Tue Apr 01 17:01:08 UTC 2025: ## German Police Officer Among Dozens Arrested in International ‘Ndrangheta Bust
**Stuttgart, Germany/Rome, Italy** – A joint German and Italian operation targeting the ‘Ndrangheta Mafia has resulted in the arrest of dozens of suspects, including a German police officer. The raids, coordinated by Eurojust and involving Interpol, followed a five-year investigation into a sophisticated fraud scheme involving the sale of high-end food products and pizza-making equipment.
Over 40 searches were conducted across four German states and various locations in Italy, leading to the arrests of 14 suspects in Germany and 20 in Italy. Among those arrested in Germany was a 46-year-old police officer accused of providing confidential information to the criminal organization.
The ‘Ndrangheta, considered Italy’s most powerful Mafia group, allegedly orchestrated a large-scale fraud in and around Stuttgart. Suspects, posing as representatives of German food companies, placed large orders with Italian suppliers for expensive cheeses, olive oil, and pizza equipment, then failed to pay, causing hundreds of thousands of euros in losses. They subsequently pressured Italian restaurants in the area to purchase the unpaid goods, threatening reprisals if they refused. Victims were primarily Calabrian immigrants, hailing from the ‘Ndrangheta’s stronghold in southern Italy.
The suspects face charges including fraud, arson, drug trafficking, and tax evasion. The operation underscores the ‘Ndrangheta’s reach beyond its traditional Italian base and highlights its diverse criminal activities, extending beyond its well-known involvement in the European cocaine trade.
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