68 Camorra Members of Naples Mafia Arrested in Italy

by Jarrett Martineau | May 19, 2009 at 03:43 pm

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68 members of a breakaway faction of the Naples mafia group, the Camorra, have been arrested in Italy as part of ongoing operations against organized crime in the country.

Approximately $7 million USD (€5 million) have been seized during the raids.

The Camorra has its origins in the Campania region of Italy and in the city of Naples. In recent years the group has been linked to a string of illegal activities including drug trafficking, extortion, protection, and "high levels of homicide in the area".

Many claim the Camorra to be the oldest criminal organization in Italy.

Police say those detained are linked to a breakaway faction of the Camorra. They are wanted on suspicion of murder, drug trafficking and money laundering.

The raids follow the arrest in Spain at the weekend of the alleged head of the breakaway faction, Raffaele Amato.