After covertly taking control of an underworld encrypted messaging system, the Australian Federal Police have exposed just how deeply Italy's notoriously secretive and ruthlessly violent 'Ndrangheta mafia has infiltrated Australia.
The tentacles of the 'Ndrangheta reach into towns and cities across the country, the AFP revealed today, explaining how thousands of members will be presenting a modest front of regular family life while laundering billions in dirty cash in construction, agricultural and catering businesses.
"It's entirely possible that people would be living next door to members of the 'Ndrangheta without knowing," AFP Assistant Commissioner Nigel Ryan said today, describing the mafia as quiet puppet masters who control killer bikie gangs and hardened criminals on the frontlines of Australia's drug, illegal gambling and gun trade.
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"The 'Ndrangheta pride themselves on the fact that they have this omertà, which means they work in secrecy and silence," Ryan said.
"They've been able to operate in the darkness for so long."
But the AFP and FBI's audacious masterstroke to penetrate and quietly seize control of AN0M, a secure and encrypted messaging system favoured by criminals around the world, had changed everything, he said.
Since establishing themselves in Australia in the early 1920s, in towns like Griffith in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Ryan said the Italian mafia-linked families had legitimised their businesses to "wash billions" of ill-gotten gains.
Around 70 per cent of the world's cocaine is trafficked by 'Ndrangheta, and the AFP believes that same monopolising control of the illicit white powder exists in Australia.
"The 'Ndrangheta are actually the ones pulling the strings of different, other organised crime groups, particularly the more violent groups such as motorcycle gangs."
Assisted by the FBI, Italian police and other law enforcement agencies in Europe, the AFP has built out extensive familial mapping which revealed 51 Italian organised crime clans operating in Australia, of which 14 were "confirmed" as 'Ndrangheta.
"We've seen the familial blood lines, and marriage into blood lines," Ryan said.
"We see the same names coming up all the time in relation to organised crime in this country."
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Today's revelation comes one year after the AFP made public Operation Ironside, the biggest and most significant organised crime operation in its history.
That operation saw the AFP penetrate major crime groups by breaking into and assuming total control of AN0M.
AN0M allowed the AFP to build an extensive picture of the 'Ndrangheta in Australia, with agents methodically analysing an ocean of 28 million messages sent over the platform.
Users had no idea the AFP and FBI was watching.
Ryan said a "good majority" of those messages were between Italian mafia members and outlaw motorcycle gangs, particularly the Comancheros.
"Unfortunately for them, they invested in the wrong technology when they invested in AN0M."
However, Ryan said AN0M was not used by Asian or Middle Eastern crime syndicates.
"This is really a warning to Italian organised crime that they're on our radar," he said.
Ryan declared the AFP must "cut off the head and tail" of 'Ndrangheta in Australia, while promising more crime-busting headlines will follow today's revelations.
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Operation Ironside has already dealt a heavy blow to organised crime in Australia and around the the globe.
In Australia, 383 alleged offenders have been charged with 2340 offences.
More than 6.3 tonnes of illicit drugs and $55 million has been seized.
So far, 42 offenders charged under the operation have pleaded guilty or been sentenced.
Globally, more than 700 alleged offenders have been charged and 65 tonnes of illicit drugs seized.
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Who are the 'Ndrangheta in Australia
The 'Ndrangheta, also known as the Calabrian mafia, typically try to maintain a low profile and not display overt wealth.
'Ndrangheta clans are headed by senior figures that have authority over the other members.
Australian-based 'Ndrangheta are believed to be assisted and directed by 'Ndrangheta in Italy.
The families are typically involved in drug importations, money laundering, tobacco distribution and acts of violence.
Since the 1970s, the Australian 'Ndrangheta are believed to have been involved in money laundering through legitimate business, making it difficult for law enforcement agencies to track the original source of money.
'Ndrangheta launder proceeds of crime through bitcoin, corrupt lawyers and accountants.
Australian 'Ndrangheta members are difficult to combat, infiltrate and disrupt due to the code of silence, known as omertà.
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