Businesses in Italy turn to mafia for coronavirus loans | Focus on Europe

The coronavirus pandemic is proving profitable for organized crime. Failing businesses aren't getting quick stop-gap loans from the government, so the mafia is stepping in. But that often has grave consequences. A pizzeria in Naples wants to avoid that.

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[rougegan]

Not all the italian regions suffer the situation that has been here depicted. Do not generalize in the comments, please.

[shibinpm]

Mafia strategy reminds me of China's global strategy....

[tltinatl]

This is really good work, DW. When I was in journalism school one of my professors told us that whenever there's a crisis or disaster, you can always find stories like this. His rule was that no matter how awful, how devastating, how tragic an event is, someone, somewhere will quickly figure out a way to make money off of it. I haven't seen an exception yet.

[ivanborsetto]

I’m very tired of the fact that a part of italy (naples, sicily...) represents all the country in the world...we are tired that our dignity, our work, our innovation, our business, our cities and our culture become invisible in front of this shit...I’m not saying that we can’t talk about this, but I see that journalism spreads the usual syllogism and the usual stereotypes that people in the world want to hear...

[ziggy]

I’m sure those are low interest loans, right? Pay when you’re ready.

[lf]

The translation on 30 seconds of the italian woman is totally wrong!!! She said actually that the line proof that the majority of people ask assistance in a legitimate way, otherwise is often shown! SHAME ON YOU! I would not expect this from this media outlet

[v.dargain]

DiMatteo pizzeria has a picture of president Clinton on the wall . The owner should ask the former president for some economic stimulus and not the mafia . If the president remembers being served a tasty meal, the owner might get some aid . Couldn't hurt to ask .

[kyloshoren]

"italy" ...really good journalism

[hrushikeshzendage]

It's like buying people's, will lead to loss a faith in government .

[mgtowski]

Italian government needs to use the carrot & stick approach on the mafia, minus the carrot part.

[TSFE]

oh how curious, when it comes to Italy DW has to mention ONLY POTENTIAL negative sides, has it something to do with the fact DW is a german channel? :) hm only god knows it :)

[CaptainVita]

You take money from the cartels - youre done
You take money from the banks - youre done
You take no money at all - youre done
Youre done either ways, thanks to the corona craze

[AL-tjye]

Dumb, close the business than to deal w/ the mafia!

[matheenarif]

So the seeds of Gang wars have been laid down. Good luck Italia. May you recover from this bad times.

[johnbroadbelt]

There must be some group that can do better than mafia ! Come on Italy, must be some one smarter than the mafia in this country ??!!

[lasnohaja]

Is there any member of Mafia within Italian government from locality official up to Presidential & PM official in Rome ?

[silvialogan]

Italy always suffered some economic problems, but the COVID-19 made the economy even worse.

[EddyMedina]

This is happening in Mexico as well. Narco cartels are handing out boxes of nourishment for people that lost their jobs or are in poverty or extreme poverty.
We don't have a European infrastructure to tend to the whole population of 120 million, which around 50% of its people live in poverty.
Sadly, some won't be helped by anyone if not by these outlaw cartels.
I don't condone this in any way, and hope this doesn't bring on dire consequences in the future, but its a shot at survival for someone living in this situation.

[massimiliano]

What about paydays loan that you can do online?

[Kangroo]

lol mafia is the government in italy .