FBI cuffs NY mafia suspects en masse

20/01/11 19:15 CET

world news

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More than 100 murder, drug trafficking and money laundering suspects have been arrested in an FBI dragnet in the northeastern US. Law enforcement officers moved against New York’s several mafia families and others in New Jersey and Rhode Island, before dawn.

The charges included racketeering, extortion, loan-sharking and gambling. The Attorney General Eric Holder said the sweep was unprecedented: “This is one of the largest single day operations against the mafia in the FBI’s history, both in terms of the number of offenders arrested and charged and the scope of the criminal activity that is alleged.”

The Justice Department chief made his announcement in Brooklyn.

Crime families have also been suspected of connections in the construction industry as well as shipping and waterfront activities.

Investigators are said to have had inside help from informants within the underworld.

More about: Arrest, Mafia, USA

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