According to Italian media, the Dutch entrepreneur and investor Marcel Boekhoorn is one of 51 suspects in a gambling and money laundering investigation that touches on the Calabrese branch of the Mafia: the 'Ndrangheta. The investigation is being conducted by the Guardia di Finanza from Reggio Calabria under the direction of the anti-mafia department of justice in Reggio.

The research is aimed at the Tegano family, which is said to have generated a turnover of 4.5 billion euros in the illegal (online) gambling sector in Italy and abroad. In cooperation with Eurojust there have been raids and seizures in Malta, Austria, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Isle of Man, the Netherlands, Curaçao, Serbia, Albania and Spain.

Boekhoorn may have to answer in court in Italy. Boekhoorn's Italian problems have been going on for some time. De Groene revealed the allegations about the Mafia investments.

Marcel Boekhoorn is one of the richest entrepreneurs in the Netherlands. He made his fortune with the purchase and sale of Telfort. Among other things, he owns Ouwehands Zoo and in 2018 he purchased the ailing HEMA retail chain. He is friends with prominent entrepreneurs and (former) politicians such as former Prime Minister Jan-Peter Balkenende and Hans Wiegel.