The nun was among the 25 people arrested Italy on suspicion of being part of a criminal gang with links to the country’s most powerful mafia network, the ‘Ndrangheta.
Moniale is believed to have been a leader of the group and his associates in prison, according to reports in the Italian press citing a prosecutor working for the anti-mafia unit in Brescia, northern Italy.
A former councilor with the Brothers of Italy, the party led by the prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, and a former politician with the coalition, the ruling company, were also arrested and more than €1.8m in illegal profits were seized by the police at dawn. raids through various towns in the regions of Lombardy and Veneto, as well as in Calabria to the south.
The suspects are accused of crimes including extortion, arms and drug trafficking, stolen goods, usury, tax crimes, money laundering and, in the political arena, vote buying. The Italian political brothers are said to have been available on bond “in the execution of crimes”.
According to Rai news, the nun was summoned to San Vittore prison in Milan and also worked in prisons in Papia and Rome.
Investigators said he maintained a “spiritual role” in connection with the prisoners, and allowed him “free access to penitentiary facilities.”
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‘The ‘Ndrangheta, which originated in Calabria, is one of the world’s largest organized crime groups. The vast revenues of cocaine are exploited to spread throughout Italy, the rest of Europe and beyond. This year before, more than 130 people they were detained in organized raids in half a dozen European countries as part of a crackdown against the organization.