Documentary, The Mafia's Secret Bunkers BBC Documentary, Ndrangheta
Mafia's Secret Bunkers
The BBC documentary The Mafia’s Secret Bunkers, part of the This World series, explores the powerful and secretive Calabrian mafia group known as the 'Ndrangheta, which is now considered Europe’s largest cocaine trafficker.
The film, presented by author and mafia historian John Dickie, provides unique access to the sophisticated underground bunkers used by 'Ndrangheta members for hiding and evading capture.
These bunkers, often concealed beneath villages, behind sliding staircases, or even inside pizza ovens, feature amenities like kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, and even cannabis plantations, reflecting the high level of comfort the fugitive bosses sought.
The documentary follows Dickie as he travels with the Italian special forces unit known as the Cacciatori ('The Hunters'), who conduct nighttime operations to uncover these hidden lairs.
The authorities' campaign against the 'Ndrangheta is described as resembling a full-scale counter-insurgency, utilizing spy planes, informants (supergrasses), and efforts to combat the pervasive culture of silence and fear, known as omertà, which has long protected the mafia.
The film highlights the 'Ndrangheta's extensive network, which extends beyond Calabria into other parts of Europe and even Australia, and its ability to operate "in plain sight" within legitimate sectors of society.
The documentary was first broadcast on BBC Two on May 1, 2013, and has since been repeated on BBC Four.
It was produced by Elena Cosentino and directed by Elena Cosentino, with Richard Bradley and Sam Bagnall serving as executive producers.
The film's production was marked by significant challenges, including the need to conduct operations under cover of darkness to avoid alerting the local population, who have historically been reluctant to cooperate with law enforcement.
The 'Ndrangheta's influence is symbolized by its underground bunkers, which represent the deep entrenchment of the organization within its territory and its people.
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