Rome, June 16 (IANS) At least 20 people were arrested and massive quantities of cocaine seized after a drug-trafficking ring was busted in Italy.

The ring was based in the northeastern city of Padua, AKI news agency reported.

The cocaine was sold at a club in Padua, for 50-95 euros per gram, police said.

Around 400 police officers took part in raids in Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany and Puglia regions, police said.

Beside the unspecified quantity of cocaine, police said they seized guns, explosives, over 100,000 euros in cash and four luxury cars.

The gang smuggled Colombian cocaine into Italy hidden inside hand-made table legs. Mafia men from Naples or Camorra's violent Casalesi clan were asked to ensure payment for the drugs, police said.

The Casalesi clan's nefarious activities were exposed by best-selling author Roberto Saviano's book Gomorrah and an award-winning film of the same name.

Saviano had to go into hiding and take police protection after he received death threats from the mafia.