The ‘Ndrangheta in Germany: Converging Interests, Trust and State Response

In 2019 the German government warned against the presence of up to 1000 ‘Ndrangheta members in Germany. Only 344 of them were known to the police, half of them were under investigation. What prevents an effective state response against mafia organisations? By drawing on the German case, this contribution shed light on the nature and scope of the presence of mafia organisations in legitimate markets, their integration into society, and the resulting challenges for state response. What it finds is that, under specific circumstances, investments in the legal economy serve criminal organisations beyond mere money laundering, allowing them to build up social capital and creating networks of interests which eventually reach politics.