The Italian mafia abandon the rivalries to unite its forces, warns the authorities. Are in danger including projects from the PNRR Italy
The head of the Italian Directorate of Investigation Antimafie (DIA), Michele Carbone. Credit: Roberto Monaldo / LaPressse / Profimedia
The Italian mafia gives up violent territorial struggles to collaborate in drug trafficking, prostitution networks and money laundering, said the National Antimafie Agency (DIA) in an annual report on organized crime groups, published on Tuesday, reports Reuters.
According to the report, Cosa Nostra in Sicily and Camorra in the Napoli area forms alliances in Italy and abroad, while the “Calabria is increasingly focused on the control of public works projects.
“The coexistence favored the synergies that have been structured progressively,” said Dia Dia, Michele Carbone, in a press conference. These structures have become “capable of absorbing overlaps, tensions and friction,” the Italian official added.
In Italy, public works associated with the mechanism supported by the EU for post-Covid recovery, the plans for a huge bridge that connects the continent Sicily, but also the preparations for the 2026 Winter Olympics are all in danger of being infiltrated by the Mafia, the DIA report shows.
The construction sector represented 38% of the Antimafie administrative measures in 2024, with investigations on 200 sites for public projects. Carbone said Dia is ready to block any involvement of the mafia in the bridge to Sicily.
“All the antimaph prevention activities related to the construction of the bridge (Messina) will be started soon,” he said.
DIA has also stressed the growing technological expertise of the Mafia, which uses encrypted communication channels and maintains contacts with detainees through drones.
The report is mentioned, at the same time, that Chinese “clandestine banking” networks are more and more use for money laundering.
At the same time, the recruitment of marginalized young people to commit crimes in the so-called “baby gangs”, groups of young people involved in violent and illegal activities, is facilitated by spectacular power demonstrations on social networks, notes Dia.
