Over 300 people have been arrested in the southern Italian region of Calabria in a series of mass raids aimed at breaking the local mafia.

It has been reported that around 3,000 police officers were involved in the raids, making it one of the largest anti-mafia actions in recent times. Arrests are also reported to have been made in the U.S.

Those arrested stand accused of crimes including money laundering, murder and belonging to a criminal organisation.

The mafia in Calabria is also known as "Ngrangheta" and is believed to have branched out from its homeland and now has significant interest and influence in European organised crime and in the South American illegal drugs trade.