Photo Gallery Italy's Shadowy 'Ndrangheta

The shadowy Calabrian mafia, the 'Ndrangheta, has become one of the most powerful criminal organizations in the Western world through its dominance of the European cocaine trade. For the first time, local syndicate bosses described their business model to SPIEGEL. This photo, which shows a member of the 'Ndrangheta, was taken by Francesco Sbano, a photographer who grew up in Calabria.

The 'Ndrangheta dominates the European cocaine trade. Here, cocaine seized at Hamburg's port in April 2010.

The 'Ndrangheta were responsible for a 2007 massacre in the German city of Duisburg. Such incidents are rare; the Calabrian mafia likes to keep a low profile.

This photo shows a 'Ndrangheta cocaine dealer.

The 'Ndrangheta is believed to be active in the port of Gioia Tauro near Reggio Calabria.

This January 2010 photo shows an anti-mafia protest in Rosarno, Calabria.

Nicola Gratteri (left, seen here in 2007) is the anti-mafia prosecutor in Reggio Calabria. As long as humankind exists, the 'Ndrangheta will also exist, he once told the US consul in Naples.