court heard evidence the 'Ndrangheta had actively migrated families to Australia to set up two “cells” of the organised crime group to look after their criminal interests here.

POLICE RAIDS: Italian mafia bust reveals family ties run deep in Australia

In 2016 it was revealed the powerful Calabrian group had influence and wide scope in Australia, enough to “infiltrate” key areas of business including transport, trade and politics to facilitate their activities.

Italian police have now classed the mafia in Australia as so entrenched, they believe it would be impossible to stamp out completely, with Australian police only able to make busts and arrests where they can.

Australian authorities had in the past dismissed claims of entrenched mafia here but in 2016-17 sent a police team to Rome to exchange intelligence specifically on 'Ndrangheta activities. Earlier this year the Australian Federal Police confirmed it would at some point dedicate resources to look at the issue.