Gangster hunt – Police battle the mafia | DW Documentary

Germany is a place where the mafia feels at home – that hasn’t changed. But the police have become more vigilant. The security authorities’ attentions are now focused on the Calabrian mafia in particular, the ‘Ndrangheta.

There’s been a noticeable increase in large-scale police operations against the clans from southern Italy in recent years. Although the mafia remains undefeated so far, these operations are an important step in the right direction. The film documents how the police have honed their tactics against a global criminal organization dominating the cocaine trade, from the first secret operation in Thuringia in 2002 (Operation “Fido”), through “Pollino” (2018) to the major offensive “Eureka” (2023).

What do investigators in Germany, Italy and at Europol need for a successful battle against the mafia? This is where the judiciary comes into play; in Germany, membership in the mafia isn’t prosecutable without evidence of an actual crime.

But the film also shows the mafia committee of inquiry in Thuringia, where politicians engage with the ‘Ndrangheta phenomenon for the first time – and fail to make any headway. This is because unlike the police, a parliamentary committee of inquiry can’t investigate beyond state borders. Nevertheless, the committee’s work is a crucial factor in also raising public awareness of the mafia problem. And this is important, as Germany is still very much a mafia nation. ‘Ndrangheta continues to thrive in a place where laws remain lax, controls are few and society is still relatively blind to the issue.

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50 comments

  6. oh………….DW always censor the freedom of speech. German no mafia state, but it will be Islamic Terrorist state. 1 police attacked by Islamic Terrorist the day before yesterday.

  12. The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) is a federal law (codified at 18 U.S.C. §§ 1961-68) targeting organized criminal activity and racketeering. RICO enhances existing criminal punishments and creates new causes of action for acts done as a part of an organized criminal enterprise. -USA

    Don't be naive.

  13. The Calabrian mafia group known as the 'Ndrangheta has established a significant presence in Germany over the past few decades.

    The 'Ndrangheta has eclipsed the Sicilian Cosa Nostra as the most powerful Italian organized crime group. It is heavily involved in international drug trafficking, particularly cocaine smuggling from South America to Europe.

    German authorities have been cracking down on the 'Ndrangheta's operations within their borders. In a major operation in May 2023, over 100 suspected 'Ndrangheta members were arrested across several European countries, including Germany.
    The raids targeted the group's drug trafficking and money laundering activities, seizing 23 tons of cocaine worth around €2.5 billion in revenue for the 'Ndrangheta.

    The 'Ndrangheta has been firmly rooted in Germany since the 1970s, particularly in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate.
    German security authorities have increased their focus on dismantling the powerful Calabrian mafia's operations within the country.

    While the 'Ndrangheta has a significant criminal presence in Germany, it would be inaccurate to label Germany as a "mafia nation." The German authorities are actively combating the Italian mafia group's activities on their soil through major law enforcement operations and investigations.

  14. If I steal a credit card from someone and using it the police will catch me at once and that's not because the police are smart or careful not at all but I get caught because I don't have partners to protect me.
    The mafia however they do have partners within the police and within the political classes in every where therefore they will never ever get caught.
    Case closed 🔐

  22. German law enforcements are fighting with their hands tied behind their back, due to the Woke policies and extreme privacy laws. Are they all being tried as John Doe and Jane Doe? You can see the judges and prosecutors faces, but not the "alleged" criminals as they have more rights.

    The same thing is happening to the US Left Coast states.

  24. ADHBHUT SHRINK GERMONEY ABANDON ENERGY BUT PRETTY HUGE DOLLAREURO IN DRUG HUMAN TRAFICKING WAT AN INCREDIBLE WORD MAFIA THIS IS THE PROXY CHINA EU INFLITRATION ENTER THE DRAGON GANGERSTER NATO FLY TRUMP CARD PUTIN THE GREAT OLIGO JAI HO

  26. It appears that DW disabled the display of the most popular comment on the video, possibly due to disagreement with the content of that comment. 😭

  27. Gloves off … let's be clear for one thing: "under the indulgence of justice, crimes will always flourish" … what is the point of these arrests if they are going to be able to "lead" from inside their businesses as always, getting fed, sleep, the usual thing, IF not a single REAL ACTION is taken against them" ?! … u want results ?! PAY them back with the same token, pressure them, squeeze them, target them, take them away those liberties of which they are SO fond, but i´m guessing as long there is corruption amongst ranks, well it feels like pissing against the wind … DEEDS not words

  28. Ja die Polizei muss viel mehr Möglichkeiten haben und auch mal Maul Schellen verteilen dürfen und nicht immer die a.. Löcher sanft anfassen müssen . Kein Wunder das Deutschland in dieser Situation ist .

  29. Millions to translate some documents ?!? Someone in logistics/Data Pr must be inept. We live in the age of computers, that type of thing can be done in minutes. Can't communicate between agencies because of language barriers, or won't out of jealousy or corruption ? Hint: Text, Email, then hit "Translate" ! Fellow officer on the take ? Report them or your next. It's not rocket science.
    Some aspects of this report are out of the 70's in their backwardness. Given the extraordinary amount of surveillance the general public is under I find it surprising that the justification we've been told for our dwindling privacy isn't really helping fight crime on a equal measure w/what we've given up. Root out the bums, that's your job. Do your job

  30. The cancer of the mafia😡😡😡😡 as Italian I am so ashamed of these beasts and criminals!!!😡😡 Please don’t stop to investigate!!! I have a German boyfriend and sometimes we went to Italian restaurants when we were in Eurfurt too. What shocked me that we were not allowed to pay by credit card…. Then we asked ourselves why….?? And one thought that came to my mind was that probably that restaurant comes from illegal money mafia or drugs…. the payment of credit cards would keep track but paying by cash no!!! Please keep investigating and also the police has to keep to. And yes the mafia has infiltrated in Germany too and not only, its snd other judicial system should adopt the mafia association criminal charge as in Italy. As for me, I don’t go anymore to Italian restaurants in Germany and in other counties, first of all I like to taste other cuisine and secondly for the reasons explained in the video.

  38. The whole world has gone to the evil and we can only blame ourselves for letting it happen!! Stronger legal punishment must be taken!!! It’s not rocket science!! Wake up world! 🌍

  39. 🎉: communication, cooperation, collaboration & education. Many criminals could easily be great [legit] business people – yet can't or won't see it that way.. An added bizarre twist.

  40. All MAFIA fighters are to be commended. Mayor Juliana rid the U.S. from these criminals. Now the Cartel has moved in and they are worse then the MAFIA!

  41. What i understand if mafia they don't kill each others they can do everything they want it in Germany free to fuck free to drag free gambling and whatever they wanted 😅😂😂

  42. I swear i watched a dw documentary about this like 5 years ago talking qbout how thr cops knew about ndrangita members purchasing properties in thirengia and saxony back in thr 90s

  44. Human brain is complex thing to make you to survive it makes you're pains to feel pleasure instead of sad So if you have facts from hospital that alcohol is deadly and people are physically addicted to it and go through everything to continue then their lives are doomed anyway if they can't bring ethics between business and health care system? If add alcohol to urine you can get out of dilemma between clean drinking water and fuel and build something much more cleaner as result.

  46. Organised crime is ubiquitous throughout the world, with law enforcement behind the curve almost always. The mafia hide in plane sight operating through legitimate businesses. Government is absolutely to blame for tolerating it and indeed facilitate it.

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