The largest mafia trial Italy has seen in decades began on Wednesday (January 13), with over 350 members of one of the world’s richest and most powerful crime syndicates, the ‘Ndrangheta, being put on trial.
The trial is expected to take about a year, with the prosecution indicating that they hope to call more than 900 witnesses, including members of the group who turned informant and some former ranks of Cosa Nostra in Sicily. The defendants face charges including murder, extortion, drug trafficking, money laundering and other crimes in connection with the ‘Ndrangheta. The group reportedly controls 80% of the cocaine trade in Europe, and they also have ties to America, Australia, and Africa. Prosecutors allege the organization brings in $55 billion a year, which is more than the cartels in Mexico and Colombia combined.
The trial began following an investigation of 12 clans linked to a convicted ‘Ndrangheta boss, Luigi Mancuso, who served 19 years in prison for his role in leading what investigators allege is one of the ’Ndrangheta’s most powerful crime families, based in the town of Vibo Valentia.
The trial is taking place at the Lamezia Terme bunker, where TV screens were placed on the ceilings for participants to view the proceedings. There are also enough tables for 600 lawyers to work on while socially distancing. While this trial is huge, it's not Italy's biggest, which would go to the 1986 Cosa Nostra trial, which saw 475 alleged members on trial. During that trial over 300 were convicted, including 19 life sentences.
Source: AP
