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Italian authorities have arrested around 140 suspects with links to the mafia in two operations carried out across the country, DPA reported, citing a media release from today.

Police detained 65 suspects in the southern Calabria region and 13 suspects in the northern city of Brescia in the operation dubbed "Blu Notte".

The suspects were believed to be part of the Calabrian 'Ndrangheta mafia, one of the leading mafia organizations in the European drug trade.

The prosecutor's office accuses the individuals of ties to the mafia, drug trafficking, money laundering and extortion.

A large part of the detainees are already in pre-trial detention, and the rest are under house arrest or have imposed restrictions.

Authorities said the investigation allowed them to gain a better understanding of the notorious Ndrangheta Koska Belloko clan from the town of Rosarno, near the port of Gioia Tauro.

The family is believed to have been involved in drug and arms trafficking for several generations.

After the death in October of the longtime head of the family, his grandson took over the business.

Police in Italy have arrested 22 suspected members of the Calabrian mafia

Gioia Tauro is considered an important hub in the international drug trade, with ships from South America docking there.

In the past, port authorities have found huge quantities of cocaine worth millions of euros in shipping containers.

In another operation against organized crime on the island of Sicily, police arrested around 60 people, of whom 48 were sent to pre-trial detention.

The suspects are accused of drug trafficking between Calabria and Sicily.

They are said to have operated mainly in Messina, where ferries arrive from Reggio Calabria.

It is alleged that during the pandemic they transported drugs in ambulances across the strait to avoid police checks, BTA notes.

Italy

mafia

the ndrangheta