Italy: Information on the activities of the Calabrian Mafia 'Ndrangheta and on any law enforcement or judicial actions taken against its members from 1987 to the present
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 August 1996 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ITA24830.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Italy: Information on the activities of the Calabrian Mafia 'Ndrangheta and on any law enforcement or judicial actions taken against its members from 1987 to the present, 1 August 1996, ITA24830.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6aca274.html [accessed 1 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to a recent news report, the Calabrian Mafia 'Ndrangheta has succeeded the Sicilian Mafia La Cosa Nostra as Italy's most dangerous crime organization (The Washington Times 30 June 1996). The 'Ndrangheta Mafia reportedly has links to other organized crime groups in Switzerland, Portugal, Spain, Colombia, Venezuela and France (Reuters 10 May 1994; The Independent 29 Sept. 1992; Manchester Guardian Weekly 2 Aug. 1992).
According to the attached reports, numerous 'Ndrangheta bosses and members have been arrested, put on trial and jailed in recent months. In July 1996, for example, 'Ndrangheta boss Diego Rosmini was arrested by police in the southern Calabrian town of Reggio Calabria; Rosmini allegedly was involved in the deaths of hundreds during the 1980s (Reuters 13 July 1996). Another 'Ndrangheta leader, Nicola Arena, was arrested in July 1996 in the town of Isola Capo Rizzuto, on charges of murder, drug trafficking and Mafia association (ibid.; ibid. 6 July 1996). In June 1996, 'Ndrangheta member Domenico Mammoliti, who had previously been sentenced to 25 years in jail, was arrested in the Calabrian village of San Luca; charges alleged his involvement in kidnapping and drug trafficking (ibid. 30 June 1996). Arrests of 90 suspected members of the same Mafia were made a few days earlier (ibid.). In addition, top 'Ndrangheta boss Candeloro Parrello was arrested in Rome in late June 1996 (ibid. 29 June 1996). Parrello's arrest occurred during a police investigation into drug trafficking and infighting between Calabrian Mafia clans from 1990 to 1992 (ibid.). The investigation, named "Double Strike," was based in part on testimony from two brothers whose father's head was allegedly "cut off, tossed into the air and shot at by killers in a rival clan" (ibid.). Several days previous in the Calabrian city of Catanzaro, 181 alleged mobsters were ordered to stand trial for involvement in Mafia activities (ibid.).
For further information on the activities of the 'Ndrangheta Mafia, arrests of its members and and trials conducted against them from 1987 to the present, please consult the attached articles.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
The Independent [London]. 29 September 1992. Terry Kirby and Patricia Clough. "Mafia and Colombian Cocaine Ring Arrests." (NEXIS)
Manchester Guardian Weekly. 2 August 1992. Erich Inciyan. "French Fear the Grip of Europe's 13th State." (NEXIS)
Reuters. 13 July 1996. BC Cycle. Jeffrey Donovan. "Italian Mobsters Arrested, Mafia Threaten Euro MP." (NEXIS)
_____. 6 July 1996. BC Cycle. "Top Boss Held as Mafia-bombed Rome Church Reopens." (NEXIS)
_____. 30 June 1996. BC Cycle. "Italian Police Arrest Fugitive Mobsters." (NEXIS)
_____. 29 June 1996. BC Cycle. Jeffrey Donovan. "Italian Police Clamp Down on 'Ndrangheta Mafia." (NEXIS)
_____. 10 May 1994. BC Cycle. "Dozens Arrested in Italian Anti-Mafia Swoop." (NEXIS)
The Washington Times. 30 June 1996. Final Edition. "Calabrian Mafia Overtakes Cosa Nostra. " (NEXIS)
Attachments
Associated Press (AP). 18 July 1995. "Italy Mob Crackdown Nets 150." (NEXIS)
_____. 29 March 1995. "Police Seek 500 Arrests in Mafia Crackdown." (NEXIS)
The Independent [London]. 29 September 1992. Terry Kirby and Patricia Clough. "Mafia and Colombian Cocaine Ring Arrests." (NEXIS)
_____. 18 September 1992. Andrew Marshall and Sarah Lambert. "EC States Combine to Combat the Mafia." (NEXIS)
Los Angeles Times. 19 May 1993. William D. Montalbano. "Top Fugitive's Arrest Deals a Blow to Mafia." (NEXIS)
Manchester Guardian Weekly. 2 August 1992. Erich Inciyan. "French Fear the Grip of Europe's 13th State." (NEXIS)
Reuters. 13 July 1996. BC Cycle. Jeffrey Donovan. "Italian Mobsters Arrested, Mafia Threaten Euro MP." (NEXIS)
_____. 6 July 1996. BC Cycle. "Top Boss Held as Mafia-bombed Rome Church Reopens." (NEXIS)
_____. 30 June 1996. BC Cycle. "Italian Police Arrest Fugitive Mobsters." (NEXIS)
_____. 29 June 1996. BC Cycle. Jeffrey Donovan. "Italian Police Clamp Down on 'Ndrangheta Mafia." (NEXIS)
_____. 10 October 1994. BC Cycle. "Italy Police Arrest 116 in Mafia Sweep." (NEXIS)
_____. 10 May 1994. BC Cycle. "Dozens Arrested in Italian Anti-Mafia Swoop." (NEXIS)
_____. 28 April 1990. BC Cycle. "5,000 Italians Demand Tough Action Against Kidnap Gangs." (NEXIS)
_____. 19 July 1989. AM Cycle. "Police Arrest 26 in Italian Anti-kidnapping Operation." (NEXIS)
The Washington Times. 30 June 1996. Final Edition. "Calabrian Mafia Overtakes Cosa Nostra. " (NEXIS)
