Anna Sironini According to Luca Tescaroli , Prato 's prosecutor , the Chinese mafia is a growing and dangerous phenomenon that has deep roots in Italy. From the ports of La Spezia and Gioia Tauro to Milan and Prato 's Chinatown , Chinese organizations operate with sophisticated methods. In an interview with Corriere della Sera, Tescaroli outlined how the Chinese mafia is not an isolated entity, but also interacts with other criminal organizations, such as the 'Ndrangheta , Camorra , and Sacra Corona Unita , and even extends to Albanian criminal groups.
Counterfeiting and fake Made in Italy, a 5 billion euro market
The counterfeit market in Italy, primarily linked to the production and distribution of fake Chinese brands, generates an estimated turnover of over €5 billion , equal to 2,5% of Italian tax revenues. Tescaroli emphasizes how goods from China arrive through strategic ports such as Piraeus and Gioia Tauro , and are then transferred to Hungary and other European countries, thanks to shell companies that facilitate tax evasion.
The prosecutor also revealed how the Chinese mafia is capable of establishing corrupt relationships with Italian public officials. The case of a Carabinieri colonel arrested for collusion with the Chinese mafia in Prato highlights their ability to infiltrate control mechanisms. Furthermore, Tescaroli highlighted how Italian anti-corruption laws do not apply to the Chinese , leading to a political proposal to establish a DDA (District Anti-Mafia Directorate) in Prato , a proposal he supports.