Calabrian police chiefs and MPs among 334 ’Ndrangheta arrests

Italian police have arrested 334 mob suspects including police chiefs, lawyers and former MPs in a blitz on the ’Ndrangheta mafia.

Police lead investigator Nicola Gratteri. Picture: Getty Images

Italian police have arrested 334 mob suspects including police chiefs, lawyers and former MPs in an unprecedented crackdown on the shadowy ’Ndrangheta mafia.

The night-time raids, involving 3000 police and arrests in Germany, Switzerland and Bulgaria as well as in Italy, were a huge blow to the ’Ndrangheta, which has risen from kidnapping for cash in Calabria to become Europe’s biggest drug wholesaler.

“This is an important and historic day, not just for Calabria,” said lead investigator Nicola Gratteri on Thursday.

The ’Ndrangheta is known for its solid relationship with South American drug cartels, prolific money laundering and property investing across Europe, but it also keeps tight control over its home turf in Calabria by corrupting politicians and local police.

Arrested with the made men on Thursday were Giancarlo Pittelli, a former MP and senator for Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia party; a Calabrian police chief; lawyers; local councillors; prominent businessmen; and the head of the Calabrian mayors’ association.

Investigators believe all of those arrested were doing favours for the Mancuso di Limbadi clan, one of the ’Ndrangheta’s most powerful families, which is suspect­ed of murder, extortion and loansharking.

Mr Gratteri said he was trying to usher in a “revolution” in Cal­abria by dismantling its criminal infrastructure like Lego. Police often find residents are unwilling to speak out against local bosses. In a note in the investigative ­documents, judge Barbara Sacca described the “psychological en­slave­ment” of Calabrians.

Police also discovered the script from a secret ’Ndrangheta promotion rite. Mixing the mob’s love of religious imagery and history, the speech invokes the three wise men and Charlemagne, “who destroyed all his enemies with a cloak on his shoulder and a sword at his side”.

Legend has it the ’Ndrangheta was formed by three Spanish knights who travelled to Italy, and the group’s name derives from the Greek word for heroism.

By recruiting within families, the group ensures loyalty is fierce, and turncoats are few.

Afraid of informers within the police force, investigators used a hidden location to print the documents they would have to give suspects when arresting them. Even so, word got out. Mr Gratteri said the plan had been brought forward. “We were going crazy,” he said. “Bringing forward an operation involving 3000 officers was not easy.”

The raids were made just in time. Some of the suspects were arrested on trains as they tried to flee Calabria.

The Times