Italian police have seized assets worth 1.3-billion euros from a Sicilian renewable-energy developer, the biggest haul ever of Mafia-linked assets.
The assets, including 43 wind and solar energy companies, 98 properties and 66 bank accounts, belonged to Vito Nicastri, a 57-year-old businessman dubbed the "Lord of the Wind".
"[Renewable energy] is a sector in which money can easily be laundered," said Arturo de Felice, head of Italy's anti-Mafia agency.
The assets had been frozen in 2010 and Nicastri was on probation, under orders not to leave his home town of Alcamo in western Sicily, during the investigation.
Nicastri had "numerous and high-level contacts with Mafia figures", the agency said.
One of these was Matteo Messina Denaro, a fugitive considered to be the godfather of the Sicilian Mafia.
De Felice said the seizure "will definitely make life more difficult" for Messina Denaro. Revenue from the companies and properties seized would go to the state.
Since the anti-Mafia agency was created in 1991 it has arrested 10107 people and seized assets worth à6-billion.
Italy's renewable energy sector has been heavily infiltrated by the Mafia because of once-generous state subsidies and lax controls.
Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package. 
