Italy’s largest trial in over 30 years begins today with over 350 members including professionals such as politicians, lawyers, businessmen with close ties to the Ndrangheta syndicate. Prosecutors seek to prove a web of crimes going as far back as the 1990s ranging from murder, drug trafficking to abuse of office.
The Ndrangheta is an Italian Mafia-type organized crime syndicate based in Calabria dating back to the 18th Century. The semi-militarized organization is led by Guiseppe Morabito.
The “maxi-trial” which is expected to last for over a year with 355 defendants to be exact and 900 prosecution witnesses, hopes to take down the Ndrangheta crime syndicate considered the most powerful, organised crime groups that control the bulk of cocaine flowing into Europe.
Authorities have reported that the Ndrangheta is a network of families, 150 of which are in Calabria with over 6000 members and affiliates infiltrating all areas of public life. This trial, however, focuses on a single-family that controls the Vibo Valentia area of Calabria, the Mancuso group.