nc Italian police arrest a suspected member of the notorious Black Axe crime network

FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again. SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up fornow and never miss the top politics stories again. We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

The Black Axe - a Nigerian criminal network that rules by fear - is involved in drug dealing, prostitution and the fraudulent transfer of money between Europe and Nigeria. And the ruthless organisation is now working alongside the Sicilian mafia - the notorious and powerful Cosa Nostra - after striking a deal with underworld bosses in the island’s capital Palermo and buying the rights to operate in designated areas. Deputy prosecutor Leonardo Agueci said: "Cosa Nostra tolerates the Nigerian mafia in Palermo. Cosa Nostra allowed the Nigerians to organise a subordinate structure they were tolerated as long as they didn’t come outside their perimeter.”

GETTY An armed Italian police officer stands guard

Cosa Nostra allowed the Nigerians to organise a subordinate structure they were tolerated as long as they didn’t come outside their perimeter Deputy prosecutor Leonardo Agueci

Mr Agueci was speaking after ordering a crackdown on senior Black Axe figures which saw 17 men arrested and taken into custody. He said: "Thanks to this operation, which took place a few days sooner because authorities feared some central parts of the organisation would escape, the danger of possible conflicts and internal wars was avoided.” His investigators said the Black Axe had a gruesome reputation for carrying out atrocious punishments and physical torture which has been likened to a cross between black magic and revenge mafia. One initiation ritual is said to involve drinking human blood.

GETTY Police patrol the streets of Sicilian capital Palermo

An investigator said: "Nigerian mafia is sometimes more violent than the mafia from Palermo. There are many cases of violence. People who did not follow the rules were punished in an extreme violent way." He said a man thought to be in a relationship with the wife of a Black Axe leader was subjected to a horrific 12-hour ordeal in which he was beaten, stripped naked, tortured and raped on the floor of a room at the back restaurant. The officials compared the crime network to a full-fledged state with leaders, defence ministers, soldiers and even a national holiday. They said it is based on a pyramidal structure of obedience and terror.

GETTY The Black Axe paid the Mafia for the right to operate in parts of Palermo

The most notorious criminals in the world Fri, January 6, 2017 The most notorious criminals of the world Play slideshow REUTERS 1 of 12 Charles Manson is an American criminal who formed a commune called the Manson family in the late 60s who committed a series of murders