Mayor among 26 'Ndrangheta arrests

(ANSA) - Reggio Calabria, October 14 - The mayor of a Calabrian coastal town was among 26 people arrested in an operation against the local 'Ndrangheta mafia Tuesday. San Ferdinando Mayor Domenico Madafferi, of the ruling Democratic Party, was vociferous in his opposition earlier this year to the government using the giant Mob-ridden container port of Gioia Tauro to tranship Syrian chemical weapons.
    He is accused of external mafia association.
    A deputy mayor who belongs to a local civic list and a councillor from the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement were also arrested.
    'Ndrangheta, which controls the European cocaine trade, is the richest and most dangerous Italian mafia.