Swiss Authorities Address 'Ndrangheta's Entrepreneurial Approach to Organized Crime
A trial in Switzerland against an Italian resident, accused of representing a Calabrian organized crime cell, has highlighted the 'Ndrangheta's entrepreneurial methods. According to Francesco Lepori, head of the Ticino Observatory on Organized Crime, the modern mafia blends illicit activities with seemingly legitimate businesses to accumulate wealth. Switzerland has become a 'safe' for these criminal organizations, with sectors like restoration, construction, and real estate being particularly vulnerable to money laundering. The Italian mafia has a long-standing presence in Switzerland, engaging in drug trafficking, arms dealing, and money laundering. Lepori notes that the Calabrian mafia is adept at integrating into local communities, citing instances where members sponsored a football team or worked as municipal laborers, making their presence difficult to detect. 
