“The branch, which employs 1,400 people in 37 offices and generates hundreds of millions of euros in turnover a year, was placed in the hands of administrators by a Milan court,” an ANSA report said.
According to La Repubblica, the investigation began when a truck carrying goods for DB Schenker was caught with 30 kilos of drugs attempting to cross into the U.K. The truck was operated by the Bevilacqua company, whose founder, Nicola Bevilacqua was convicted of mafia association in 2006, according to Milano Today.
Hailing from the southern region of Calabria, ‘Ndrangheta is Italy’s most powerful mafia-like group, having far outpaced their rivals in Sicily, Cosa Nostra, or the Neapolitan Camorra. ‘Ndrangheta is believed to control almost the entire cocaine trade in Europe and its illicit gains were once estimated to make up as much as 3% of Italy’s GDP.
The group is divided into a series of clans, known as ‘Ndrinas.
'Ndrangheta is also seen as among the most impenetrable of Italy's mafia groups, with its close-knit family-based organization outdoing the Sicilian Cosa Nostra in its ability to defeat police efforts to turn members into state witnesses.
The seizures come just a week after a major operation by Italy’s Anti-Mafia Directorate to halt ‘Ndrangheta’s infiltration of the Roman underworld.
Police detained 43 suspects in the Italian capital, ANSA reported.
“This section of the crime syndicate allegedly sought to gain control of legal businesses in sectors ranging from fish, bakeries and pastry retailers and the recycling of used leather and cooking oil,” ANSA said.
