An Italian nun, who received an award earlier this year for her volunteer work in prisons, has been arrested on suspicion of mafia collusion.
According to Italian media, 57-year-old Anna Donelli, who worked as a consultant in several prisons in Brescia (northern Italy) and its surroundings, was taken into custody on Thursday.
As part of a large-scale police operation, 24 other individuals were arrested for mafia-related crimes, including money laundering, drug trafficking, and extortion. Among them was a former member of the council for the "Brothers of Italy" party led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Prosecutor Francesco Prete stated at a press conference that Donelli acted as an intermediary for members of the Tripodi clan, which is part of the 'Ndrangheta, a powerful crime syndicate based in the southern region of Calabria.
"She relayed orders, directives, moral and material support to accomplices, receiving useful information from inmates in return to better plan criminal strategies," he said.
By intercepting messages from gang leader Stefano Tripodi in Brescia, investigators heard him describe Donelli's role. "She is one of us," he allegedly stated.
Donelli, who previously officiated football matches between inmates, had extensive access to the prison due to her spiritual position, prosecutors claim.
In February, the nun became one of the recipients of the "Golden Panettone," a civic award presented in Milan.
During a series of raids, police arrested 25 people and seized nearly 2 million euros.