Italy’s Operation Gambling yields €25M in asset freeze

Authorities in Italy netted €25 million in frozen assets following an extensive crackdown on an alleged mafia organization involved in online gambling.

Reggio Calabria police recently launched “Operation Gambling,” in which they revealed a far-reaching network of remote gambling companies supposedly used for the money laundering operations of the ‘Ndrangheta organized crime group, Malta Today reported.

Part of the network was allegedly headquartered in Malta, where police arrested six Italian nationals last July. But as the investigation continues, authorities learned that there are also mafia-linked companies in Panama, Romania, Canary Islands and the Netherlands Antilles.

Investigators said the companies and trust were set up to manage the organization’s illegal online betting business.