A Bologna judge on Monday sent over 140 people to trial for alleged involvement in the activities of the Calabrian-based 'Ndrangheta mafia in the northern Emilia Romagna region.
Among those indicted in the so-called Aemilia investigation is former footballer Vincenzo Iaquinta, who played for Juventus and for the Azzurri when Italy won the World Cup in 2006. The ex-striker is charged with illegal weapons possession aggravated by intent to abet mafia links.
His gather Giuseppe Iaquinto must face charge of belonging to a racketeering mafia ring.
In July, police arrested nine people on charges of fraudulent money transfers with intent to abet mafia activities as part of the ongoing Aemilia probe.
Assets, commercial property and businesses worth a total of 330 million euros were also seized in the bust.
Those arrested are accused of fraudulent money transfers in support of mafia activities.
In January, the operation saw 117 arrests connected to Nicolino Grande Aracri, 'Ndrangheta boss of the Grande Aracri clan, who was already in prison at the time.
Of the remaining eight arrested, Alfonso Diletto, Michele Bolognino and Giovanni Vecchi were sent to jail, while Domenico Bolognino, Jessica Diletto, Francesco Spagnolo, Patrizia Patricelli and Ibrahim Ahmed Abdelgawad were placed under house arrest. The 'Ndrangheta has in recent years replaced Sicily's Cosa Nostra as Italy's most powerful mafia due its virtual stranglehold on the international cocaine trade.
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