28 ‘Ndrangheta associates arrested for drug trafficking and violence

Europol has supported Italian law enforcement in dealing a heavy blow to the ‘Ndrangheta criminal organisation. In an action day conducted on 8 July 2025 across Italy, Spain and Albania, special intervention teams have arrested 28 suspected criminals of Italian and Albanian nationality. Among the individuals taken into custody is an Italian national from the Calabria region suspected of setting up the criminal structure for cocaine trade in the San Basilio area of Rome.

This individual, together with his three sons, is suspected of closely collaborating with an Albanian criminal group, which handled some of the logistical aspects of the drug trafficking trade. The Albanian members of this network allegedly organised the extraction of shipments from various Spanish and Dutch ports as well as the subsequent transport to Italy. In addition, they were responsible for the drug sale in other parts of Rome.

Investigations show that the cocaine sold in Italy was acquired in South America and transported in containers to ports across Europe. The transport from the Gioia Tauro harbour in Calabria to Rome was allegedly facilitated by Calabrian criminal brokers.

Torture as a tool to instil  fear within the criminal organisation

The arrested individuals are suspected to have trafficked at least 1 019 kilograms of cocaine and 1 497 kg of hashish in 80 trafficking operations. Prosecutors suspect four Italian individuals of having kidnapped a drug dealer, causing him physical and psychological harm – an example of the severe violence associated with the ‘Ndrangheta criminal organisation. The torture inflicted was filmed with a mobile phone, with the video subsequently spread in order to instil fear, silence and submission within members of the criminal group located in Rome.

This complex investigation also brought to light the sophisticated communication methods used to exchange information within the criminal organisation. To evade discovery by the authorities, its members would rely on encrypted messaging via devices distributed by an Albanian criminal service provider, who was also arrested on 8 July.

Europol support and international collaboration

On the action day, a Europol expert with a mobile office was deployed to Italy to cross-check information against Europol’s databases. Europol provided financial analytical support and facilitated the information exchange between Italian and Spanish authorities, leading to five arrests in Spain over the course of the investigation, prior to the action day.

Participating countries

• Albania: State Police (Policia e Shtetit)
• Italy:
  • District Anti-Mafia Directorate of the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Rome (Direzione Distrettuale Antimafia della Procura della Repubblica di Roma)
  • R.O.S. Carabinieri (Raggruppamento Operativo Speciale dell’Arma dei Carabinieri)
  • Military of the Provincial Commands with territorial jurisdiction
  • Helicopter Squadron “Cacciatori” Calabria (Squadrone Eliportato “Cacciatori” Calabria)
  • Central Directorate Of Anti-Drug Services – Rome (Direzione Centrale Servizi Antidroga – Roma)
• Spain: Guardia Civil – CRAIN

Participating agencies and projects

Europol – AP SUSTRANS – Financial Analysis Team, @ON Network, SCIP – I Can

More information: Europol