ROME, Aug. 16 (UPI) -- Billions of dollars in property and assets were recovered following the arrests of thousands of Mafia figures in the past year, Italian authorities reported.

Some $5.06 billion in assets were seized by the Interior Ministry between Aug. 1, 2011, and July this year, while another $1.85 billion in assets was confiscated, the Agenzia Giornalistica Italia reported.


Eighteen Mafia members described as "very dangerous" were among 2,041 Mafiosi and 82 fugitives arrested during the period, the Ministry said.

The Justice Fund received $139 million from the seizures and confiscations. The fund now totals $1.7 billion.