Europol has supported an international operation targeting a criminal network linked to the Italian mafia-type organisation Camorra, leading to six arrests and searches of 16 residential and commercial properties in Germany, Italy and Spain.
The operation was coordinated by the Baden-Württemberg State Criminal Police Office and the Stuttgart Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Authorities executed six arrest warrants and conducted simultaneous searches in Stuttgart and the Rems-Murr district in Germany, Naples in Italy and Gran Canaria in Spain.
In Germany, officers seized two illegally held pistols and ammunition, as well as counterfeit euro banknotes of Italian origin linked to the so-called “Napoli Group.” They also seized 16 mobile phones and storage devices.
The investigation began with the November 2021 arrest in Baden-Württemberg of a 47-year-old Italian national wanted under an international arrest warrant issued by Italian authorities.
He was accused of membership of the Camorra and involvement in counterfeiting, money laundering and drug trafficking. He was extradited to Italy in 2022 and later released, but remained in contact with other suspects, including people running restaurants in Stuttgart who were suspected of facilitating illicit trade.
Investigation uncovered counterfeit euro network
Investigators identified a criminal network involving five Italian suspects and one Turkish suspect. The group is accused of producing and supplying high-quality counterfeit euro banknotes to criminal organisations in Germany and Spain for further distribution.
The investigation found that several hundred thousand counterfeit notes had been circulated in this way.
Six arrest warrants were executed during the coordinated operation. Five suspects were placed in pre-trial detention, while one was released subject to judicial conditions.
Authorities searched 16 properties and seized firearms, drugs, counterfeit money, mobile phones and other data storage devices.
Europol deployed two experts to Naples and Stuttgart to provide technical support, cross-check operational information against Europol databases and European Central Bank systems, and assist with financial analysis.
The investigation was also supported by the ON Network, which is funded by the European Union and led by Italy’s Anti-Mafia Investigation Directorate.
The participating agencies included the Baden-Württemberg State Criminal Police Office and Stuttgart Public Prosecutor’s Office in Germany; the Carabinieri Currency Anti-Counterfeiting Unit and Naples Public Prosecutor’s Office in Italy; and Spain’s National Police.
