The Navy refused to hand over its housing database to Italian anti-mafia investigators.

Evidence

In November 2008, Italian authorities surprised Navy officials when they appeared at the Navy’s Housing Office. The Italian agents produced a court order for records regarding six homes leased by U.S. personnel and discovered to be owned by Camorra families. The agents also asked for access to the Navy’s entire housing database. The Navy refused, seemingly to avoid further embarrassment. The head of the antimafia squad faulted the Navy for knowingly renting from suspected mob bosses. Italian media reports in recent years suggest that the Navy and other NATO forces have continued renting from people with Camorra connections. — David Vine, Base Nation_ How U.S. Military Bases…, 364

Categorization

• XREF: The Navy’s refusal to cooperate with Italian authorities parallels the broader theme of bases operating above local law, a recurring thread in this book.