A nun in Italy has been arrested on suspicion of being part of a criminal gang with links to the ‘Ndrangheta, the country’s most powerful mafia network. according to BBCThe nun, Sister Anna Donnelly, was among 24 people arrested in northern Italy in connection with a mafia investigation. Italian police said he was arrested for allegedly acting as an intermediary for the ‘Ndrangheta mafia and its jailed gang members. The arrests are the result of a four-year investigation into the ‘Ndrangheta, one of Europe’s most influential and dangerous criminal organizations, the outlet reports.
The 57-year-old nun took advantage of her position as a volunteer at the prison, according to statements released by a coalition of law enforcement agencies. The Brescia Carabinieri said she was an undocumented person whose religious role allowed her “free access to penitentiary facilities”.
Authorities accused him of being an intermediary, “exploiting the spiritual role he played” in passing messages between bosses and foot soldiers linked to Italy’s notorious ‘Ndrangheta organized crime syndicate based in Calabria in the south of the country. To pass orders’.
Prosecutor Francesco Prete said, “She provided orders, instructions, moral and material support to accomplices and in return received useful information from prisoners to better plan criminal strategies.” cnn,
He said Donnelly, who is currently under house arrest, was “at the disposal of the criminal association to guarantee connections with jailed associates and people on the outside.”
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Two politicians have also been arrested along with Donnelly. Police also seized assets worth 1.8 million euros ($1.9 million) in raids in several cities in the Lombardy and Veneto regions, as well as in Calabria in the south.
The operation is ongoing, with police officers conducting searches across northern Italy. Prosecutors said investigators allege the group mainly used scrap metal trading businesses to launder money, laundering cash totaling approximately €12m.
It is noteworthy that ‘Ndrangheta is considered one of the most dangerous criminal organizations in the world.
