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With a gigantic effort, an unprecedented hunt for the ‘Ndrangheta was successful on Wednesday. Several European prosecutors coordinated the mega raids in eight countries. The attack on the Calabrian mafia was led by an international investigative team, which also included Europol and Eurojust and the EU Agency for Cooperation in Criminal Matters. Fedpol and the Federal Prosecutor’s Office did not participate in the so-called “Operation Eureka”. Yet the worldwide network of organized crime also reaches as far as Switzerland. This is evident from current studies.
More than 1,000 agents, including special forces and dog teams, stormed offices, shops, restaurants, ice cream parlors, car washes and private accommodations in Italy, Germany, Belgium, France, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia and Spain on Wednesday. They seized assets worth 22.3 million euros and seized 23 tons of cocaine. The damage to the ‘Ndrangheta amounts to some 2.5 billion euros. In this case, two clans from the Calabrian mafia town of San Luca have been affected.
Successful manhunt thanks to hacked cryptogsms
The European detectives had succeeded in hacking into the cryptogsms of the criminal organization. This allowed them to eavesdrop on conversations that the mob thought were safe. There is enough evidence to charge the mafiosi with money laundering, gang tax evasion, commercial gang fraud, drug trafficking and smuggling.
Even though Switzerland is not making headlines for its historic spate of arrests, it is still involved in organized crime. As the RSI reports, investigators heard calls about arms purchases and drug trafficking in Switzerland.
Questionable stay in Zurich
The investigation files show that two Mafiosi from Calabria (49 and 48) ordered ten semi-automatic Glock pistols from a Swiss-based arms dealer. The trader had already supplied the ‘Ndrangheta with Swiss firearms in the past. In addition, detectives heard a 26-year-old man from Calabria who tried to buy 300 kilos of hashish in Switzerland. But the price of 3,000 francs per kilo was too high for him.
Another eavesdropper advertises “legal business” and reports on his stay in Zurich, where he wants to conclude some contracts, including with some hospitals. The 59-year-old says of the tapped cryptogsm that he is a pharmaceutical entrepreneur and travels internationally – from Spain to South Korea. The detectives are sure that he is engaged in smuggling prohibited substances.
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
