Three arrests in raid against Italian mafia in greater Cologne area
These cars were allegedly made available to the clients via an alleged car rental company and fictitious long-term rental contracts. The alleged rental contracts are also said to have been paid for with money from drug deals, illegal gambling and other Camorra crimes in Italy. In this way, the money was to be laundered and brought back into the legal economic cycle.
In addition, the car rental company allegedly served to conceal the actual owners of the cars. The suspects have been under investigation since 2018. During the raid, seven residential and business premises were searched and three European arrest warrants were executed. At the same time, Italian officials searched further addresses in Sardinia and in the Naples area.
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The suspects, believed to be part of a Mafia organization with links to the Camorra in Italy, allegedly utilized a car rental service operating in the greater Cologne area. This car rental business, under investigation since 2018, reportedly rented out cars to clients with false long-term rental contracts, which were financed through proceeds from drug deals, illegal gambling, and other criminal activities in Italy. The purpose was to launder the money and reintegrate it into the legal economy.
The rental company was also used to conceal the real owners of the cars. The Public prosecutor's office in Germany, in collaboration with Italian authorities, conducted a significant operation, known as a 'razzia', leading to three arrests and the execution of three European arrest warrants. Seizons were carried out at seven residential and business premises, with additional searches conducted in Sardinia and the Naples area by Italian officials.
Despite these efforts, the German and Italian law enforcement agencies continue to be vigilant against such Mafia organizations, working tirelessly to dismantle their criminal activities and bring the perpetrators to justice. This ongoing battle against organized crime serves as a reminder of the importance of international cooperation in combating transnational criminal networks.
Source: www.stern.de
