This arrest underscores the increasing entrenchment of Italian mafia groups in Latin America, with criminal networks independently establishing drug routes.
**Italian Fugitive Linked to Mafia Arrested in Colombia**
**Italian Fugitive Linked to Mafia Arrested in Colombia**
An Italian man, dubbed "Dollarino," has been arrested in Cartagena on charges of coordinating major cocaine shipments to Europe.
Colombia's police have captured an Italian fugitive, Emanuele Gregorini, known in criminal circles as "Dollarino," who is accused of orchestrating the transport of significant cocaine shipments from Latin America to Europe. His arrest occurred in the coastal city of Cartagena as a result of a collaborative effort by law enforcement agencies from Colombia, Italy, and the UK. The Colombian police chief characterized Gregorini as a pivotal figure in what he labeled "the Italian mafia in Latin America."
Gregorini had been evading law enforcement since early 2023 amid accusations of being integral to the "Lombardy mafia system," which allegedly comprises a coalition of notorious mafia factions such as the Camorra, Cosa Nostra, and 'Ndrangheta. His alleged involvement includes the management of cocaine trafficking from Colombian cities known for their port activities—Cartagena, Barranquilla, and Santa Marta—towards European destinations.
Police Chief Carlos Triana noted that Gregorini’s capture represents a substantial setback against international criminal enterprises, referring to him as an "invisible narco," someone who managed to live a seemingly ordinary life without drawing attention. Surveillance video recently released by Colombian authorities depicted him engaging in routine activities such as working out and dining in local venues within an upscale neighborhood, seemingly oblivious to the risks of recognition.
Prosecutors highlight that this incident indicates a worrying trend concerning the Italian mafia's growing footprint in Latin America. Reports from Insight Crime, a think tank focused on organized crime issues, suggest that European drug trafficking networks are increasingly trying to carve out their own distinctive routes for smuggling narcotics in South America, which marks a strategic shift from relying on local intermediaries.
In recent months, recognition of this expanded mafia influence was further echoed by the arrest of another notorious figure, Luigi Belvedere, who was detained while apparently honoring the late Colombian drug lord, Pablo Escobar, at his gravesite in Medellín.
Gregorini had been evading law enforcement since early 2023 amid accusations of being integral to the "Lombardy mafia system," which allegedly comprises a coalition of notorious mafia factions such as the Camorra, Cosa Nostra, and 'Ndrangheta. His alleged involvement includes the management of cocaine trafficking from Colombian cities known for their port activities—Cartagena, Barranquilla, and Santa Marta—towards European destinations.
Police Chief Carlos Triana noted that Gregorini’s capture represents a substantial setback against international criminal enterprises, referring to him as an "invisible narco," someone who managed to live a seemingly ordinary life without drawing attention. Surveillance video recently released by Colombian authorities depicted him engaging in routine activities such as working out and dining in local venues within an upscale neighborhood, seemingly oblivious to the risks of recognition.
Prosecutors highlight that this incident indicates a worrying trend concerning the Italian mafia's growing footprint in Latin America. Reports from Insight Crime, a think tank focused on organized crime issues, suggest that European drug trafficking networks are increasingly trying to carve out their own distinctive routes for smuggling narcotics in South America, which marks a strategic shift from relying on local intermediaries.
In recent months, recognition of this expanded mafia influence was further echoed by the arrest of another notorious figure, Luigi Belvedere, who was detained while apparently honoring the late Colombian drug lord, Pablo Escobar, at his gravesite in Medellín.
