Report: Italy's mobsters well-poised to exploit pandemic aid

ROME (AP) — Italy’s organized crime investigators raised alarm Wednesday that the nation’s mobsters are well-positioned to exploit pandemic recovery projects worth billions of euros and, awash in drug trafficking revenues, to gobble up struggling businesses.

In its twice-yearly report to Parliament, the national anti-Mafia investigative agency particularly cited potential opportunities for the Camorra, saying the Naples-area crime syndicate could expand its influence toward northern and central Italy.

The Anti-Mafia Investigation Directorate (DIA) reported “an increase of cases of money-laundering and re-investing illicit money” in those areas.

Agency director Maurizio Vallone told RAI state TV that mobsters increasingly are investing in businesses weakened by COVID-19 lockdowns, with the goal of ultimately take them over.

“We are witnessing less of the extortion, property damage, pressures” that mobsters traditionally inflict on businesses to make them pay ‘’protection money" and to bolster crime syndicates' influence on their territory, Vallone said. Instead, he said, some mobsters are “presenting themselves as investors” willing to pump money into foundering businesses.

In separate comments to Italian news program TG5, Vallone referred to the 209 billion euros ($250 billion) Italy expects to receive in European Union pandemic recovery funds. The money is intended to help shore up Italy's health care system and to boost economic recovery through investment in digitalization, ecological transition and other projects.

Italy's mobsters are, "today, financiers, tomorrow, surely, exploiters, predators,” of the new companies the EY funds will make possible, Vallone said.

Investigators noted the speed in which Italy has been doling out recovery...