Italian authorities have seized assets worth over €100 million from the estate of a deceased Mafia boss, a move that has drawn praise from Britain's National Crime Agency as both nations intensify cooperation against organised crime. The assets, including luxury properties, cash, and stakes in businesses, were traced back to the late godfather of the 'Ndrangheta, one of the most powerful and elusive criminal syndicates in Europe.
The operation, led by Italy's Anti-Mafia Investigation Directorate, uncovered a complex web of holdings hidden in trusts and shell companies across Europe. The haul represents the largest single seizure from a deceased crime figure in recent Italian history. Britain's National Crime Agency, which has been working with Italian counterparts through joint task forces, welcomed the seizure as a victory against the laundering of dirty money through legitimate economies.
For working people in the industrial towns of the North, the fight against organised crime is not just a headline. It is about the price of goods, the safety of jobs, and the erosion of trust in local economies. The 'Ndrangheta, rooted in Calabria, has infiltrated construction, waste disposal, and even food distribution in parts of Europe, driving up costs and undercutting honest businesses. When criminal networks control supply chains, it is the ordinary consumer who pays the price at the checkout.
The seized assets will now be liquidated or repurposed for social projects, as Italy's laws allow for the redistribution of criminal wealth. This could mean funding for anti-poverty initiatives, youth centres, or support for small businesses squeezed by the shadow economy. The message is clear: crime does not pay, but when it is caught, the proceeds can nourish communities.
The UK's backing signals a shift towards more aggressive asset recovery at the international level. Labour MP Sarah Jones, chair of the all-party parliamentary group on organised crime, said: 'This is a triumph of international cooperation. But we must ensure that the recovered funds are used to mend the damage done to families and communities, not just fill government coffers.'
There is a deeper lesson here. The cost of living crisis is not just about inflation and energy bills. It is also about the hidden taxes imposed by organised crime on everything from a loaf of bread to a builder's quote. Every pound that ends up in the hands of the mob is a pound stolen from a worker's wage or a family's budget. The seizure in Italy is a reminder that the fight against the underworld is also a fight for the kitchen table.
As the government pledges to strengthen the National Crime Agency's powers to freeze and seize assets, the question for many in struggling high streets is whether this will translate into tangible relief. The answer lies in whether the recovered wealth is used to rebuild, not just to balance ledgers.
