Italian authorities have confiscated assets worth €300 million linked to the ‘Ndrangheta crime syndicate, in an operation that British asset recovery experts are now studying as a potential template for domestic use. The seizure, announced by the Italian financial police on Wednesday, represents one of the largest single hauls against organised crime this year.
The assets include luxury properties, businesses, bank accounts, and a fleet of vehicles across Calabria and northern Italy. The operation targeted the Morabito clan, a powerful faction of the ‘Ndrangheta, which dominates cocaine trafficking in Europe.
British officials from the National Crime Agency and HM Revenue and Customs have held bilateral meetings with their Italian counterparts in Rome and Reggio Calabria over the past six months, according to sources familiar with the discussions. The UK is seeking to replicate Italy’s robust legal framework for asset confiscation, which allows for the seizure of assets deemed disproportionate to declared income, even without a criminal conviction.
“Italy’s model is aggressive and effective,” said a senior British official who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the talks publicly. “We are looking at how we can adapt their approach to the UK context, particularly with the proceeds of organised crime and tax evasion.”
The ‘Ndrangheta has long been considered one of the most formidable criminal networks globally, with an estimated annual turnover of €50 billion. Italian prosecutors have increasingly used asset seizures as a strategic tool to disrupt the financial infrastructure of the syndicate.
In this latest operation, investigators identified a network of shell companies and proxies used to launder profits from drug trafficking and extortion. The assets will now be managed by Italy’s National Agency for the Administration and Destination of Seized and Confiscated Assets, which often repurposes properties for social or public use.
Britain has faced criticism for its own record on asset recovery. A 2022 report by the Public Accounts Committee found that the UK had recovered only £34.6 million in criminal assets in 2020-21, a tiny fraction of the estimated billions generated by organised crime. The government has since pledged to strengthen laws, including the introduction of unexplained wealth orders, which are similar to Italy’s “illicit wealth” provisions.
“What Italy does well is the speed and systemic approach,” said Maria Elena Vivaldi, a professor of organised crime studies at the University of Milan. “They have dedicated courts, specialised prosecutors, and a culture of aggressive financial investigation. The UK has the political will, but it lacks the institutional infrastructure.”
The British delegation is expected to submit a report to the Home Office by the end of the year, recommending legislative changes and increased funding for asset recovery teams. The operation in Italy serves as a powerful case study in the ongoing battle to dismantle organised crime through its financial roots.
