KERJASAMA ITALIA DAN ICPO-INTERPOL DALAM UPAYA MELAWAN MAFIA ‘NDRANGHETA MELALUI INTERPOL COOPERATIONS AGAINST ‘NDRANGHETA (I-CAN) PROJECT

Abstract

The expansion of the 'Ndrangheta mafia network across nearly 40 countries—leveraging blood ties and the code of silence (omertà)—has positioned its criminal operations as a global threat that is increasingly difficult to counter. This situation can no longer be resolved unilaterally. In response, Italy, as the country of origin of this mafia group, partnered with ICPO-INTERPOL through a special initiative known as the INTERPOL Cooperation Against 'Ndrangheta (I-CAN) Project, implemented between 2020 and 2023. This study aims to analyze the form and outcomes of the cooperation between these two actors using a descriptive qualitative approach, with data collected through literature studies and interviews. The analysis is grounded in the neoliberal interdependence perspective and employs the concepts of international cooperation, international organizations, mafia crime, and international police cooperation (IPC), focusing on four coordination models: information exchange, organized common projects, working groups, and strategy development. The findings show that the project successfully established an organized collaborative mechanism between Italy, ICPO-INTERPOL, and participating countries in addressing the threat of the 'Ndrangheta. It reinforces the role of international organizations in facilitating cross-border coordination in the realm of global security. These results highlight the importance of synergy between states and international institutions in combating transnational organized crime.