The Sicilian mafia organization Cosa Nostra is purchasing combat drones, according to Maurizio De Lucia, the chief prosecutor in Palermo.
De Lucia made the disclosure during testimony before a parliamentary committee focused on anti-mafia efforts on Tuesday.
De Lucia stated that the criminal syndicate has sourced the advanced weaponry from Eastern Europe.
The procurement of military-grade unmanned aerial systems marks a significant escalation in the technological capabilities of organized crime groups in the region.
The revelation underscores the growing sophistication of illicit networks, which are increasingly accessing dual-use technologies previously restricted to state actors.
This development follows broader trends of non-state actors, including jihadist groups in Africa, deploying weaponized commercial drones, as noted in a July briefing to the UN Security Council.