Warrants were issued against a total of 183 people, 36 of whom were already in custody, for crimes including attempted murder, extortion and drug trafficking, police said.

Around 130 people were arrested on Tuesday in a large-scale sting against the Sicilian mafia in Palermo, indicating that it has remained a significant criminal force despite setbacks in recent decades.

Italian police have launched a series of raids targeting Mafia clans operating in and around the Sicilian capital Palermo. More than 1,2000 officers were involved in the operation, which the military Carabinieri force said was aimed at "dismantling" the area's Mafia.