Italian Court Seizes Over 140 Million Euros Linked to Oil Fraud and Mafia

An Italian court has recently confiscated assets valued at over 140 million euros from five businessmen active in the oil distribution sector. These individuals are alleged to have engaged in systematic tax fraud and have purportedly forged links with the infamous 'Ndrangheta mafia, as confirmed by the Guardia di Finanza police in Reggio Calabria.

The suspected offenders are accused of facilitating the entire distribution chain of oil products while evading taxes by utilizing multiple intermediary companies. The unscrupulous activities reportedly extended to laundering revenue from criminal enterprises, leading to the seizure by the court of a vast array of assets, including 79 properties, 85 vehicles, 28 petroleum companies, a real estate firm, and luxury items.

According to a report from the national anti-mafia agency (DIA), Italy's mafia entities have increasingly shifted their focus towards non-violent illegal activities, such as drug trafficking, prostitution, and money laundering. The 'Ndrangheta, hailing from Calabria, has become Italy's dominant mafia, expanding its operations far beyond its origins.

(With inputs from agencies.)