The Ndrangheta in the Rems-Murr district: viticulture under mafia pressure!

The Ndrangheta in the Rems-Murr district: viticulture under mafia pressure!

Fellbach, Deutschland - The Calabrical Ndrangheta has apparently expanded its criminal activities to Fellbach in the Rems-Murr district. This was confirmed by Italian investigations that reveal that a mafioso claimed in 2020 that the mafia was heavily involved in viticulture in this region. These developments gain additional explosiveness through new details on the so-called "Operation Boreas", which came up in the SWR podcast "Mafialand".

As part of this operation, which is described as spectacular, extensive raids took place on April 1, 2025 in several German federal states and Italy. The main goal was the arrest of people who had connections to the Ndrangheta or supported them. In Germany, among others, Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, North Rhine-Westphalia and Saarland were searched. The Rems-Murr district and the Stuttgart area were particularly affected.

Operation Boreas and arrests

A total of 29 people were arrested in Italy, including lawyers and accountants, while ten were arrested in Germany. German media report a total of 34 arrests. The arrest of a police officer from Aalen on suspicion of treason and support of the Ndrangheta has attracted additional attention. Attorney General of Catanzaro said that the operation also reveals the activities of the clans from Cirò and Cariati in Germany.

The investigation show a complex structure of the Ndrangheta in Germany, which through intimidation and violence of Italian entrepreneurs: forces products to lose products inside. In Cariati in particular, there was an unfair competition, supported by threats and violence against business partners. These incidents illustrate the widespread presence of organized crime, which also includes the Ndrangheta.

background to organized crime in Germany

organized crime is defined as a form of crime, which is characterized by profit or power struts and comprises the participation of several people. In 2023, a total of 642 investigations were made in Germany for organized crime. In particular, the drug trade and cybercrime are the main fields of office in this area.

around 7,350 suspects are recorded in Germany, of which around 4,960 people are not German nationality, including mainly Turks, Serbs, Poland and Albanians. Absolitan Italian mafia organizations are also active in Germany, which indicates the international dimension of organized crime.

The recent events illustrate the urgency of a uniform European criminal law, as the police chief of Catanzaro demands. This is the only way to effectively combat the influence of mafia -based structures in Germany and Europe.