A notorious Nigerian mafia gang in Italy called the Vikings has been disbanded as the Italian police arrested 73 of their members.
The Emmanuel Okenwa aka ‘Boogye’ was the ring leader of the cartel and he was caught alongside his underlings.
Italian police have been quoted as saying that Okenwa was arrested by undercover officers in the city of Verona as he prepared to flee the country.
Over 200 Italian policemen were involved in the operation which was carried out in Turin and Ferrara. Several women who allegedly ran prostitution rackets were also arrested.
The Italian authorities report that the Vikings and other groups traffic Nigerian women to Italy and force them to work as prostitutes. Each group demands a cult-like loyalty from its followers and subjects new members to initiation rites.
According to reports, the outlawed group, which also goes by the name Arobaga Vikings or Norsemen Kclub, is organised into local cells called Decks and is present in many Italian cities. Rival groups such as the Eiye and the Black Axe are composed of Nigerians mostly.
Their most lucrative criminal activity is trafficking Nigerian women to Italy to become prostitutes.
Reportedly, many of the women are forced to undergo voodoo-style religious rituals in which they are told they or their families will be harmed if they try to escape the sex trade.
It is common to see young Nigerian women touting for business along busy roads in Italy, especially during the summer.
