Notorious mafia boss Matteo Messina Denaro, 60, has been on the run since 1993. Now he’s been caught.
Status updated!
“As one of the high-ranking officials of the Mafia Cosa Nostra conspiracy, he committed many serious and brutal murders,” he wrote. europol in the inspection order.
Denaro was arrested while receiving treatment at a private hospital in Palermo, Sicily, writes to Reuters news agency and refers to a statement issued by the Italian Carabinieri military police.
At 09.35am on Monday, he was transferred to a black military vehicle, according to the report La Republica.
Denaro was last seen in 1993, driving in his Porsche toward the town of Selinunte – with a Vollar around his neck, Versace jeans and a Rolex Daytona around his wrist.
Since then, Matteo Messina Denaro (60 years old) has sunk into the ground.
Read also: This is how Italy’s most wanted man rules Sicily with an iron fist (as of 2010)
He is serving a life sentence
Denaro was sentenced to life in prison, without attending the courtroom, for his involvement in the 1992 murders of judge Paolo Borsellino and colleague Giovanni Falcone, according to Reuters.
He was also sentenced to life in prison for his involvement in the Florence, Rome and Milan bombings, which reportedly killed 10 people, in subsequent years.
Despite his many years of disappearance, the police believe that Denaro is still able to issue orders regarding the way the Mafia is run in Sicily.
– win-win
The arrest caused an uproar in Italy. The country’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, thanks the police for their efforts:
– A great victory for the state, indicating its non-surrender in the meeting with the mafia. In the wake of the anniversary of Toto Riina’s arrest, another organized crime boss, Mateo Messina Denaro, is on trial.
– The arrest of Matteo Messina Denaro is a victory for all. (…) Now comes the moment of justice and truth, Salvatore de Meo wrote in the European Union Parliament Twitter.
Senator Matteo Renzi of Florence wrote that this should be a “day of celebration” for the whole country:
– Today is a lucky day. Great job all. He writes that Italy lives.
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