Italian Police Arrest 130 in Major Mafia Crackdown

February 12, 2025: Italian police have arrested around 130 individuals in a large-scale operation targeting the Sicilian Mafia, marking one of the most significant crackdowns in recent years. The coordinated raids, which took place across multiple regions, focused on members of the Cosa Nostra, dismantling a network involved in extortion, drug trafficking, money laundering, and corruption.

Authorities describe the operation as a significant blow to organized crime, disrupting key leadership structures and financial channels that have sustained the Mafia’s influence. The arrests included high-ranking bosses, economic operators, and local enforcers, all suspected of orchestrating illegal activities across Italy and beyond.

Investigators revealed that Cosa Nostra had restructured itself in recent years, regaining strength after decades of law enforcement pressure. The arrested individuals were allegedly involved in coordinated racketeering schemes, using legitimate businesses as fronts for illicit operations. Prosecutors also uncovered links between the Mafia and local politicians, raising concerns about systemic corruption facilitating criminal activities.

The crackdown is part of an ongoing anti-Mafia campaign launched by Italian authorities. It combines intelligence operations, financial tracking, and witness testimonies from former members who turned in state evidence. Officials emphasized that the fight against organized crime requires constant vigilance as criminal groups adapt their strategies to evade law enforcement.

This wave of arrests follows similar operations against the ‘Ndrangheta and Camorra, two other major Mafia organizations in Italy. The scale of this raid underscores the persistent challenge of dismantling deeply entrenched criminal syndicates.

Legal proceedings are expected to move swiftly, with prosecutors pushing for severe sentences to weaken the Mafia’s hold on economic and political institutions. Italian officials have called for stronger international cooperation, noting that Mafia activities extend beyond national borders, mainly through drug trafficking and money laundering networks that operate across Europe and the Americas.

The arrests mark a significant victory for law enforcement, but officials warn that organized crime remains a long-term threat, requiring continuous pressure to prevent its resurgence.