Human smuggling from China cost illegal immigrants up to $15,000 (13,000 Euros) to be smuggled into Northern Italy in order to work in the textile industry.
Chinese organized crime groups operating in Italy laundered $3.3 Billion (2.7 Billion Euros) in revenue back to China between 2006 and 2010. The proceeds were from black market activities such as the sale of counterfeit goods, prostitution and human smuggling.
According to the Bank of Italy, Mafia members, terrorists and money launderers are stockpiling the 500 Euro Bill because it is easy to transport and smuggle. The bank found that the highest concentration of the 500 Euro was by the borders Switzerland and San Marino where money laundering laws are less strict. The US Drug Enforcement Administration stated that $1 Million in $100 bills weighs 22 pounds, while $1 Million in 500 Euros weighs 3.5 pounds.
Between 2008 and the start of 2010, Italian authorities seized assets worth $9.78 Billion from organized crime groups within the country.
According to a study organized by Italy’s anti-mafia commission, in 2009 13 million people in Italy were directly living in areas where the Mafia exerts influence over their daily lives.
7 Billion Euros ($9.9 Billion) worth of toxic waste is smuggled out of the country on the black market each year by members of Italian Mafia clans. The 7 Billion Euros in black market trash is higher than the 6 Billion Euro that was smuggled in 2008.
Drug trafficking by the Italian Mafia generated $83 Billion (59 Billion Euros) in 2008. An additional $8 Billion (5.8 Billion Euros) was generated from arms trafficking.
According to a Italian think tank, the Italian Mafia earns $17 billion (12.6 Euros) from loansharking each year. An estimated 180,000 merchants directly or indirectly receive their loans from the Mafia in Italy. Overall, the Mafia generates about $167 billion (130 billion Euros) in revenue.
Slate Magazine explains why the Mafia is involved in trash smuggling. It’s Mob Economics 101: Find a business that’s easy…
How much money the Italian Mafia was generating back in 2007, and how much of Italy’s GDP it impacted.