Over 200 gang members sentenced to total of 2,200 years in jail in one of Italy's biggest mafia trials - Beritaja

Over 200 pack members person been sentenced to a full of much than 2,200 years in situation aft 1 of The biggest mafia tests in Italian history.

Some 338 defendants were accused of being members of The powerful crime group, 'Ndrangheta, and The proceedings has been ongoing since January 2021.

Founded in The 18th period in Calabria, it has grown to go 1 of The world's astir powerful, extended and richest criminal organisations.

'Ndrangheta is The only mafia to beryllium progressive in each continent, is said to power 80% of Europe's cocaine trade, and has an estimated yearly turnover of £52bn.

The three-year proceedings progressive mafiosi, entrepreneurs and politicians, and included charges of murder, corruption, supplier trafficking, money laundering and extortion.

Since retiring connected 16 October to see their verdicts, The 3 judges had to unrecorded in a safe location nether constabulary protection.

Some 67 defendants who were portion of The original indictment person already been recovered blameworthy aft opting for a speedy trial, and 131 group were acquitted

Among those recovered blameworthy see Domenico Tomaino, known arsenic 'The Wolf', who sewage 17 years; 'Fatty' Francesco Barbieri, who sewage 24 years; and Vincenzo Barba, known arsenic 'The Musician', who was sentenced to 28 years.

Ex-Forza Italia MP Giancarlo Pittelli, 1 of The astir high-profile defendants, received 11 years for being a mafia go-between.

The bosses of 2 'Ndrangheta clans, Saverio Razionale and Domenico Bonavota, some sewage 30 years, according to Italy's ANSA news agency.

Several twelve informants betrayed The organisation and its strict codification of soundlessness to supply grounds for The prosecution.

The 'maxi trial' focused connected 1 of The 'Ndrangheta's cardinal families, The Mancusos, and their associates.

The man said to beryllium The family's 'Godfather' figure, Luigi Mancuso, known arsenic 'The Uncle', is owed to look a abstracted proceedings - and his nephew Emanuele has already fixed grounds against The organisation.

Special forces and elite units deed The 'Ndrangheta in December 2019, pinch astir 3,000 officers raiding 12 Italian regions and besides making arrests in Germany, Switzerland and Bulgaria.

Millions of euros worthy of properties and rate were seized, while 300 suspects were detained.

The 2019 cognition was named Rinascita-Scott, referring to The rebirth of The region - 'rinascita' in Italian - and to US typical supplier Scott W Sieben, who helped Italian constabulary observe links betwixt Colombia's cartels and The 'Ndrangheta.

The main charismatic who led The immense investigation was Nicola Gratteri, who organised The building of a bunker courtroom to clasp The trial.

Read more:
Nicola Gratteri - The mafia's astir wanted man

Mr Gratteri, who is Italy's astir celebrated anti-mafia prosecutor, has been surviving nether constabulary protection for 34 years.

At The commencement of The hearing, he told he would not beryllium intimidated by The galore decease threats and assassination land against him.

In August, while was fixed uncommon entree to Italy's hidden mafia war, Mr Gratteri said that if he were to dice tomorrow, "it wouldn't beryllium a problem for me".

"To unrecorded a 100 years arsenic a coward is meaningless," he said. "Instead, I person lived arsenic a man."

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni precocious said Italy now has The astir effective strategies in fighting organised crime.

"We person an highly changeable force and The conflict against The mafia is simply a cornerstone of this government," she said.