Michele Antonio Varano
Encyclopedia
Michele Antonio Varano is an Italian
criminal and a member of the 'Ndrangheta, a Mafia-type organisation in Calabria
.
Since 2000, he is on the Italian "most wanted list" for Mafia association, membership of a criminal association, tobacco smuggling and other serious crimes. Investigations have been extended internationally for his extradition.
(Switzerland). He is among ten people charged with laundering more than US$1 billion in a cigarette-smuggling money from the early 1990s until 2001, according to the Swiss office of the Federal Prosecutor.
According to Italian judicial investigations the organisation illegally transported cigarettes between Italy and Montenegro
using speedboats, with Montenegrin authorities collecting money on exclusive licences and transit fees. According to Italian prosecutors, the organisation received protection of Montenegrin prime minister Milo Djukanovic. Officials in Montenegro deny wrongdoing.
The contraband cigarettes were stored in Montenegro before being smuggled into Italy to be sold on the black markets in Naples
and Puglia. The Italian clients received more than 2 billion packets of cigarettes over the years. The proceeds were channeled to Swiss bank accounts by financial couriers.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
criminal and a member of the 'Ndrangheta, a Mafia-type organisation in Calabria
Calabria
Calabria , in antiquity known as Bruttium, is a region in southern Italy, south of Naples, located at the "toe" of the Italian Peninsula. The capital city of Calabria is Catanzaro....
.
Since 2000, he is on the Italian "most wanted list" for Mafia association, membership of a criminal association, tobacco smuggling and other serious crimes. Investigations have been extended internationally for his extradition.
Cigarette contraband
Varano was arrested on May 12, 2009, in GandriaGandria
Gandria is a small village on the shore of Lake Lugano in Switzerland. The historically protected center , which is not accessible by car, attracts visitors from all over the world...
(Switzerland). He is among ten people charged with laundering more than US$1 billion in a cigarette-smuggling money from the early 1990s until 2001, according to the Swiss office of the Federal Prosecutor.
According to Italian judicial investigations the organisation illegally transported cigarettes between Italy and Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
using speedboats, with Montenegrin authorities collecting money on exclusive licences and transit fees. According to Italian prosecutors, the organisation received protection of Montenegrin prime minister Milo Djukanovic. Officials in Montenegro deny wrongdoing.
The contraband cigarettes were stored in Montenegro before being smuggled into Italy to be sold on the black markets in Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
and Puglia. The Italian clients received more than 2 billion packets of cigarettes over the years. The proceeds were channeled to Swiss bank accounts by financial couriers.