Nun working for the Mafia among 25 people arrested in northern Italy

Italian police say a nun is among 24 people arrested in northern Italy in connection with a mafia investigation.

The nun, named in the Italian press as Sister Anna Donelli, was arrested for allegedly acting as an intermediary for the ‘Ndrangheta mafia and its jailed gang members.

Police also arrested two politicians and seized assets worth more than 1.8 million euros (£1.5 million) in raids across several towns in the Lombardy and Veneto regions, as well as Calabria in south.

The arrests are the result of a four-year investigation into the ‘Ndrangheta, one of Europe’s most dangerous and influential criminal organizations.

Statements released by the coalition of law enforcement agencies behind the charges detail that the nun took advantage of her position as a volunteer at the prison.

Brescia Carabinieri said she was a public figure whose religious role allowed her “free access to prison facilities”.

The police statement did not identify the politicians or any other people targeted in the investigation.

The operation is continuing with hundreds of police officers conducting searches across northern Italy.

Police said they were assisted by canine units that search for weapons and drugs, as well as “cash dogs” trained to search for cash.

Prosecutors said the group mainly used the scrap metal trading business as a front to launder money, with a total laundered amount of about 12 million euros.

Originating in the impoverished region of Calabria, the ‘Ndrangheta is considered one of the most dangerous criminal organizations in the world.

In November last year, more than 200 people were sentenced to a total of more than 2,200 years in prison in one of the biggest mafia trials in generations in Italy.