Risk of mafia infiltration abroad

Abstract

EMPACT (European Multidisciplinary Platform against Criminal Threats) is one of the most important tools at the EU's disposal to identify, define and address the main threats posed to the Union by organized crime and serious international crime.

In this framework, Central Operational Service (SCO) of Polizia di Stato is action leader of the operational 1.3., carried on into the priority High Risk Criminal Network.

The aim of the I cicle of the action (2022-2023), was to research links between Italian OCG mafia style and companies managed or owned abroad by individuals originating from Southern Italy (Sicily, Campania,  Puglia and Calabria). Participants were asked to identify companies of interest by using some criteria illustrated during the meeting held in Rome in December 2022; companies must be active in catering, earthmoving and betting sectors.

The action leader, together with Italian law enforcement agencies (Guardia di Finanza & DIA) and with Transcrime (Joint Center for Research on Transnational Crime/Catholic University of the Sacred Heart - Milano), analysed questionnaires filled in by the first participants in 2023. Data analysis was completed by the end of 2023, while starting in 2024, the action aims to involve new entities and target companies managed or owned by individuals from Calabria (another southern Italian region), in order to have a more complete map of the risk of 'ndrangheta infiltration abroad.