In Barcelona, Civil Guard officers have detained one of the most dangerous and wanted members of the Italian mafia. The man, considered a key figure in a major criminal organization, was arrested after a prolonged joint operation by Spanish and Italian law enforcement.
The detainee is suspected of leading a network involved in drug trafficking, extortion, as well as illegal arms and explosives trading. In December last year, Italian authorities issued a European Arrest Warrant for him, which enabled an international search to begin.
According to the investigation, after charges were brought against him in Italy, the man left the country and moved to Spain. Here, he attempted to evade justice by using forged documents and living with his family in the province of Alicante.
The Italian Carabinieri leading the investigation contacted their Spanish counterparts for coordination. Over several months, the two countries maintained a constant exchange of information, which made it possible to locate the fugitive. As a result of joint efforts, he was found in Alicante, where he was living a low-profile life and tried not to attract attention.
During surveillance, it was discovered that the suspect regularly traveled to Barcelona on personal business. This allowed Spanish law enforcement to organize a series of operations in the Catalan capital. As a result, in August of this year, the man was detained in one of the city’s districts.
During the search, authorities found several fake IDs, a large amount of cash, expensive watches, gold jewelry, as well as several mobile phones and SIM cards used to communicate with accomplices in Spain and Italy.
After his arrest, the suspect was taken to the Central Investigative Court, where the issue of his extradition to Italy for further legal proceedings is being considered. The Spanish Guardia Civil noted that the success of the operation was made possible by close cooperation with Italian colleagues and efficient information exchange.
The operation involved members of the Guardia Civil’s fugitive search unit, as well as representatives of the Catalonia judicial police and investigators from the Carabinieri in the province of Latina. The joint effort disrupted the activities of one of the most dangerous criminals on the international wanted list.
