Raffaele Imperiale, once one of Europe’s most powerful narco-bosses and a key figure in the so-called “super cartel,” has officially turned state witness — becoming one of the highest-ranking Camorra figures to flip in decades. Arrested in Dubai in 2021 and extradited to Italy, Imperiale began cooperating with prosecutors in late 2022, offering to reveal the inner workings of his transnational drug empire and its connections to other major syndicates, including the Kinahan cartel. His cooperation reportedly includes extensive details on smuggling routes from South America through Dutch ports, European laundering channels, and the involvement of corrupt customs officials. Italian investigators have described his testimony as “devastating” to multiple networks operating between Italy, Ireland, Spain, and the UAE.

In exchange for leniency, Imperiale surrendered millions in assets — including an artificial island in Dubai known as “Taiwan,” multiple villas, and artwork including two stolen Van Gogh paintings recovered from his possession. His cooperation has already led to new indictments and cross-border intelligence sharing between Europol, Italian authorities, and the Dutch National Police. In 2024, he received a 15-year sentence, dramatically reduced from the life term he once faced. Prosecutors believe Imperiale’s turn as a pentito could unravel a generation of organized crime alliances that linked the Camorra to global cartels and money-laundering networks stretching from Dubai to Amsterdam.


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