Italian officials orchestrated a series of raids in Palermo and neighboring towns Tuesday, targeting suspected members of the Mafia and arresting around 150 people. The large-scale operation was part of a continuous effort by Italy to dismantle organized crime.
More than 1,200 officers helped conduct raids—reportedly the largest scale since 1984—against Cosa Nostra. Targeting people for crimes including Mafia affiliation, attempted murder, and drug trafficking, the arrests are part of an ongoing weakening of the infamous Sicilian Mafia that served as inspiration for the “Godfather” movies. The mobsters wreaked havoc on the southern Italian island in the late 20th century, but have since lost influence due to authority crackdowns and the growing power of the Calabrian group, ‘Ndrangheta.
Prior to the raids, two years of investigations revealed how clans cooperate, recruit new members, and exercise control in the region while also revealing a wide network of informants. Despite these efforts, the Mafia continues to wield influence in industries ranging from tourism to prisons.
Read more about the evolution of the Italian mafia here.
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