A new blow to the economic and financial network of the Camorra. Today, the State Police and the Guardia di Finanza, coordinated by the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) and the magistrates of the offices of Milan and Palermo, carried out ten arrests in the context of a major operation against a transnational criminal organization specialized in laundering and reinvesting large amounts of illicit proceeds.
The investigation, called “Moby-Dick 2”, is the direct follow-up to the blitz that in November 2024 had already led to the arrest of 47 people and the seizure of assets worth over 650 million euros, dismantling a complex system of intra-Community VAT fraud involving businesses and banking channels throughout Europe and in several non-EU countries such as Switzerland, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates.
The accusations and links with the Camorra
According to the reconstruction by the investigators of the Central Operations Service, SISCO and the Flying Squad of Palermo, together with the PEF Nucleus of the Guardia di Finanza of Varese, those arrested are accused, to varying degrees, of transnational criminal association, Recycling, self-laundering and reinvestment of illicit funds, aggravated by the facilitation of two historic clans of the Neapolitan Camorra: the Nuvolettas of Marano and the By Lauro from Scampia.
Among the newly arrested, eight people were located between the provinces of Naples and Rome, while two are currently in the United Arab Emirates, in particular in Dubai, where the Italian authorities have already issued a European Arrest Warrant.
The arrest of the fugitive boss and new evidence
The new tranche of the investigation was launched after the arrest, last May 26 at Milan Malpensa airport, of a Belgian citizen believed to be one of the leaders of the organization, who had been on the run for six months and arrived in Italy on a flight from Albania.
Further circumstantial evidence emerged from the analysis of the seized electronic devices, as well as from the statements made by some of the suspects, helping to strengthen the accusatory framework. Today's activities also include numerous searches in Naples and Rome, conducted with the operational support of the territorial departments of the Police and the Guardia di Finanza.
Operation “Moby Dick 2” confirms, if there was still any need, once again how Campania's organized crime is deeply rooted in the international economic system, exploiting sophisticated financial mechanisms to launder enormous flows of dirty money.
The synergy between national authorities and European bodies has proved decisive in a context where mafias are increasingly moving beyond traditional borders. An important, but not definitive, blow in a battle that remains open on the level of economic legality.
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Comments (2)
It is interesting to see how the police are working to stop these criminal groups, but it is also sad to think about how much money has been stolen and how much damage it does to society.
Yes, but there are more and more operations like this. Who knows if in the end they will lead to a real change in the fight against the mafia that always seems to return.