Bangladesh, Oct. 22 -- In a sweeping judgment that marks one of the most consequential blows ever dealt to organized crime in Europe, Italys Court of Reggio Calabria has handed down sentences totaling more than 1,000 years in prison to dozens of members of the notorious Ndrangheta syndicate. The verdict, announced on October 21, follows a years-long multinational investigation and represents a historic milestone in Europes battle against the continents most powerful and secretive criminal organization.

The courts ruling comes as part of the first judicial decision in a massive Ndrangheta trial – described by prosecutors as one of the largest mafia cases since the legendary “Maxi Trial” against the Sicilian Cosa Nostra i...