German police raid offices, homes in wind turbine case - report

Nov 20, 2013 - German police Tuesday raided homes and offices in the country on suspicion of money-laundering by the Calabrian mafia through the Capo Rizzuto wind farm in Italy and German businessmen, news magazine Der Spiegel said today.

The authorities suspect the Calabrian mafia, also called Ndrangheta, of having purchased the wind farm with money from illicit activities.

As part of the investigation, the police officers searched offices of German wholesale lender HSH Nordbank which financed the wind farm with a loan of EUR 225 million (USD 305m). However, the bank is not under probe, Reuters said citing prosecutor Alexander Retemeyer.

The businessmen are suspected of having helped the Italian mafia through their companies in Germany, Italy, San Marino and Switzerland.

The Capo Rizzuto wind farm with a capacity of 96 MW is located on the Capo Rizzuto island in Calabria, south Italy, and has been producing green power since 2009. The wind farm generates annual electricity worth EUR 30 million, according to Der Spiegel.

The Ndrangheta mafia, based in Calabria, is one of Italy's four most powerful criminal organisations. The group is believed to be active in drug trafficking, extortion and money-laundering.

(EUR 1.0 = USD 1.354)

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