Police sweep nets dozens of mafia arrests in Germany, Italy
On Tuesday morning, hundreds of police officers launched operations targeting the Italian mafia in four states in western Germany and in Italy. Several dozen mafia members were arrested.
What you need to know
- Where and when? The police operations took place on Tuesday morning in four federal states in western Germany and in Italy.
- Why? The operation aimed to combat Italian mafias and other forms of organized crime.
- Who was involved? Several hundred police officers participated in the operation, which resulted from cooperation between German and Italian authorities.
Which mafias operate in Germany?
The operation carried out in Germany, specifically in Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, North Rhine-Westphalia, and the Saarland, resulted from collaboration with Italian authorities to combat mafias and other forms of organized crime.
According to the latest information from the Ministry of the Interior (data as of April 2024), in Baden-Württemberg, approximately 170 people are classified by the police as being involved in organized crime. Active members of Cosa Nostra and the Camorra are among those operating there.
What crimes do the mafias commit?
The mafias exploit Baden-Württemberg's strategic location to engage in criminal activities. They are involved in drug trafficking, arms trafficking, money laundering, and tax fraud.
