Sicilian mafia seeks military drones as Europe warns of post war weapons trafficking

Rome – Italy's anti mafia prosecutors have warned that organised crime groups are seeking access to sophisticated military equipment from the black market created by the war in Ukraine, amid growing European concern over the future trafficking of weapons from the conflict.

Appearing before Parliament's Anti Mafia Commission, Palermo Chief Prosecutor Maurizio de Lucia revealed intelligence suggesting that Cosa Nostra is attempting to obtain military grade equipment, including mine dropping drones.

"We are aware of mafia interest in more sophisticated weapons, including those available on the black market created by the Russian Ukrainian war. We have indications of attempts to purchase mine dropping drones, weapons against which we are not prepared to defend ourselves," de Lucia said.

The prosecutor requested that part of his testimony remain confidential while discussing what he described as evolving mafia strategies during a period marked by renewed violence in Sicily.

His warning follows the recent arrest of 22 people linked to the so called "Kalashnikov gang" in Palermo. Prosecutors allege the group used assault rifles to enforce extortion demands, with the operation allegedly directed from prison by Salvatore Verga, who investigators say used an illicit mobile phone to arrange the purchase of military weapons sourced through intermediaries in Puglia and originating from the former Yugoslavia.

Investigators also believe Verga was negotiating the purchase of a mine dropping drone before the operation was disrupted by police. Authorities are continuing to investigate who commissioned the weapon and how it was intended to be used.

The case echoes warnings issued by Europol and Eurojust in 2022 that organised crime groups could exploit the vast quantities of weapons circulating during the war in Ukraine.

According to figures published by Ukraine's Interior Ministry, nearly 780,500 firearms have been reported lost or stolen since the Russian invasion began in 2022, including approximately 149,000 during the first five months of 2026 alone. Most disappearances have been recorded in the regions of Mykolaiv, Kyiv and Donetsk.

Ukrainian security forces have arrested several serving and former soldiers accused of attempting to sell ammunition, mines, assault rifles and grenade launchers allegedly taken from the battlefield. Spanish investigators suspect some of these weapons may have reached organised crime groups operating around Marbella, where police have reported the use of AK 47 assault rifles by drug trafficking organisations.

Despite these concerns, European authorities stress that there is still no verified evidence of systematic trafficking of Western supplied weapons from Ukraine into the European Union. The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime says it has not documented confirmed trafficking cases, while Ukrainian authorities argue that many reports are part of Russian disinformation campaigns.

Nevertheless, European governments are preparing for the possibility that illicit trafficking could increase once the conflict ends. Last year, the Organization for Security and Co operation in Europe (OSCE) brought Ukrainian police, customs and border officials to Stockholm for specialised training in firearms tracing.

The European Commission's Directorate General for Migration and Home Affairs has also warned member states that organised criminal groups may seek to exploit the post war movement of weapons, urging governments to strengthen tracing systems and prepare for future trafficking risks.

The issue has also highlighted another unintended consequence of the war. In Spain, several Russian built Kamov Ka 32 firefighting helicopters remain grounded because EU sanctions prevent the import of Russian spare parts, forcing Madrid to replace the aircraft with US built UH 60L Black Hawk helicopters as the country battles severe wildfires.

While European authorities continue to dismiss claims of widespread weapons trafficking as unproven, prosecutors and security agencies increasingly agree that planning for the post war security environment has become a priority.

PS