The arrest of Italian fugitive Emanuele Gregorini in Colombia highlights the growing influence of the Italian mafia in Latin America, where European criminal networks are establishing direct drug smuggling routes.
Italian Mafia Leader Captured in Columbia's Cartagena in Major Drug Bust
Italian Mafia Leader Captured in Columbia's Cartagena in Major Drug Bust
Emanuele Gregorini, known as "Dollarino," arrested as part of an international crackdown on drug trafficking.
An operation involving Italian, British, and Colombian law enforcement led to the capture of Emanuele Gregorini, dubbed "Dollarino," in Cartagena, Colombia. Accused of masterminding cocaine shipments from Latin America to Europe, Gregorini has been evading authorities since 2023, when Italian prosecutors identified him as a significant player in the "Lombardy mafia system," an alliance of notorious crime groups including the Camorra, Cosa Nostra, and 'Ndrangheta.
Colombia's police chief Carlos Triana hailed Gregorini's arrest as a serious setback for transnational criminal organizations. Authorities describe him as an "invisible narco," who managed to live discreetly while conducting illicit activities. Surveillance images reveal him visiting the gym and enjoying meals at local eateries, blending into Cartagena's upscale neighborhoods without raising suspicion.
Experts from Insight Crime assert that Italian mafias are increasingly establishing their own drug trade operations in South America, suggesting a shift away from reliance on local intermediaries. This trend is evidenced by rising activities of Italian criminal factions in Colombia and Brazil. Earlier this year, another high-profile Italian fugitive, Luigi Belvedere, was also apprehended in Medellín, highlighting this escalating issue of organized crime in the region.
