In the culmination of one of Italy’s largest-ever mafia trials targeting the ‘Ndrangheta crime group in Calabria, a court delivered extensive jail sentences on Monday.
Over 330 suspected mobsters, including white-collar professionals, faced charges ranging from extortion to drug trafficking in a nearly three-year trial.
Saverio Razionale and Domenico Bonavota, local Calabrian mafia leaders, received the heaviest penalties with 30-year sentences.
Among those convicted was Giancarlo Pittelli, a former politician with the Forza Italia party, sentenced to 11 years for mafia collusion.
Giorgio Naselli, a former police chief, received a two-year and six-month sentence.
However, the prosecution fell short of obtaining the desired heavy sentences in some cases, and over 100 individuals were cleared.
The ‘Ndrangheta, considered Italy’s most powerful mafia group, extends its influence across Europe. The trial, held in Lamezia Terme, featured metal cages for defendants.
While this first-instance ruling can be appealed, it marks a significant event in the fight against the ‘Ndrangheta, focusing on the Mancuso clan in Vibo Valentia province.
The trial’s outcome affirms major convictions against mafia-linked white-collar figures and reinforces the prosecutors’ understanding of the ‘Ndrangheta structure.
The verdict, subject to potential appeals, holds implications for Italy’s ongoing battle against organized crime.
