Mayor Among 44 Arrested in ‘Ndrangheta Mafia Investigation

Rome: A mayor of a small Calabrian town was among 44 people arrested Wednesday in a probe into the suspected infiltration of local and northern Italian political life by the Calabria-based ‘Ndrangheta mafia, Italy’s richest and most powerful organized crime group. The operation targeted individuals believed to be involved in facilitating the activities of the mafia group within political circles.

According to Ansa News Agency, the mayor of Badolato, a municipality on the Ionian coast of Catanzaro, Giuseppe Nicola Parretta, his deputy Ernesto Maria Menniti, and the president of the city council Maicol Paparo, were among those arrested during the operation. The arrests were carried out by the Carabinieri of the Provincial Command of Catanzaro and the ROS special branch, resulting in 15 individuals being taken into custody and 29 being placed under house arrest.

The arrests were executed in various locations on the Ionian coast of Calabria, as well as in the regions of Lazio, Piedmont, and Lombardy. This large-scale operation highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement to dismantle the influence of the ‘Ndrangheta within both local and national political landscapes.