Italian Police Detain Nun in Mafia Investigation

Italian police have announced the arrest of 24 individuals, including a nun, in northern Italy as part of a mafia investigation. The nun, identified by the Italian press as Sister Anna Donelli, faces arrest on suspicion of serving as an intermediary between the ‘Ndrangheta mafia and its incarcerated members. Law enforcement officials also apprehended two politicians and confiscated assets valued at over €1.8m (£1.5m) during operations conducted in various towns across the Lombardy and Veneto regions, alongside Calabria in southern Italy. These arrests stem from a four-year inquiry targeting the ‘Ndrangheta, recognized as one of Europe’s most influential and perilous criminal organizations. According to statements issued by the coalition of law enforcement agencies involved in the operation, allegations suggest the nun exploited her role as a prison volunteer. The Brescia Carabinieri stated that she was perceived as an unsuspecting individual, whose religious status granted her “free access to the penitentiary facilities.” Police communiqués did not disclose the identities of the politicians or any other individuals implicated in the investigation. The operation remains ongoing, with hundreds of police officers carrying out searches throughout northern Italy. Police reported that sniffer dog units, trained to locate weapons and drugs, along with “cash dogs” specifically trained to find currency, are assisting in these efforts. Prosecutors indicated that investigators suspect the group predominantly utilized scrap metal trade businesses as a cover for money laundering, amounting to approximately €12m in illicit funds. The ‘Ndrangheta, which originated in the economically disadvantaged region of Calabria, is regarded as one of the globe’s most perilous criminal organizations. Last November, over 200 individuals received sentences totaling more than 2,200 years in prison during one of Italy’s most significant mafia trials in decades.