On Tuesday, Italian police conducted a large-scale raid targeting two Rome-based branches of the mafia criminal organizations: the 'Ndrangheta and Camorra.
The police operation involved more than 500 officers and resulted in the successful arrest of 18 suspects. Additionally, Italian authorities seized approximately 130 million euros, or roughly $140 million.
Over 50 additional individuals are currently under investigation.
Powerful Criminal Organizations
As reported by Der Spiegel, the suspects are accused of laundering money from various criminal activities, including extortion and usury.
The authorities focused on disrupting the financial networks of these mafia groups, which have been deeply entrenched in illegal activities for decades.
The 'Ndrangheta, based in Calabria, and the Camorra, based in Naples, are two of Italy's most notorious criminal organizations, alongside the Sicilian Cosa Nostra.
These groups have extended their influence far beyond their traditional territories, operating internationally.
The 'Ndrangheta alone is estimated to have an annual global turnover exceeding 50 billion euros (around $54 billion), largely from the drug trade.
The police operation took place in Rome and several other Italian cities.
