Posted on 12/07/2012 5:47:03 AM PST by AtlasStalled
Italian authorities have arrested six individuals and seized assets worth 10 million euros or $13 million in connection with "a probe into suspected Mafia infiltration of renewable-energy facilities in western Sicily whose proceeds are believed to have gone to fugitive Cosa Nostra head Matteo Messina Denaro" as reported by ANSA.
The solar plants and wind farms are ubiquitous throughout southern Italy, and the Sicilian Mafia has exploited many of these green companies both to siphon government subsidies and launder dirty money as reported by Stephan Faris for Time.
Sicilian-mobster-turned-supergrass Antonio Birrittella claims "the modern Mafia has reinvented itself as a 'white collar' organization," and become involved with "the development of wind farms and renewable energy . . . through a combination of shell companies and the infiltration of regional bodies which distribute the subsidies"as reported by Gail Champion for BBC News.
It’s what we’d call a “rat”. Weird expression.
The Mafia LOVES the EU. A good % of the money spent to “help poor Southern Italy” (read Sicily) was a windfall for gangsters.
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