THE DIREZIONE INVESTIGATIVA ANTIMAFIA SEIZED ASSETS WORTH 2.6 MILLION EUROS FROM SUSPECTS BELONGING TO THE ‘NDRANGHETA OF EMILIA ROMAGNA

The Direzione Investigativa Antimafia, together with the DDA of Bologna, carried out an order of seizure issued by the Court of Bologna – Preventive Measures Section – against two entrepreneurs, father and son, suspected of belonging to the ‘Ndrangheta organized crime group of Emilia Romagna. The assets seized were worth about 2.6 million euros.

Among the various criminal cases in which they were involved, mention must be made of “AEMILIA” maxi trial, which is considered by the Judges of the Court of Appeal of Bologna as one of the “most significant case characterizing the organized crime group of Emilia Romagna in terms of its internal dynamics and its ability to carry out illegal operations and to accumulate illicitly earned money, also thanks to the complaisant support of financial sector operators“. The offense, which at the judicial level, was reconstructed as part of the well-known operation Grimilde, consisted of the creation of a false judgment, which had apparently been issued by the Court of Appeal of Naples, first Civil Section. This judgement misled the representatives of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport and made them pay a sum of 2.25 million euros in favour of a company linked to the two entrepreneurs, who are now subject to the seizure. Based on the underlying fraudulent agreement, the two affected parties and several members of the ‘Ndrangheta organized crime group, both of Emilia Romagna and of the GRANDE ARACRI cosca of Cutro,  would share the proceeds. In the trial called “GRIMILDE”, which took place at the Court of Reggio Emilia in 2022, the two entrepreneurs were sentenced, though not by final judgment, to 4 years and 6 months and 8 years and 3 months of imprisonment respectively. The sentences have recently been confirmed on appeal for participation in the aforementioned fraud, with the aggravating circumstance of having acted to facilitate the activity of the autonomous ‘Ndrangheta group operating in Emilia Romagna, which is historically linked to the GRANDE ARACRI cosca of Cutro. The order of seizure concerned 55 properties located in the province of Reggio Emilia and Crotone, 2 companies in the construction sector, financial relations, corporate shareholdings as well as a vehicle.

Bologna 26 September 2024