A nun from Italy was among the 25 individuals arrested in a raid against the 'Ndrangheta mafia.

On Thursday, Italian police arrested a nun recognized for her work in prisons, along with 24 others, as part of an investigation into the 'Ndrangheta mafia in Brescia, according to three sources with firsthand knowledge.

A volunteer in Milan's San Vittore prison, Sister Anna Donelli, is suspected of mafia collusion and of acting as a go-between between the criminal group and its jailed gang members.

The nun, 57, is recognized for her service in Milan's run-down districts and received the "Golden Panettone" award in February.

It was not immediately possible to reach the nun's lawyer for comment.

In the operation, two local politicians were arrested and 1.8 million euros ($1.89 million) were seized, according to a police press release. However, the statement did not reveal the identities of those targeted by the raid.

The police accused various suspects of crimes such as mafia association, vote buying, illegal possession of weapons, money laundering, loan-sharking, drug dealing, and false invoicing, according to the statement.

The alleged gang was involved in issuing 12 million euros worth of fake invoices for non-existent transactions, which allowed corrupt entrepreneurs to reduce their income and avoid taxes, in exchange for a commission paid to the mob.

From its origins in the impoverished southern region of Calabria, the 'Ndrangheta has transformed into Italy's most dominant mafia organization, and has expanded globally, infiltrating into so-called white-collar crime.