The biggest mafia trial in 30 years will begin this week in Italy

Ndrangheta criminal gang suspect and 355 accomplices are on trial. 

The organization's reported criminal records include murder, illegal gambling, and more.

The trial is set to begin on Wednesday at a large call centre converted into a courtroom in Calabria. The area is at the foot of Italy, near Sicily. Calabria is believed to be Ndrangheta's home country. 

The security of the venue is tight. The defendants will be kept in cages. Besides the suspected criminals, other defendants include politicians and police officials. The "maximum trial" is expected to last two years. 

The prosecutor who wants to keep the defendants behind bars is Nicola Grateri. Grateri, 62, has been under constant police protection for the past 30 years.

According to the Daily Mail website, the anti-mafia prosecutor promised to "get rid of this suffocation 'Ndrangheta' that truly takes people's breath and heartbeats."

The defendants face charges of murder, drug trafficking, loan sharking and additional crimes.

Emanuele Mancuso, the son of a crime boss, is helping a prosecution team. According to media reports, he was given police protection for cooperating with the government. 

The trial focuses on Vivo Valentia, Calabria, home to the Mancusos family, the Sun newspaper reported.

"Without Mancusos' words, one leaf does not move in Vivo Valentia," said Mafia expert Antonio Nisako.

an online gambling site

The recent pre-trial hearing lasted nearly three hours as the defendants' names were read. The colorful nicknames included the boss, who is believed to be Luigi Mancuso's "uncle." Other nicknames were "wolf," "fat," "sweetie," "blondie," "little goat," and "ringer."

According to the FBI, these are some of the organization's famed "Ndrangheta" members, with an estimated 6,000 members. The organization's name comes from the Greek word for "Andragatia." The word means courage or loyalty.

Ndrangheta is considered more powerful than Sicily's Cosa Nostra and Naples-based Camorra. According to news reports, Ndrangheta controls 80% of Europe's cocaine supply. Ndrangheta's influence extends to North America and other parts of the world.

The group's involvement in fraudulent gambling is thought to be widespread. In 2015, authorities launched attacks on 1,500 Ndrangheta betting shops and 82 online gambling sites, the Daily Mail reported.

The previous 'Maxi Trial' was held in 1986-87 in Palermo, targeting cosa nostra in Sicily. As a result, 338 people were convicted. The Mafia later assassinated prosecutors Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borselino.

'Tony Meatball' Goes to Trial 

Italy is not the only country where trials involving suspected mafia members are about to take place. Federal prosecutors in Philadelphia indicted 15 reputable mafias and their members late last year on illegal gambling and other charges.

Defendants include Joseph "Joy Electric" Servidio, 60, Anthony "Tony Meatball" Giffoli, 73, and Luis "Louis Yang" Barreta, 56, according to the news story. 실시간 바카라사이트

We will not rest until the mob is just a bad memory," said U.S. Attorney William McSwain.

Prosecutors recently asked a judge to delay the trial beyond the 90-day fast-track trial rules, according to Philadelphia Mafia expert Dave Schratweiser. Coronavirus restrictions could limit public gatherings and affect the availability and choice of jurors, prosecutors said.