Italian police arrest 26, seize goods from China

Italian police Tuesday made 26 arrests in a crackdown on a multi-million euro illicit trade.

ROME, December 22, 2009 (AFP) - Italian police Tuesday made 26 arrests in a crackdown on a multi-million euro illicit trade in counterfeit goods from China, media reports said.

They seized property worth some 50 million euros (70 million dollars) including containerloads of counterfeit goods, the reports said.

The sweep codenamed "Maestro" took place Gioia Tauro, a port in the southern Calabria stronghold of the powerful 'Ndrangheta's mafia, and in the Rome area.

Two customs employees at Gioia Tauro were among those arrested, all thought to belong to the organised crime syndicate.

A 27th suspect remains at large.

The seized property also included an import-export company and a luxury hotel complex near Rome that was thought to have served in a money-laundering scheme.