Mafia-employed nun amongst 25 arrested in northern Italy

A nun is amongst 24 individuals arrested in northern Italy in reference to a mafia investigation, Italian police have stated.

The nun, named in Italian press as Sister Anna Donelli, was arrested for allegedly performing as a go-between for the ‘Ndrangheta mafia and its jailed gang members.

Police additionally arrested two politicians and seized greater than €1.8m (£1.5m) price of belongings in raids throughout a number of cities within the Lombardy and Veneto areas, in addition to Calabria within the south.

The arrests are a results of a four-year investigation into the ‘Ndrangheta, which is considered one of Europe’s most influential and harmful legal organisations.

Statements launched by the coalition of regulation enforcement companies behind the sting element allegations that the nun leveraged her place as a volunteer on the jail.

The Brescia Carabinieri stated she was an unsuspecting determine, whose spiritual position allowed her “free entry to the penitentiary amenities”.

Police statements didn’t establish the politicians or any others focused within the investigation.

The operation is constant, with tons of of cops conducting searches throughout northern Italy.

They’re aided by sniffer canine items trying to find weapons and medicines, in addition to “money canines” that are educated to seek for money, police stated.

Investigators allege the group primarily used scrap steel commerce companies as a entrance to launder cash, totalling roughly €12m in laundered money, prosecutors stated.

Originating within the impoverished area of Calabria, the ‘Ndrangheta is taken into account one of many world’s most harmful legal organisations.

In November final yr, greater than 200 individuals had been sentenced to a complete of greater than 2,200 years in jail in considered one of Italy’s largest mafia trials for generations.