Mafia controlled Italy migrant centre, say police

[Eugene]

Source: BBC

Mafia controlled Italy migrant centre, say police

15 May 2017 Europe

One of Italy's largest migrant centres has been in the hands of the mafia for more than a decade, police have said.

Police say the Arena clan made money by providing services at Isola di Capo Rizzuto in Italy's far south and siphoning off state funds.

The clan is alleged to have hidden behind a local Catholic charity which officially runs the centre.

The claims came to light on Monday, when officers arrested 68 people, including a local priest.

Another of those arrested was Leonardo Sacco, head of the Catholic Misericordia association that is supposed to control the Sant'Anna Cara immigrant centre. The centre holds 1,500 people at a time.

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Read more: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39922085

[kimbutgar]

1. When I was in Venice in march we talked to a local who said big projects can't get done

Because the Mafia controls all construction and big projects in Italy and unless you pay them off you can't get anything done.