A nun was arrested on Thursday with 24 others in a police operation targeting a branch of the Calabria-based ’Ndrangheta in Brescia province.
Authorities accused the suspects of crimes including extortion, arms and drug trafficking, usury, tax offences, money laundering, and vote-buying. Among those arrested were local politicians, including a former councillor with Brothers of Italy and a former League politician. Police also seized over €1.8 million in illicit earnings during raids across Lombardy, Veneto, and Calabria.
Prosecutors allege the nun, named in Italian media as 57-year-old Anna Donelli, was involved in mafia-related activities. She has been placed under house arrest on charges of “external complicity in a mafia association.” Investigators say she acted as a conduit, relaying information between gang members inside and outside prison.
Donelli, a long-time prison volunteer, has worked at San Vittore in Milan since 2010 and in prisons in Pavia and Rome. Her “spiritual role” reportedly gave her unrestricted access to penitentiary facilities, allowing her to connect directly with prisoners.
Deputy Prosecutor Teodoro Catananti stated that the nun helped “convey information” for the ’Ndrangheta, exploiting her position of trust. He added that the gang displayed “typical violence” but also showed a “chameleon-like ability to adapt to northern Italy.”
‘Ndrangheta infiltration into politics
Chief Prosecutor Francesco Prete explained that the group used the ‘Ndrangheta’s notoriety while focusing on fiscal crimes in the north. Meanwhile, the arrested League politician is accused of vote-buying, and the Brothers of Italy councillor allegedly supported the gang in executing crimes.
The ‘Ndrangheta, one of the world’s wealthiest criminal organisations, originated in Calabria and has built a global empire funded by cocaine trafficking. Earlier this year, coordinated raids led to the arrest of over 140 members as part of a major crackdown on the mafia network.
The recent arrests highlight how the ’Ndrangheta continues to infiltrate politics and exploit trusted figures in its operations, further extending its influence across Italy and beyond.
