An Italian tribunal convicted 207 people for their involvement with the ‘ndrangheta organized crime syndicate, sentencing them to a combined 2,100 years in prison, AP News reports.
The trial took place in a high-security bunker in Calabria, where the ‘ndrangheta was originally based. The charges included drug and arms trafficking, extortion, and mafia association. The lengthy verdict took over an hour and 40 minutes, included the acquittal of 131 other defendants.
The trial aimed to expose the deep-rooted connection between the ‘ndrangheta and local politicians, public officials, businessmen, and secret lodges in Calabria.
The ‘ndrangheta, one of the world’s most powerful drug-trafficking groups, has almost a monopoly on cocaine importation in Europe and is active in North and South America, Africa, and other regions.
