The Carabinieri have arrested 82 alleged members of the Foggia mafia (Italy) on Monday in an operation in which some 500 security agents have participated.

“The Carabinieri of the Foggia provincial command (…) have executed a preventive detention order (…) against 82 people, all serious suspects in crimes of criminal association for drug trafficking, aggravated by the mafia method and purpose,” the Carabinieri Corps said in a statement.

For his part, the Italian Interior Minister, Matteo Piantedosi, congratulated the National Anti-Mafia Directorate and the Carabinieri for dealing a “hard blow” to the Foggia mafia, “one of the most dangerous and violent”.

“This is a strong response from the State that once again confirms its extraordinary commitment by the investigative bodies to effectively counteract this criminal network that seeks to impose itself through illicit trafficking and extortion (…). The fight against the mafias is and will always be the priority of our Government,” the minister said in a statement.

The operation has been carried out mainly in the province of Capitanata, but also in other regions of the country, against alleged senior officials, members and collaborators of the organization in which some 500 Carabinieri have participated, Piantedosi reported.