Inside Spanish holiday hotspot's dark side where Mafia-style gangsters dominate underworld

The arrest of three Italian mafia-style gangsters in a Spanish holiday hotspot has highlighted the city's dark criminal underbelly.

The area of Marbella was once referred to as the "United Nations of organised crime" by a detective due to its diverse criminal population.

Ciro Marigliano, Stanislao Marigliano, and Michele Sannino, alleged members of the notorious Camorra from Naples, are now facing accusations of international drug trafficking after being arrested in the city.

Following the arrests, which included Ciro who is also sought for attempted murder, Italy's Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi remarked: "The arrest of three dangerous fugitives represents a serious blow to organised crime, the result of careful investigative activity and extraordinary collaboration.

"The determination and high professionalism shown by the Naples police and the Spanish authorities once again highlight the State's ability to effectively combat the most insidious criminal organisations."

Despite these efforts, it is believed that at least 113 criminal gangs from 59 different countries operate out of Malaga, where Marbella is located.

Mafia in Marbella

These groups, while independent, are said to "sub-contract" services among each other, creating a symbiotic underworld in this sun-drenched tourist hotspot.

The intricate web of Europe's drug trade involves Dutch and Belgian groups coordinating cocaine shipments with Colombian cartels. The Camorra gangsters from Italy handle transportation across the continent, and Albanian and Kosovan factions supply weapons and muscle, as detailed in the Irish Mirror.

A Camorra member, long-established in Marbella, revealed: "There are groups from all over the world here. People of all different nationalities, doing all kinds of jobs. We don't intermix, but we're constantly collaborating."

Meanwhile, a trafficker from Malaga told The Guardian that gang ambushes, or vuelcos, are far more frequent than police raids.

To counter this threat, many organisations reportedly enlist the Camorra for protection on the Costa del Sol. Offering a stark view into their operations, one gangster disclosed: "We guaranteed the success of the operation, and are paid in advance.

"Everyone knows that if something happens with the shipment, there will be consequences. If you try something, we'll kill you. Usually, the shipment has a GPS tracker. If at any point the signal disappears, we will kill you."

Bloodshed

Despite the Costa del Sol being a popular destination for thousands of British holidaymakers, the region is not without its underworld violence. Incidents include the discovery of a corpse with holes drilled through its toes in a storage unit in 2022.

However, an officer speaking to the Daily Mail remarked: "In their world that's nothing abnormal."

In the same year, a chilling discovery was made in an apartment complex where a man's body was found wrapped in clingfilm. The incident left tourists in shock after a violent altercation involving a shooting and stabbing occurred at Opium Beach Club.

Meanwhile, the Italian gangsters faced a significant setback when police arrested 32 suspects linked to the Ndrangheta in September 2022. The gang, known for using extreme violence and torture to exert their influence, was apprehended on charges of drug trafficking and money laundering.

The operation involved up to 500 law enforcement officers and received support from Europol.

Following the confiscation of a substantial drug haul, Europol released a statement saying: "The criminal gang is believed to have played an active role in cocaine and cannabis trafficking in between Spain and Italy, using vehicles equipped with hidden compartments and speedboats to transport the drugs.

"The members of this criminal organisation would routinely use violence, including torture, to further their criminal goals. Some of the arrestees are linked to a number of murders in Italy."