Calabrian Mafia linked to Australian political circles: report

The Calabrian Mafia has links to Australian politicians after using well-known party donors as a front to spread its influence, Australian media reported on Monday.

The Calabrian Mafia, known as 'Ndrangheta, operates from a base in Calabria, Italy and is one of the most powerful criminal groups in the world. It is thought to be a major player in international drug trafficking and also raises funds through extortion of legitimate and illegal businesses.

The group used a number of party donors to put a legitimate public face on its activities, enabling it to contact with MPs on both sides of politics, according to an exclusive Fairfax Media - Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) joint investigation.

A 2013 Australian Federal Police (AFP) report, obtained by Fairfax and ABC, warned that alleged Mafia figures used various methods to enter "the social and professional world of public officials and through legitimate processes (were able to) achieve influence."

A 2009 AFP report, also obtained during the Fairfax-ABC investigation, stated that the current political donation system lacked checks and oversight and was open to exploitation

"As it stands, political parties and candidates can receive significant support and financial contributions through avenues not covered by the statutory disclosure regime," the AFP report said.

The 'Ndrangheta emerged in the 1970s and operates mostly across Europe. It maintains links with Colombian drug cartels which supply its biggest source of revenue - cocaine. Endi