Colombian police, in a joint operation, have apprehended Italian fugitive Emanuele Gregorini, suspected of leading major cocaine shipments from Latin America to Europe, marking a significant blow to international mafia activities.
Italian Mafia Leader Captured in Colombia Amidst Drug Trafficking Crackdown
Italian Mafia Leader Captured in Colombia Amidst Drug Trafficking Crackdown
Emanuele Gregorini, alias "Dollarino," arrested in Cartagena as authorities intensify efforts against transnational crime.
Colombian police have successfully apprehended Emanuele Gregorini, an Italian fugitive suspected of orchestrating the massive shipment of cocaine from Latin America to Europe. Known by the moniker "Dollarino," Gregorini was located in an upscale apartment in Cartagena, following a multinational investigation involving Italian, British, and Colombian authorities.
Gregorini had been evading law enforcement since 2023 when Italian prosecutors labeled him a pivotal figure in the "Lombardy mafia system," which purportedly combines strengths of the notorious Camorra, Cosa Nostra, and 'Ndrangheta groups. The Colombian police chief, Carlos Triana, characterized the arrest as a significant setback for transnational crime syndicates, referring to Gregorini as an "invisible narco" due to his low profile despite his criminal activities.
Surveillance footage released by the authorities revealed him behaving inconspicuously, frequenting local gyms and restaurants without apparent caution. Experts from Insight Crime have indicated a worrying trend: European criminal organizations are increasingly establishing their own drug trafficking routes in South America, reducing reliance on intermediaries. This shift highlights the growing influence of Italian mafia groups in Colombia and Brazil, a pattern underscored by the recent arrest of another wantlisted mafia figure, Luigi Belvedere, in Medellín.
