Italy to increase number of Mafia investigators

Italy's recently formed special team of Mafia investigators, composed of top police, carabinieri and fiscal police experts, will be increased from 943 to 1,500 by the end of this year, and to 2,600 later on, it was announced yesterday. The purpose of the new team is to co-ordinate the efforts of the three independent and often competing forces and to improve efforts to combat the Mafia.

The justice and interior ministers of the 12 EC countries are to meet in Brussels on 18 September to discuss co-operation against 'Mafia-type organisations', the French Interior Minister, Paul Quiles, said yesterday

Mr Quiles said the meeting called by French and Italian government officials would 'study ways to strengthen co-operation in the fight against Mafia-type organisations and their activities'.