Author: Aniello Inverso – 14/03/2025
The CRIME Report 2021, authored by Dr. Anna Sergi (Project Lead – Principal Investigator) and Dr. Alice Rizzuti (Research Officer – Associate) from the University of Essex, is one of the most comprehensive studies on the mobility of Italian mafias in Europe. Funded by the UK ESRC Impact Acceleration Account, the project aims to provide a detailed mapping of Italian organized crime across European countries, highlighting key challenges in judicial and investigative cooperation. The report is distinguished by its structured approach and rigorous methodology, combining open sources, institutional data, and interviews with experts, magistrates, and law enforcement officials. However, it also presents some limitations, primarily due to the predominance of Italian sources, which may influence the interpretation of the phenomenon in foreign contexts. The document is divided into multiple sections, each focusing on a specific country: Italy, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Romania, and the United Kingdom. In addition to mapping mafia presence in each territory, the report examines local legal frameworks and identifies major criminal activities. The final section is dedicated to transnational cooperation, analyzing available tools for authorities and the operational obstacles limiting their effectiveness.
The authors emphasize that mafia mobility does not follow a single model but adapts flexibly to different national contexts. They distinguish between territories of venture, where mafias establish a presence for the first time with limited criminal activities, and territories of consolidation, where organized crime has taken root and developed a more structured network. The report illustrates how criminal groups in Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands display greater stability, while Spain and Romania primarily serve as hubs for specific operations, particularly drug trafficking and money laundering. This distinction helps the reader understand how Italian mafias have adopted different expansion strategies depending on each country’s socio-economic and legal environment.
A particularly striking case, extensively analyzed in the report, is Germany, where the ‘Ndrangheta has developed a vast cocaine distribution network. The organization has leveraged the presence of a sizable Italian community and a more lenient legal framework than Italy’s concerning mafia-related offenses. The authors underscore that organized crime in Germany extends beyond drug trafficking, with substantial involvement in money laundering. Criminal networks exploit the robustness of the German banking system and reinvest illicit proceeds in strategic sectors such as hospitality, retail, and logistics. Switzerland also emerges as a key financial hub for Italian mafias. The reader will discover how, for decades, organized crime has taken advantage of the country’s historically discreet banking system to launder illicit funds. However, in recent years, international pressure and stricter anti-money laundering regulations have made such operations more challenging, prompting criminal organizations to diversify their activities and seek new jurisdictions for financial transactions. Spain is another pivotal location, with the Costa del Sol functioning as a crucial logistics center for Italian organized crime. The authors detail how the mafias have forged alliances with South American cartels and North African criminal groups, making Spain a major gateway for cocaine and hashish distribution. The real estate and tourism industries also serve as ideal platforms for money laundering, allowing illicit profits to be reinvested in seemingly legitimate enterprises. The United Kingdom, despite Brexit, remains an attractive financial hub for money laundering operations linked to Italian criminal organizations. The report highlights how mafias exploit the flexibility of the UK financial sector, using shell companies and strategic investments in high-value assets such as London real estate and international trade. The presence of intermediaries willing to facilitate illicit financial transactions further strengthens the UK’s role in this network.
A critical issue addressed in the CRIME Report 2021 is the challenge of judicial cooperation among European nations, largely due to inconsistencies in legal definitions and enforcement mechanisms. The report pays particular attention to the European Arrest Warrant (EAW), which has significantly improved extradition procedures among EU member states. Nevertheless, the authors highlight persistent legal barriers that undermine its effectiveness. Some countries require extensive evidence before executing an arrest warrant, while others do not recognize mafia association as a distinct criminal offense, complicating extradition proceedings. Additionally, some national courts have refused to enforce EAWs due to concerns over human rights violations or perceived deficiencies in the requesting country’s judicial system. The report also dedicates significant attention to Joint Investigation Teams (JITs), which are essential for fostering collaboration between law enforcement agencies across different jurisdictions. These teams allow investigators to bypass bureaucratic delays, facilitating real-time information exchange. However, the report points out that JITs remain underutilized due to administrative constraints and a lack of a unified European strategy for tackling transnational mafias. The authors emphasize that the absence of coordinated investigative priorities across EU member states hinders the full potential of these initiatives.
Another major challenge is the lack of harmonization in penal codes and investigative procedures. While Italy has a well-established legal framework specifically targeting mafia organizations, many European countries lack equivalent statutes, making international collaboration more complex. The report argues that this legal disparity benefits criminal organizations, as they can strategically operate in jurisdictions with weaker enforcement mechanisms and fewer specialized investigative resources.
The CRIME Report 2021 also highlights significant issues related to intelligence-sharing and database integration. Although agencies like Europol and Eurojust facilitate international cooperation, privacy regulations and data protection laws often obstruct the seamless exchange of crucial investigative information. As a result, transnational investigations frequently suffer from delays, reducing their effectiveness.
In conclusion, the authors underscore how Italian organized crime has evolved, adapting to diverse European legal frameworks and exploiting systemic weaknesses to reinforce its transnational presence. The lack of a unified European legislative approach remains a significant obstacle in countering mafia expansion, as discrepancies between national legal systems provide criminal organizations with strategic advantages. The report urges the reader to reflect on the necessity of strengthening international cooperation through standardized anti-mafia legislation, enhanced coordination among law enforcement agencies, and greater investment in investigative resources. Among its key recommendations, the report calls for the widespread adoption of Joint Investigation Teams, a more consistent application of the European Arrest Warrant, and a harmonized legal framework addressing mafia-related crimes across the European Union. Ultimately, the CRIME Report 2021 serves as both a detailed analysis and a call to action. The reader will appreciate the authors’ rigorous methodology and their ability to outline concrete policy solutions for addressing a constantly evolving threat. Beyond its academic and investigative value, the report sends a strong message to European policymakers: without decisive and coordinated intervention, organized crime will continue to exploit legal loopholes, posing an ever-growing risk to continental security and economic stability.
Aniello Inverso – Master’s student in Investigation, Crime and International Security, at the University of International Studies of Rome, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and International Relations at the University of Naples “Federico II”. Analyst at Vision & Global Trends International Institute for Global Analyses, as part of the project Società Italiana di Geopolitica.