Italy's mafia abandoning rivalries to join forces, report says
ROME (Reuters) -Italy's mafia is turning away from violent turf wars to collaborate in drug trafficking, prostitution rings and money laundering, the national anti-mafia agency (DIA) said in an annual report about the organized crime groups on Tuesday.
Sicily's Cosa Nostra and the Camorra around Naples are forming alliances at home and abroad, while the 'Ndrangheta, based in Calabria in Italy's southern toe, is increasingly focused on controlling public works projects, the report said.
"Coexistence has fostered synergies that have progressively become structured," DIA director Michele Carbone told a press conference. These structures had become "capable of absorbing overlaps, tensions and frictions," he added.
Public works linked to Italy's EU-backed post-COVID Recovery Fund, plans for a huge bridge connecting Sicily to the mainland, and preparations for the 2026 Winter Olympics were all in danger of mafia infiltration, the DIA report said.
The construction sector represented 38% of administrative anti-mafia measures in 2024, with investigations into 200 building sites for public projects. Carbone said the DIA was ready to block any mafia involvement in the bridge to Sicily.
"Soon all anti-mafia prevention activities in connection with the construction of the bridge over the Strait (of Messina) will be started," he said.
The DIA also highlighted the mafia's growing technological expertise, using encrypted communication channels and maintaining contacts with prison inmates through drones.
Chinese "underground banking" networks are increasingly being used for money laundering, it said.
At the same time, the recruitment of marginalised young people to commit crimes in what are called "baby gangs" is facilitated by spectacular displays of power on social media, the report said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Analysts assess the potential impact of Trump's surprise 50% steel tariffs
-- U.S. President Donald Trump unexpectedly announced on Friday that steel and aluminum tariffs will double to 50%. The move, set to come into effect on June 4, was unveiled during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. It was later confirmed on TruthSocial and comes amid broader debates around U.S. industrial policy and foreign investment. Analysts are now evaluating the implications of this surprise decision, with most agreeing that the immediate domestic effects may be less severe than the broader geopolitical risks. JPMorgan's Tatsuya Maruyama said the direct impact on major Japanese steelmakers such as Nippon Steel Corp (TYO:5401), JFE Holdings, Inc. (TYO:5411), and Kobe Steel, Ltd. (TYO:5406) is expected to be limited, given that 'the U.S. accounts for about 4% of Japan's steel exports.' Maruyama pointed out in a Monday note that Nippon Steel and JFE export only about 1% of their total shipments to the U.S., while Kobe Steel exports about 3%. Still, he warned that 'rising global protectionism' is a growing concern, noting that a wave of anti-dumping measures and safeguards in regions like South Korea, the EU, and India could further strain global trade dynamics. 'If such countermeasures gain momentum, Japanese steel products may also be targeted and the export environment may worsen,' Maruyama continued. Meanwhile, analysts at BMO Capital Markets believe the sudden tariff hike could jolt domestic markets. 'The doubling of import tariffs, if maintained, is likely to create a panic in the market and trigger a restocking cycle that in our view has the potential to push prices >$1,000/st in the near-term,' the analysts said. However, they believe the spike would be temporary given macro uncertainty and seasonal demand trends. The broker upgraded Nucor (NYSE:NUE) to Outperform but downgraded Algoma Central (TSX:ALC), which it called 'a relative tariff loser.' The aluminum market may be more exposed, according to BMO. The U.S. covers only about 20% of its own aluminum consumption domestically, making it more vulnerable to supply disruptions. 'If tariffs do double, this is expected to put material upside pressure on the Midwest premium (MWP),' BMO wrote, estimating it could reach '$0.75/lb-plus' in theory, although higher aluminum cost will likely weigh on demand and thus offset some upside pressure. That said, the brokerage sees Century Aluminum (NASDAQ:CENX) as well positioned to benefit from a rise in the Midwest premium, while Alcoa (NYSE:AA) could see a negative impact of $1–2 per share, or 4–7%, due to its reliance on Canadian production. Still, BMO expects Alcoa may redirect some of its Canadian output to the EU market. Related articles Analysts assess the potential impact of Trump's surprise 50% steel tariffs Street Calls of the Week VIDEO: How to analyze a stock like a pro with the CEO of HF Foods
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
European industry hit hard by Trump tariffs, Salzgitter CEO warns
DUESSELDORF/FRANKFURT (Reuters) -Salzgitter, Germany's second-biggest steelmaker, on Monday warned that Washington's tariff policy was dealing a severe blow to European industry, after the U.S. administration unveiled plans to double steel import levies to 50%. "The erratic tariff policy of the USA is hitting Europe's economy hard - especially Germany," Salzgitter CEO Gunnar Groebler said in a written statement. Shares in Salzgitter fell along with larger European peers Thyssenkrupp and ArcelorMittal, all down between 0.5 and 2.1%. Groebler said that apart from the direct tariffs on exports to the United States, there was also increased import pressure on the EU market as a result of rising volumes of cheaper Asian steel in Europe. According to Germany's steel association, the United States accounted for around a fifth, or 4 million tonnes, of European steel exports outside of the EU, making it the most important export market. "An increase in steel import duties in the USA to 50% should prompt the EU Commission to accelerate its efforts to implement the measures under the Steel and Metals Action Plan," Groebler said.
Bloomberg
30 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
EU Poised to Curb China's Access to Medical Device Procurement
The European Union is set to curb Chinese medical device manufacturers' access to public procurement contracts in the bloc, according to a person familiar with the matter. EU countries are due to vote on the proposed measure as early as Monday, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private deliberations.
