In the Catalan capital, national police officers conducted a successful operation to detain a Chinese citizen who was internationally wanted. The man, known in Italy as Bobo Jiang, was apprehended in the Sants district nearly two months after escaping from a police station in Tuscany.
In July last year, Jiang was arrested together with his wife in Italy on suspicion of involvement in the trafficking of synthetic drugs in Milan and Tuscany. However, shortly after being detained, he managed to remove his handcuffs and calmly walk out of the police building in the city of Prato, which is home to a large Chinese diaspora and a thriving textile industry.
While evading justice, the fugitive crossed several European countries. According to the investigation, he used rented cars to reach France, then traveled to Belgium, from where he flew to Barcelona using forged documents in the name of Han Han. During the search, police tracked his movements using phone data.
In Italy, Jiang faces charges carrying up to 28 years in prison. He is accused of drug trafficking, possession of weapons, resisting police, and document forgery. Investigators note that the detainee was a key figure in the criminal circles of the Chinese community in Prato and Milan, and maintained connections with other members of the criminal underworld.
During a search of his apartment in Italy, authorities discovered amphetamines, firearms, ammunition, and weighing scales. According to law enforcement, Jiang had lived in Italy for ten years, where he organized the supply of synthetic substances to karaoke clubs popular among Chinese youth.
Following his arrest in Spain, extradition proceedings have begun. On the same day, it was reported that Italy had also received three other members of the Calabrian mafia who were previously detained in Ibiza. The operation to apprehend Jiang was the result of close cooperation between European police services.
