Arrests across Europe in raids on Italy's 'Ndrangheta mafia

Police accuse organised crime group of running $24.3m cocaine ring

The raids were part of a 'large-scale, Europe-wide police operation'. AP

European countries on Tuesday announced more than 100 arrests in raids on an Italian crime gang accused of running a €22 million ($24.3 million) drugs ring.

The morning raids in 10 countries took aim at the 'Ndrangheta, a mafia-type gang suspected of a "staggering list of criminal activities".

Dozens of arrest warrants were executed in what German authorities called a “large-scale, Europe-wide police operation”.

The raids focused on the 'Ndrangheta, a mafia-type gang with origins in Calabria, southern Italy.

Besides cocaine smuggling, members are suspected of firearms trafficking, money laundering, assisting fugitives, tax avoidance and fraud.

More than 2,700 officers were involved in morning raids, in an investigation known as Operation Eureka involving police from Germany, Italy, Belgium, France, Portugal, Spain, Slovenia, Romania, Brazil and Panama.

A total of 132 suspected 'Ndrangheta members were arrested, according to EU law enforcement agency Europol. Many warrants were carried out by Italian police supported by helicopters.

Kilograms of banned drugs were found in one operation in southern Germany.

"The mafia-style organisation is responsible for much of Europe’s cocaine trade, combined with systematic money laundering, bribery, and violence," Europol said.

"The Italian criminal network was mainly devoted to international drug trafficking from South America to Europe, as well as Australia."

Police said the trail led to Germany after an encrypted phone was traced to Bavaria.

A suspected mafia cell in Munich is accused of financing the drugs trade and involvement in money laundering.

The group is accused of hiding its drugs profits by investing in property, restaurants, hotels, car wash companies and supermarkets.

Investigations suggest more than 25 million tonnes of cocaine were traded and €22 million wired from Italy to Belgium, the Netherlands and South America.

The 'Ndrangheta has been accused of paying corrupt dock workers a cut of its drugs revenue.

Investigators said the alleged criminal network was led by powerful ‘Ndrangheta families based mainly in the Italian town of San Luca.

The group, with origins in Calabria, southern Italy, has been described as one of the world's most powerful criminal organisations.

Operation Eureka is “one of the biggest and most significant operations in the field of organised crime of recent years”, Bavarian police said.