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Italian police dismantle illicit bank used by drug traffickers as global broker
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Italian police dismantle illicit bank used by drug traffickers as global broker

The Guardian · Jun 15, 2026, 6:31 PM

Key takeaways

  • Police said they had arrested 41 individuals in Italy and Spain linked to the network, with charges ranging from criminal conspiracy and drug trafficking to money laundering and aiding and abetting illegal immigration.
  • Prefer the Guardian on GoogleItalian police have dismantled an underground bank used by drug traffickers through which several hundred million euros are believed to have moved over at least three years.
  • The clandestine bank, whose logistical base was located in Prato, north-west of Florence, has been run since 2021 by a Chinese national, officials said.

Why this matters: a developing story that could shape the day's news cycle.

Police said they had arrested 41 individuals in Italy and Spain linked to the network, with charges ranging from criminal conspiracy and drug trafficking to money laundering and aiding and abetting illegal immigration. Photograph: Imago/Alamy Stock Photo/Alamy Live News.View image in fullscreen Police said they had arrested 41 individuals in Italy and Spain linked to the network, with charges ranging from criminal conspiracy and drug trafficking to money laundering and aiding and abetting illegal immigration. Photograph: Imago/Alamy Stock Photo/Alamy Live News.ItalyItalian police dismantle illicit bank used by drug traffickers as global brokerClandestine operation run by Chinese national in Prato moved €80-100m a year through intermediaries

Prefer the Guardian on GoogleItalian police have dismantled an underground bank used by drug traffickers through which several hundred million euros are believed to have moved over at least three years.

The clandestine bank, whose logistical base was located in Prato, north-west of Florence, has been run since 2021 by a Chinese national, officials said.

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