Italy has launched its most significant organized crime trial in over 30 years, with 355 alleged members and associates of the powerful ‘Ndrangheta mafia facing justice in a specially converted courtroom in Lamezia Terme, Calabria.
The trial, which began on Wednesday, is expected to last over two years and involves more than 900 witnesses testifying against the defendants.
Focus on the Mancuso Clan
Unlike the 1986-1992 maxi-trial that targeted multiple Sicilian mafia families, this trial focuses solely on the Mancuso family, a dominant faction of the ‘Ndrangheta operating primarily in the Calabrian province of Vibo Valentia. The ‘Ndrangheta is now considered Italy’s most powerful mafia, with significant control over Europe’s cocaine trade.
Defendants and Charges
The defendants include a mix of alleged mobsters, politicians, police officers, and civil servants. High-profile figures include Luigi Mancuso, 66, known as “The Uncle,” the alleged clan boss, and Giancarlo Pittelli, a former senator and lawyer accused of linking the ‘Ndrangheta to political and institutional networks.
Other defendants have colorful nicknames like “The Wolf,” “Fatty,” and “Blondie.” The extensive charge sheet includes mafia association, murder, attempted murder, extortion, drug trafficking, loan sharking, disclosure of official secrets, and abuse of office. Additionally, 92 suspects opted for a separate fast-tracked trial.
Scale and Security of the Trial
The trial is being held in a former call center transformed into a fortified courtroom to accommodate hundreds of attendees, including 400 lawyers and defendants held in specially built cells.
Most defendants were arrested in December 2019 during raids across Italy, Germany, Switzerland, and Bulgaria. The scale of the trial, unprecedented since the 1980s, underscores the deep infiltration of the ‘Ndrangheta in society.
Challenges and Implications
Leading the prosecution is Nicola Gratteri, Italy’s renowned anti-mafia prosecutor, who has lived under police protection for over 30 years. Gratteri aims to dismantle the “asphyxiating” grip of the ‘Ndrangheta, which is believed to dominate cocaine trafficking from South America to Europe.
However, experts like Federico Varese, a criminology professor at Oxford University, warn that while the trial is a significant blow, it may not eradicate the ‘Ndrangheta unless the societal and economic conditions enabling its existence are addressed.
