Italian police confiscated more than 130 million euros ($140 million) in a raid against the Mafia, the authorities said on Tuesday.
They said the raid was directed against branches of the criminal organisations ‘Ndrangheta and Camorra, mainly in Rome, which were involved in money laundering.
A total of 18 suspects were detained, more than 50 others are under investigation.
They were accused of money laundering and other criminal activities, usury and extortion.
More than 500 officers were involved in the operation in Rome and several other Italian cities.
The ‘Ndrangheta from Calabria, the Camorra from Naples, and the Cosa Nostra from Sicily have been among Italy’s most powerful criminal groups for decades.
All three organisations have long been actively far beyond their former territories, including abroad.
The worldwide turnover of the ‘Ndrangheta alone is estimated at more than 50 billion euros per year, mainly through the drugs business.
