11 Mafia suspects arrested in Germany

BERLIN, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- In a raid against the Italian mafia organization 'Ndrangheta in several German states, the police have arrested 11 suspected members, the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) announced in Wiesbaden on Tuesday.

The suspects, aged between 36 and 61, had been caught in the German states Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bavaria, Hesse and North Rhine-Westphalia. They are accused of extortion and money laundering.

According to the Federal Criminal Police Office the raid was conducted along operations against the 'Ndrangheta clan Farao-Marincola in Italy on Tuesday, where 160 suspected mafia members were arrested.

According to the BKA, the family clan has great influence beyond Calabria and neighboring regions. The individual allegations range from attempted murder, extortion, money laundering and violations of the Arms Act, international dealing with stolen cars, illegal trade and illegal shifting of waste.

The Italian news agency Ansa reports that investigators refer to the Farao-Marincolas as a "criminal holding" operating businesses worth millions of dollars.

According to the BKA, the clan has gained influence through the Mafia infiltration of domestic and foreign business enterprises into important trade sectors such as wine and food trade, waste disposal, funeral homes and public sector contracts. Items worth a total of 50 million euros (59.64 million U.S. dollars) were allegedly confiscated during the searches and arrests. Enditem