Aprilia mayor among 25 arrested in mafia probe

(ANSA) - ROME, JUL 3 - The mayor of Aprilia, a town south of Rome in the province of Latina, was among 25 people arrested on Wednesday in a big operation coordinated by DDA anti-mafia investigators in the Italian capital.
    The operation is linked to a probe into a criminal gang that allegedly sought to acquire direct and indirect control of the area's economic activities and public contracts, as well as hampering the free exercise of the right to vote.
    The suspects face charges that include mafia association for extortion, drug trafficking and crimes against the public administration.
    Mayor Lanfranco Principi, who was elected in May 2023 with the support of a coalition of centre-right parties, was put under house arrest. (ANSA).