Delianuova (Italy) – The Italian police searched for drugs during a raid on the Mafia organization ‘Ndrangheta. And found … frozen rodents!
Investigators found more than 200 frozen dormice packaged for sale and consumption in a hiding place in Delianuova, southern Italy. The mafia also kept several of the animals in cages. Three suspects were arrested.
The rodents, which are protected species, are considered a delicacy by the ‘Ndrangheta. According to the animal welfare organization LIPO, the mafia likes to serve dormice at reconciliation banquets in order to create peace between warring families. According to this, poaching is widespread in the Aspromonte Mountains in Calabria. According to LIPU, hunters set thousands of traps in the forests and sell illegally caught dormice to mafiosi and restaurants.
Dormice were already considered a delicacy in ancient RomePhoto: picture alliance / Bildagentur-online
Dormice have been baked or cooked in Italy since the time of the Roman Empire. Because of their high price and low nutritional value, they were considered a status symbol.
The ‘Ndrangheta comes from Calabria at the top of the Italian boot. It has now outstripped the more infamous Sicilian Cosa Nostra and is now the most powerful mafia group in Italy. The ‘Ndrangheta is active all over the world.