Timeframe: 2025 - 2027
Proposed Overall Budget: EUR 3.4 million
Main Donors: Italian Department of Public Security
Contributors: Germany - Bundeskriminalamt (BKA)
The aim of this project is to enhance international police cooperation to effectively fight against mafia-type organizations and disrupt ‘Ndrangheta global networks.
The situation - Threat assessment
The ‘Ndrangheta is one of the most extensive and powerful criminal organizations in the world.
Its roots are in the Italian region of Calabria, but it has now expanded to more than 84 countries worldwide and continues to grow at a steady rate.
The insidious spread of mafia-type crime poses an urgent threat to international peace and security, due to its penetration of political and economic environments and the widespread corruption associated with it.
The ‘Ndrangheta is involved in a wide range of organized criminal activities, from drug trafficking and money laundering to extortion and the rigging of public contracts, generating important financial flows. .
These enormous illegal profits are then reinvested into regular companies, further strengthening the organization’s power and influence and polluting the legal economy.
Coordinating a multilateral response
I-CAN , launched in 2020, works with selected countries to combat the growing mafia phenomenon. 20 countries are directly participating to the initiative.
It coordinates a global law enforcement approach by leveraging INTERPOL’s capabilities and analytical tools to share expertise, intelligence and best practices. I-CAN is encouraging police data sharing and has developed the INTERPOL Criminal Analytical File populated by more than 75,000 entities linking ‘Ndrangheta related entities.
Project activities
Mainly funded by the Italian Department of Public Security, the project raises global awareness and understanding about the ‘Ndrangheta and their modus operandi, to more effectively identify and arrest suspects. The second Project phase was developed under a programmatic approach, allowing additional countries to support the initiative and propose tailored activities to the I-CAN membership.
I-CAN is built around three key pillars:
- Content − Building on Italy’s direct experience and knowledge of the threat posed by ‘Ndrangheta, its structure and how it operates.
- Access − Making this vital policing information available to targeted countries in real-time, in order to pinpoint patterns, trends and potential targets for law enforcement.
- Action − Coordinating joint investigations with national law enforcement agencies to identify fugitives and arrest individuals wanted in connection with ‘Ndrangheta-linked activities.
In its second phase I-CAN will consolidate its network and focus on receiving high-quality data for operational exploitation, with a particular emphasis on the following: :
- Raising awareness about the global ‘Ndrangheta threat and map associated criminal networks;
- Providing investigative support, including on financial investigations;
- Delivering criminal and strategic analysis reports;
- Roll-out and promote the key tools developed during the Project first phase such as the E-learning suite
I-CAN key results
Since January 2025, I-CAN has supported the arrest of more than 60 ‘Ndrangheta members in locations all over the world, including 6 fugitives. Added to previous phases of the project, the number of I-CAN-facilitated arrests stands at over 160.
Emanuele GREGORINI, also known as “Dollarino”, was successfully apprehended in March 2025 by the Colombian National Police, in close collaboration with I-CAN and other intelligence and law enforcement agencies. The arrest was carried out in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, after an extensive international operation coordinated under the I-CAN project. Gregorini, a key figure within the “Senese” Group of the Italian Camorra, was wanted for his involvement in organized crime activities and international drug trafficking. He established direct ties with the 'Ndrangheta in the Lombardy Region and had been the subject of an INTERPOL Red Notice.
Giuseppe PALERMO, alias “Peppe”, a ’Ndrangheta key figure, was arrested in July 2025 in Bogotá, Colombia. Considered the ’Ndrangheta’s top boss in Latin America, Palermo coordinated the purchase of major cocaine shipments from Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, and oversaw maritime and land routes to Europe. He had links to the Clan del Golfo and to the powerful Platì clan, one of the most secretive groups within the ’Ndrangheta.
Federico Starnone, another high-ranking member of the ’Ndrangheta, otherwise known as “Fedi”, was arrested in August 2025, in Cali, Colombia, following a Red Notice issued by INTERPOL. On the run since 2024, Starnone is accused of coordinating large-scale cocaine shipments to Europe on behalf of the ’Ndrangheta and managing alliances between the ’Ndrangheta and major cartels, including the Clan del Golfo, Brazil’s PCC and Los Choneros.
Alessio Di Pietro, Marco Lenti and Federico Mennuni were all detained in August 2025 as a result of cooperation between Italian and Spanish law enforcement agencies, with the help of I-CAN. The three fugitives, suspected members of the 'Ndrangheta in Ibiza, Spain, had ties to the Platì and Albanese clans and were wanted for international drug trafficking. The operation resulted in the seizure of cash, jewelry and other valuable items, demonstrating the effectiveness of collaborative efforts.
Countries involved
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