Twenty-eight alleged Mafia members — including several from the GTA — were charged early Friday morning in a series of arrests in Southern Italy.

The massive sweep was part of Project Sindicato, described by Italian authorities as “Canadian ’Ndrangheta Connection 2.”

The ’Ndrangheta is a Mafia strain which originated in southern Italy.

The 28 people who were arrested Friday morning in Italy were described by Italian police as “top management” of the Muia and Figliomeni Mafia organization.

Project Sindicato was hailed last month by York Regional Police as the region’s largest-ever anti-Mafia operation, seizing luxury cars, homes and cash while shutting down some 500 bank accounts.

Friday’s arrests were part of an operation against what Italian authorities call “crimes of transnational and armed Mafia association, port and illegal possession of weapons, fraudulent transfer of values, abusive exercise of credit, usury and personal facilitation.”

Fourteen alleged members and associates of the ’Ndrangheta — or Calabrian Mafia — were arrested in southern Italy last month as part of Project Sindicato.

Among the GTA residents who were charged on Friday morning on organized crime association charges are: Francesco Commisso, 62, alleged head of the local ’Ndrangheta in Siderno and a Canadian arm; Rocco Remo Commisso, 73, of York Region; Giuseppe (Joe) De Maria, 56; Michelangelo Archina, 42; Angelo (Angelino) Figliomeni, 57; Antonio Figliomeni, 57; Cosimo Figiomeni, 54; and Luigi Bishop, 48.

Michele Carabetta, 61, of the GTA was charged with Mafia-related charges last month.

Also arrested in the sweeping operation was Santo Rumbo, who was arrested in Luxembourg on an international warrant.

Three weeks ago, police in Italy and York Region hailed Project Sindicato as a massive blow against the financial arm of the Figliomeni ’Ndrangheta family.

York Regional Police then said they seized five Ferrari luxury automobiles, 27 homes and millions of dollars in cash in the 18-month operation.

“We have dismantled the financial structure of this organized crime operation, both here and in Italy,” York Regional Police Chief Eric Jolliffe told a news conference last month.

Police at the time said they considered York Region resident Angelo Figliomini, 56, as the head of an international ’Ndrangheta group with a base in York Region.

The York Region news conference was attended by Fausto Lamporelli of the Italian state police, who praised a high level of co-operation between Canadian and Italian investigators.

“These two investigations became one,” Lamporelli said through an interpreter.

“The criminal organization known as the ’Ndrangheta knows no boundaries,” Lamporelli said. “It has no political or physical boundaries.

“They are a very powerful and violent group.”

Figliomeni’s father Vincenzo, known as “U Brigante” or “The Rogue” in the Calabrian underworld, was murdered in a 1987 Mafia hit in southern Italy.

Angelo Figliomeni has lived in York Region since shortly after he was charged in Italy with weapons and Mafia-association offences in 1992.

Also charged with committing crimes for the benefit of a criminal organization is Salvatore Oliveti, 54, of Oakville, who faces five charges related to possession of the proceeds of crime, money laundering and careless storage of a firearm.

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York Regional Police said Project Sindicato targeted builders, bankers, real estate agents and others in the financial sector. Police say the organization was involved in illegal gambling and loansharking, and laundered some of its money through regular visits to legal, government-run casinos.

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Five Ferraris, 27 homes, and millions in cash seized by police in Project Sindicato