(ANSA) - Rome, July 26 - A number of people were taken to
jail or put under house arrest in dawn raids in Rome on Tuesday
in an operation by anti-mafia investigators to bust an alleged
ring involved in loan sharking and money laundering, ANSA
sources said. Victims, who were forced to annual interest rates
of between 70% and 150%, included politicians, shop keepers and
other individuals in economic difficulty, sources said. The
victims were threatened and intimidated. The suspects are
accused of criminal association for usury and money laundering.
Anti-mafia op busts loan-sharking ring
Victimes forced to pay interest of 70%-150%