Priest in Italy among dozens arrested in migrant mob scam

ROME — The mafia has moved in on one of Italy’s few growth industries: caring for migrants.

Italian authorities on Monday arrested 68 people, including a priest and the head of the Catholic volunteer group “Mercy,” and accused them of being in cahoots with a mafia clan that allegedly skimmed millions in public funds destined for asylum-seekers at a welcome center in southern Italy.

Announcing the arrests, Carabinieri Gen. Giuseppe Governale summarized the scam: “The welcome center and ‘Mercy’ were the ATMs of the mafia.”

Investigators said the Arena clan of the Calabrian ‘ndrangheta mob had secured a lock on servicing the Isola di Capo Rizzuto migrant center for the past decade, thanks to its links to “Mercy” and its regional head, Leonardo Sacco.

Sacco is a well-connected Italian, and his arrest took on broader implications given the number of politicians linked to him. Even Pope Francis has been photographed with him.

The Calabrian holding center is one of Italy’s largest. “Mercy” is a national organization that runs migrant centers and provides other volunteer services around the country. Investigators said “Mercy” subcontracted catering services to companies run by the Arena clan, which allegedly skimmed some $39.5 million in public funds destined for migrant care at the center between 2006-2015.

Part of the scam involved putting in for more meals than were actually provided, and then pocketing the money, said Catanzaro prosecutor Nicola Gratteri.

Police said the Rev. Edoardo Scordio, who is affiliated with “Mercy,” was the “organizer of a true system of exploitation of public funds destined for the migrant emergency.”