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18.06.2010

The Italian model for combating the mafias to counter Transnational Organized Crime

The Italian way to combat organized crime, namely the attack on mafia assets, can be exported internationally. It is the message that Italy, represented by the Minister of Interior Roberto Maroni and the Minister of Justice Angelino Alfano, launched yesterday in New York at the U.N. High-Level Treaty Event. The UN General Assembly on Transnational Organized Crime opened with a minute of silence in memory of late Judge Giovanni Falcone and other victims of organized crime.

Interviewed at the margins of the meeting, the two Italian Ministers reaffirmed that the national model to combat the mafia has yielded «unprecedented results,» and quoted numbers - about 9 billion of assets seized and 5,500 arrests in two years. «The Mafia is not afraid of jail, but fears losing money.» Alfano explained. This is why the 'Italian model' can be exported internationally, said Maroni, ensuring the Italian readiness «to provide technical assistance to countries that request it to us.»

With this in mind, the Interior Minister proposed «a digest of investigative techniques to counter transnational organized crime» to be developed by Italy in co-operation with other UN countries. The idea is to create and make available a technical tool to supplement the implementation of the Palermo Convention, which nevertheless represents - according to Maroni - the «cornerstone» of the fight against international organized crime.

The Convention - signed in Palermo 10 years ago and ratified by 150 U.N. countries – aims at enhancing preventive investigation, in addition to providing for suppressive measures such as confiscation of property. In order to make the Palermo Convention effective - again emphasized Minister Maroni - is, however, necessary to implement the three protocols thereto relating to smuggling migrants, human trafficking and arms trafficking, which have so far been ratified by only 70 States.