Around 2,500 Italian military police took part in the operation in the city of Vibo Valentia in southern Italy on Thursday, where more than 300 people were arrested. The people are suspected of being members of the Calabrian Mafia 'Ndrangheta and were arrested, among other things, on suspicion of extortion, murder and money laundering, writes The Guardian.

"This is the biggest operation since the Palermo trial," said Nicola Gratteri, prosecutor and investigator, referring to proceedings directed at the Sicilian Mafia in Palermo between 1986 and 1992.

Been going since 2016

The investigation began in 2016 in at least eleven different regions of the country. Suspects have previously been tracked and arrested in Germany, Switzerland and Bulgaria.

Among the arrested were Giancarlo Pittelli, a well-known Catanzaro lawyer. He is also a former member of Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia party and is accused of linking to the Mafia.

A former regional official, a mayor, a politician and a police chief were also among the arrested.

"Today is a beautiful day"

Nicola Morra, chair of a parliamentary commission against the mafia, was relieved after the police action.

- From today in Calabria, the air you breathe is better. It is an air of taste of freedom. Today is a beautiful day for disobedience, says Nicola Morra.