ROME, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Some 50 people have been arrested in a major anti-mafia operation which began early Friday in Italy, the country's Carabinieri military police said in a press release.
The operation coded "Karpanthos" was coordinated by the anti-mafia district directorate of Catanzaro and led by prosecutor Nicola Gratteri, involving more than 400 Carabinieri soldiers.
Among the 52 arrested, 38 were put in prison, six under house arrest and eight ordered to report to the Prosecutor's Office.
The suspects were accused of crimes tied to the country's major mafia group "Ndrangheta", including drug trafficking, extortion, armed robbery, and money laundering.
The cases are currently in the preliminary investigation phase, it added. ■