Italian mafia organization ‘Ndrangheta is believed to control up to 80 percent of Europe’s cocaine imports.
Source: Tristan Dessert, “In the footsteps of the ‘Ndrangheta, the most powerful branch of Italian mafia,” Franc 24, May17, 2013.
Italy Crime Statistics
Latest news about crime and security in Italy. Information about the black market in Italy is collected from international organizations, intelligence reports, national security agencies and news articles.
Italian oil company Eni reported in March 2013 that it was suspending operations in Southern Nigeria due to rampant oil theft and sabotage.
The company was producing up between 35,000 and 40,000 barrels of oil per day in its oil fields in Bayelsa. Bunkering activities were causing losses of up to 60 percent of the oil production.
Source: AFP, “Italy’s ENI curbs activities in Nigeria due to oil theft,” Google News, March 23, 2013.
The following is the estimated revenue of Mafia syndicates in Italy based upon data from the Interior Ministry and other crime statistics.
Camorra: $5 Billion (€3.75 Billion)
‘Ndrangheta: $4.6 Billion (€3.5 Billion)
Cosa Nostra: $2.5 (€1.9 Billion)
In terms of size and market reach, the Camorra and ‘Ndrangheta together account for 70 percent of all criminal activities by organized groups in the country.
Source: “Italy wants cross border action to tackle the mafia,” euronews, February 15, 2013.
FIFA, (The International Federation of Association Football) estimates that organized crime syndicates make up to $15 Billion a year by fixing football (American Soccer) matches.
One single match fixing scandal in Italy is estimated to have made the Camorra and Mafia syndicates $2.6 Billion in earnings.
Gambling investigations in Italy found that it costs up to $516,0000 to fix a football match in the top Italian league. In Croatia, a match could be fixed for $25,600.
Source: Associated Press, “Soccer faces epic fight against match-fixing,” Google News, February 12, 2013.
At the largest seaport in Italy, Gioia Tauro, duffel bags filled with cocaine is smuggled into the country through shipping containers that were packed in Central or South America. The bags are filled with super-pure cocaine weighing about 40 to 45 kilograms. The bags are light enough that one man can quickly lift and remove the bag before Customs inspectors can search the container.
The cocaine in each bag has a wholesale value of $3 Million (€2.25 Million). If all of the cocaine in a single bag was sold on the streets of Europe, the value of the cocaine would be $12 Million (€9 Million).
Police seized over two tons of cocaine at the port of Gioia Tauro in 2012, more than double the amount of cocaine seized in 2011. However, according to the Interior Ministry, 90 percent of these types of bags are able to reach its destination and passes through Customs in Italy.
Source: Steve Scherer, “Insight: Smuggling, soccer and the mafia,” Reuters, January 24, 2013.
Financial police in Italy arrested nearly 12,000 people in the country who were evading up to $74 Billion (€56 Billion) in taxes in 2012.
Police found 8,617 people who have never paid any taxes ever and owed the government $30 Billion (€22.7 Billion) in back taxes.
Over 16,000 people who were working in the black market and not paying taxes were also discovered by authorities in 2012.
Source: AFP, “Italy police catch 56 bn euros in tax evasion in 2012,” France 24, January 24, 2013.
According to an anti-piracy organization in Italy, 37 percent of consumers in the country view pirated movies and shows. The viewings of these pirated content causes annual losses of $636 Million (500 Million Euros).
Source: Nick Vivarelli, “Italy takes on pic pirates,” Variety, November 12, 2012.
In 2010, up to $1.4 Billion (1.1 Billion Euros) worth of counterfeit foods were sold in Italy, according to a think-tank based in the country. Counterfeited items included fake Parmesan cheese and spaghetti.
The total counterfeit goods market in Italy was worth $9 Billion in 2010, causing a loss of $2.2 Billion (1.7 Billion Euros) in tax revenue.
Source: Antonella Ciancio, “”Fake in Italy” branches out into toothpaste, soaps-reports,” Reuters, October 22, 2012.
As of 2010, there were nearly 4,700 people living under the witness protection program in Italy after testifying against organized crime in the country. Around 1,000 of these witnesses were “collaborators,” or people who were previously associated with the Mafia before turning state’s evidence. The rest of the people are family members of the collaborators.
The programs costs the Italian Government over $129 Million (100 Million Euros) to operate each year.
Source: Associated Press, “Italy’s secret weapon in hobbling Sicilian Mafia: witness protection program,” Washington Post, October 14, 2012.
