Source: Associated Press
Pubdate: Wed, 11 Mar 1998

ITALY ARRESTS 21 IN CRIME SWEEP

ROME (AP) -- In a nationwide sweep, Italian police arrested 21 people on
charges of money laundering and criminal association, according to a media
report Wednesday.

No figures were available, but the AGI news agency said a ``huge'' amount of
money was involved. It said the money reportedly came from a vast arms and
drug trafficking ring involving Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands and
Montecarlo, as well as Italy.

AGI said the police investigation began in Florence last September. Another
57 people are reportedly under investigation, it said.