Italian police arrested 24 people, including a nun named Sister Anna Donelli, as part of a mafia investigation targeting the ‘Ndrangheta, one of Europe’s most powerful criminal groups.

Sister Donelli is accused of acting as a go-between for the mafia and jailed members while volunteering at a prison.

The operation, spanning northern and southern Italy, also led to the arrest of two politicians and the seizure of €1.8m in assets.

Investigators allege the group laundered €12m through scrap metal businesses, the BBC has reported.

The arrests follow a four-year probe into the Calabria-based mafia, known for its global influence and criminal activities.

Written by B.C. Begley