The Italian Mafia has evolved, largely abandoning its traditional violent tactics in favor of lucrative white-collar crimes. According to recent official data, mob-related killings have drastically decreased, with just 17 recorded in 2022 compared to over 700 in 1991, as reported by Reuters.
Senior Italian prosecutors reveal that organized crime groups have aggressively shifted their focus to low-risk, high-reward financial fraud and tax evasion. The influx of billions of euros in post-COVID recovery funds has provided ample opportunities for fraudsters to exploit.
Italy’s Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, announced last month the discovery of €16 billion ($17 billion) in fraud related to home improvement schemes. Additionally, there are suspicions of extensive abuse of a €200 billion European Union stimulus package.
While not all financial fraud is orchestrated by organized crime, prosecutors believe a significant portion is. The ‘Ndrangheta, based in Calabria, has emerged as Italy’s largest organized crime group, spearheading the move into white-collar crime while maintaining control over the European cocaine trade.
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) has raised concerns about the scale of financial wrongdoing across the EU, with nearly a third of its active cases in 2023 centered on Italy. This criminal activity has significant repercussions for Italy’s economy, with billions lost to tax evasion annually.
Efforts to combat these crimes face challenges, including a lack of resources for complex financial investigations and legal limitations on prosecuting white-collar offenses. Despite calls for tougher regulations, Italy’s focus remains on recovering lost revenues rather than deterring future criminal activity.
