Italian authorities detained 27 people on Tuesday in two separate anti-mafia operations targeting organised crime networks across the country.
Prosecutors in the southern city of Catanzaro issued arrest warrants for 17 people suspected of belonging to the Calabrian criminal organisation Ndrangheta. They are also accused of extortion and illegal possession of military and other weapons. The arrests were made in several cities including Milan, Verona and Naples.
According to Interpol, Ndrangheta is one of the most extensive and powerful criminal organisations in the world.
The second operation resulted in the detention of 10 people accused of links to Neapolitan organised crime networks. The detainees, whose arrests were ordered by Bologna prosecutors, are also accused of issuing false invoices totalling 10 million euros ($10.8 million), money laundering and other offences.
Authorities also seized 2 million euros allegedly obtained illegally as part of the investigation.
The 17 people detained in the Catanzaro operation are under preventive arrest, which Italian judges can impose if there is a risk that the suspects may abscond, hide evidence of their alleged offences or commit the illicit acts again. The judge will later decide whether to confirm the detention and send the suspects to trial.
