A basement in the Mercato neighborhood in Naples had been transformed into a sort of Camorra bank counter where the Mazzarella clan sold counterfeit 100 euro notes. The shop operated like a shop, with opening and closing hours to the public: on weekdays from 09,00:17,00 to 09,00:13,00, while on Sundays from 100,00:50,00 to 20,00:XNUMX. It was possible to buy XNUMX euro notes of various types, XNUMX euro notes and XNUMX euro notes.
The Carabinieri of the Anti-Counterfeiting Command, supported by local units and Europol, carried out a major raid, dismantling the organization dedicated to the counterfeiting and sale of counterfeit 100 euro banknotes in Italy and abroad.
It also happened in a religious congregation, a sort of recreational club where cards were played, the sale of counterfeit euro banknotes of fine workmanship as also attested by the ECB: the circumstance was made known during a press conference called by the Public Prosecutor's Office to illustrate the details of the vast operation of the Carabinieri.
According to investigators, production was itinerant while sales took place at certain times, in the Mercato Pendino district of the city, as well as in the recreational club, in a grocery store, in a bar and even on the street.
The operation, coordinated by the District Anti-Mafia Directorate of Napoli, led to the issuing of precautionary measures against 63 individuals seriously suspected, to varying degrees, of criminal conspiracy aimed at the forgery and sale of counterfeit banknotes, in concert with those who produced them, aggravated by having facilitated the activities of the "Mazzarella" Camorra clan, dominant in the Neapolitan urban area of the Mercato Pendino; of complicity in the sale of the aforementioned counterfeit currency; and, in two incidents, of attempted extortion.
Three French citizens were also arrested for exporting counterfeit banknotes abroad.
The investigation also revealed that the counterfeit currency was being exported abroad. Three French citizens were arrested immediately after purchasing the counterfeit money, and it was documented that the currency had also been sold in Spain and Greece.
A 6 million euro business
The illicit business is estimated to have generated approximately €6 million in revenue during the period under investigation. The investigations revealed the involvement of the Mazzarella Camorra clan in the counterfeiting and trafficking of counterfeit money. The area where the shop operated is under the clan's criminal control, and the clan consistently paid sums of money derived from the illicit profits.
63 people arrested
During the operation, 63 people were arrested, 48 of whom were in prison, 14 under house arrest, and 1 banned from residing in the municipality of Naples. Another suspect was arrested in France thanks to a European arrest warrant.
A hard blow to organized crime
Today's operation represents a severe blow to organized crime, which profits from the counterfeiting and trade of counterfeit currency. The deployment of significant investigative and operational resources demonstrates the Carabinieri's commitment to combating this type of crime, which damages the economy and the safety of citizens.
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