Italy Arrests 325 : Most Number of Mafia Defendents in over 35 Years

In the southern region of Calabria, a southwest coast province, police opened a trial against 325 alleged local Mafia members with charges of murder, extortion, bribery and other crimes against the state. Included were local politicians, bureaucrats, and businessmen of various types. Arrests were made in many locations, including foreign countries that were part of the drug trafficking network operated by members of the Mancuso crime family, thwe richest, most dangerous organization in all of Europe. In addition to drug trafficking, the crime family had vast real estate holdings developed by forcing the sale of desired properties among owners across the coountry, especially in Calabria. The crime family, known as the "Ndragheta, has replaced what was once the exclusive territory if the Sicilain mafia mob, largely broken up in the '80's. The Calabrian branch of the mob eventually took over as the head of the vast crime syndicate. Authorities say theat most of the illegal drugs flooding through Europe come through Calabrian ports. Using immigrants, low level soldiers(members), they were able to create integrated networks of distribution linked with other organizations in the EU. The Chief Federal prosecuter, Nicola Gratteri, has been an opponent of the "Ndrangheta for years. Arrests were made in Bulgaria, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. The organization was headquartered in the city of Vito Viterbia on the west coast of Calabria, not too far from the airport of Lemezia terme, built about 25 years ago and serves European travelers who find the unspoiled beaches of the south coast very attractive compared to those in Spain, France, and Italy's east coast(vic.Rimini), often jam packed in August. Mr. Gratteri, under police protection for decades, says that the trial could last years. Unfortunately, many of the accused will be set free during the trial period according to Italian law which allows quite a bit of latitude when it comes to pre-trial detention. On the other hand, an accused can be held for years before a court hearing that justifies the charges. The Italian courts operate differently than American courts, as was noted in the case of Amanda Knox, accused and acquitted of murder charges after spending over 4 years in pretrial incarceration. All of this legal work gets put on future calenders, which generally change, according to the whims of prosecuters, defense lawyers, witnesses, and other parties involved. It remains the anchor that stalls progress across Italy.