How the Mafia Infiltrated Germany
4 days ago
- #cocaine-trade
- #mafia
- #organized-crime
- The 'Ndrangheta, a powerful mafia network from Calabria, Italy, has expanded globally, with Germany as its largest outpost outside Italy.
- The mafia uses Italian restaurants and cafes in Germany as fronts for money laundering, drug trafficking, and infiltrating society and politics.
- Germany's authorities have underestimated the 'Ndrangheta's presence, leading to weak enforcement and integration of mafia members into legitimate businesses.
- The 'Ndrangheta's expansion coincided with the rise of the international cocaine trade, making Europe the largest cocaine market, surpassing the U.S.
- Mafia clans in Germany avoid overt violence to blend into society, focusing on profits from cocaine trafficking and reinvesting in legal businesses.
- Corruption and collusion with politicians and law enforcement have allowed the 'Ndrangheta to operate with impunity in Germany.
- Organized crime groups across Europe, including the 'Ndrangheta, are increasingly interconnected, laundering billions and corrupting institutions.
- The 'Ndrangheta's strategy of hiding in plain sight through legitimate businesses has made it difficult for authorities to combat their influence.
- Germany's weak anti-money laundering laws and high legal barriers for prosecuting organized crime have enabled the mafia's growth.
- The future of organized crime in Europe mirrors Italy's situation, where mafias deeply infiltrate institutions without resorting to overt violence.