‘Hanger war': Chinese mafia turf battle rages in Italy's fast fashion hub
But a 'hanger war' is raging in the city near Florence - turning Europe's largest apparel manufacturing centre and a pillar of Made in Italy production into a battleground for warring Chinese mafia groups.
The situation has become so urgent that Prato's prosecutor, Luca Tescaroli, has appealed to Rome for help, calling for an anti-mafia division and reinforcements for judges and police.
Tescaroli has warned that the escalation in crime has become a huge business operation and moved beyond Italy, particularly to France and Spain.
Advertising signs for fast-fashion outlet factories in the industrial district of Prato, central Italy. Photo: AFP
The gangs are battling to control the production of hundreds of millions of clothes hangers each year - the market is estimated to be worth €100 million (US$115 million) - and the bigger prize of transporting apparel.
The Chinese mafia also 'promotes the illegal immigration of workers of various nationalities' for Prato, Tescaroli said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
16 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
When a family and servant were murdered in their Macau restaurant in 1985
On August 4, 1985, a family of nine and their servant were murdered in the Eight Immortals Restaurant in Macau. Advertisement Investigations began when severed limbs were discovered in waters off Hak Sa beach the same month, but it was not until September 1986 that Wong Chi-hung was arrested. The 50-year-old man, who was charged with 10 counts of murder, would later kill himself in prison. Police subsequently closed their files on the case. A clipping from SCMP's August 9, 1985 issue. Photo: SCMP The murder is considered one of the most brutal in Macau's history and is sometimes referred to as the 'pork bun murders', owing to grisly speculation that some of the victims' remains were served in the restaurant's signature pork buns. In this On This Day article, we take a look at the Post's coverage of the gruesome crime. Man charged in 'limbs' murder case by Tommy Lewis Advertisement This article was first published on October 1, 1986
South China Morning Post
21 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
‘Hanger war': Chinese mafia turf battle rages in Italy's fast fashion hub
When Zhang Dayong lay in a pool of blood on a pavement in Rome after being shot six times, few suspected a link to Italy's storied textile hub of Prato. But a 'hanger war' is raging in the city near Florence - turning Europe's largest apparel manufacturing centre and a pillar of Made in Italy production into a battleground for warring Chinese mafia groups. The situation has become so urgent that Prato's prosecutor, Luca Tescaroli, has appealed to Rome for help, calling for an anti-mafia division and reinforcements for judges and police. Tescaroli has warned that the escalation in crime has become a huge business operation and moved beyond Italy, particularly to France and Spain. Advertising signs for fast-fashion outlet factories in the industrial district of Prato, central Italy. Photo: AFP The gangs are battling to control the production of hundreds of millions of clothes hangers each year - the market is estimated to be worth €100 million (US$115 million) - and the bigger prize of transporting apparel. The Chinese mafia also 'promotes the illegal immigration of workers of various nationalities' for Prato, Tescaroli said.
The Standard
3 days ago
- The Standard
Attacks in China and Japan raise concerns about xenophobia in both countries
Security personnel walk at a subway station platform in Suzhou, eastern China, where a Japanese woman living in China was reported to be attacked and injured on Thursday by a man, Friday, Aug. 1, 2025. (Kyodo News via AP)
