Cyber Crime
INTERPOL’s I-CAN Project Decimates Italy’s Most Powerful Mafia
Since its inception in 2020, the global coalition of law enforcement agencies coordinated by INTERPOL, has facilitated the arrests of over 100 high-ranking ‘Ndrangheta members.
The 100th and 101st arrests occurred last month, thanks to a joint operation in Germany and Italy. German authorities executed raids on three residences, seizing extensive evidence, including cloud-stored data. Large sums of cash, along with luxury watches and jewelry, were also confiscated. Meanwhile, Italian authorities acted simultaneously, apprehending two suspects, seizing properties and vehicles, and freezing several bank accounts.
A Calabrian businessman with alleged connections to two ‘Ndrangheta clans was arrested in Bologna, while another suspect was detained the same day in Formia. The operation was conducted under an investigation led by the Guardia di Finanza in Bologna.
INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock commented: “The ‘Ndrangheta poses an unprecedented threat as a transnational crime syndicate. However, the I-CAN project has proven that even the most powerful criminal networks are vulnerable when law enforcement collaborates globally.”
Brigadier General Giampiero Ianni of the Guardia di Finanza stated: “With INTERPOL’s support, we have mapped the ‘Ndrangheta’s global spread, allowing us to identify and arrest fugitives. The 101 arrests serve as proof that there is no escape for its members.”
The ‘Ndrangheta, originating in Calabria, is one of the world’s most extensive criminal organizations, now operating in over 40 countries. This mafia’s infiltration into political and economic spheres poses a serious threat to international security, as it brings widespread corruption.
INTERPOL’s I-CAN initiative, funded by Italy’s Department of Public Security, raises global awareness of the ‘Ndrangheta’s operations. By facilitating the exchange of critical intelligence, it aids in dismantling their networks and apprehending suspects worldwide.