The arrest marks a significant blow to international drug trafficking networks and highlights the growing influence of Italian mafia in South America.
**Italian Mafia Fugitive Arrested in Colombia’s Cartagena**
**Italian Mafia Fugitive Arrested in Colombia’s Cartagena**
Colombian police capture Emanuele Gregorini, an Italian alleged to lead organized crime operations in Latin America.
In a decisive move against organized crime, Colombian authorities have apprehended Emanuele Gregorini, an Italian fugitive accused of masterminding major cocaine shipments from Latin America to Europe. Known as "Dollarino," Gregorini was tracked down at an upscale apartment in Cartagena during a multinational collaboration involving authorities from Italy, Britain, and Colombia.
Gregorini has been evading capture since 2023, when he was identified as a prominent figure in the "Lombardy mafia system," a criminal alliance comprising the notorious groups Camorra, Cosa Nostra, and 'Ndrangheta. Colombian police claim he played a vital part in orchestrating cocaine deliveries from key Colombian ports such as Cartagena, Barranquilla, and Santa Marta directly to European markets.
Carlos Triana, Colombia’s police chief, emphasized that Gregorini's arrest represents a "severe blow" to transnational crime operations. Notably, Gregorini had maintained a low profile, reportedly living under the radar while frequenting local gyms and restaurants without drawing attention.
The increasing presence of Italian mafia groups in South America has been underlined by this incident, with experts from Insight Crime noting that these networks are establishing their own drug trafficking routes across the continent. This trend deviates from previous strategies where European criminal organizations relied heavily on local middlemen. Recent high-profile arrests, such as that of Luigi Belvedere in Medellín, who was discovered next to Pablo Escobar's grave, further highlight the Italian mafia's expanding reach in Colombia and Brazil amidst a changing landscape of international drug trafficking.
Gregorini has been evading capture since 2023, when he was identified as a prominent figure in the "Lombardy mafia system," a criminal alliance comprising the notorious groups Camorra, Cosa Nostra, and 'Ndrangheta. Colombian police claim he played a vital part in orchestrating cocaine deliveries from key Colombian ports such as Cartagena, Barranquilla, and Santa Marta directly to European markets.
Carlos Triana, Colombia’s police chief, emphasized that Gregorini's arrest represents a "severe blow" to transnational crime operations. Notably, Gregorini had maintained a low profile, reportedly living under the radar while frequenting local gyms and restaurants without drawing attention.
The increasing presence of Italian mafia groups in South America has been underlined by this incident, with experts from Insight Crime noting that these networks are establishing their own drug trafficking routes across the continent. This trend deviates from previous strategies where European criminal organizations relied heavily on local middlemen. Recent high-profile arrests, such as that of Luigi Belvedere in Medellín, who was discovered next to Pablo Escobar's grave, further highlight the Italian mafia's expanding reach in Colombia and Brazil amidst a changing landscape of international drug trafficking.
