Mafia’s Web podcast: Australian drug runners able to access Centrelink JobKeeper payments

The Australian Federal Police and a leading expert on the world’s mafia clans have both said it’s possible the mob has accessed the taxpayer funded JobKeeper scheme.

The Australian mafia has accessed JobKeeper payments for staff at its legitimate businesses during the pandemic, a leading expert claims.

Antonio Nicaso, a professor at Queen’s University in Canada, has revealed that mafia groups have been exploiting government handouts during the COVID-19 crisis worldwide.

The drug-running cartels have extensive legitimate business interests across the globe, which they use to launder their dirty cash.

But those same businesses have been able to profit from the pandemic, with mafia staff wages picked up by taxpayers.

“In Italy, (and) in many other countries of Europe, this is happening right now, they are taking advantage of all the stimulus through their legitimate business, but even they are taking advantage of the money that the government is providing for people without a job,” Prof Nicaso told The Mafia’s Web podcast.

Italian author and university professor Antonio Nicaso. Picture: Ella Pellegrini

“So imagine that they can be involved in drug trafficking, but they still pretend to be unemployed.

“That’s the irony. There is an investigation in Italy that uncovered that so many mobsters exploited this the legislation that provide some money, like a 250 Euros per month to people without a job.”

Mr Nicaso said the same pattern happened in Australia and the mafia would have used the JobKeeper scheme.

The Australian hospitality industry has been smashed by coronavirus restrictions, with estimates up to 5000 businesses were on the brink of bankruptcy.

The mafia has traditionally used financial turmoil to take over businesses, particularly those with high cash turnovers like restaurants.

Those have helped them launder some of their drug money, and also provide stable investments to prove the origins of their wealth to tax authorities.

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“Australia is a country of opportunity for criminals who need to launder money and to stash the proceeds of crime in and that’s what they are looking for,” Mr Nicaso said.

“They are looking for opportunities.”

Australian Federal Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Todd Hunter said it was possible the mafia used the taxpayer funded JobKeeper scheme.

However, he added the mafia traditionally avoided providing information to tax authorities, which would be needed to access the payments.

“If any of those businesses were affected and qualified for JobKeeper. Yeah, absolutely. That’s possible,” he said.

“They would need to balance the money laundering aspects of the business, if they are diverting illicit funds into their normal business activities and normal business profits.

“One of the requirements of JobKeeper was to show reduction in profits, and they probably don’t want to do that.”

Australian Federal Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Todd Hunter. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Daniel Pockett

Acting Assistant Commissioner Hunter said drug profits in some cases increased during the pandemic by “up to 50 per cent”.

“Through the pandemic, and through lock downs and things, profits are actually pretty steady,” he said.

Nightclubs and pubs have been closed across the world during the pandemic, cutting into some of the party drug taking.

The distribution of drugs, however, has not stopped, according to Mr Nicaso.

He warned that the mafia was also consolidating power in the business community and actively targeting politicians for influence and favours.

And while the mafia has a history of bloody violence, a new generation has become more professional.

Aerial views of the commercial port of Gioia Tauro. Picture: Fabrizio Villa / Getty Images

“They are capable to adapt, they are capable to keep a low profile when they need,” he said.

“We can and we’ll see that changes worldwide.

“In a conversation intercepted easily a mobster was talking with the another one it is clearly stated ‘We don’t need people that are able to shoot. We need people that are able to work on our computers.’”

Historian John Hughes-Wilson told The Mafia’s Web organised crime was entrenched in Italy, which then spread across the world, including Australia.

He said in Italy “there’s no question of going back to a well organised state. There’s never been a well organised state.

“You’ve got the old Papal States, you’ve got Rome, down to Calabria and Sicily. They’ve never ever got a history of pulling together,” he said.

Mr Hughes-Wilson said the mafia was more efficient than the government in some parts of southern Italy, which allowed them to garner loyalty from the locals to allow them to continue their trade.