The Civil Guard detains one of the most dangerous fugitives from the Italian ‘Ndrangheta in Barcelona
He is considered in his country of origin as one of the most important bosses of the Calabrian mafia known as ‘Ndrangheta, noted for its special dangerousness and its presence in the five continents
This arrest carried out by the Central Operational Unit (UCO), is part of the initiative coordinated with EUROPOL through its ITOC project on Italian organized crime against 'Ndrangheta and drug trafficking
The Civil Guard has arrested the 34-year-old Italian citizen G.R in Barcelona and is being claimed by the Italian authorities for crimes of drug trafficking, money laundering and belonging to a mafia organization.
The investigation began when through the international relations that the Civil Guard maintains with the French OFAST (Office Anti-Stupéfiants), it became known of the possible presence of this person in our country, specifically in Catalonia.
In this way, after contacting the Italian investigators of the Mobile Brigade of the Reggio Calabria Police Headquarters and the Central Operational Service of the Polizia di Stato, they informed the Civil Guard that Romeo was considered one of the "fugitives of maximum danger "linked to the 'Ndrangheta mafia, as it is one of its most prominent members and their whereabouts have been unknown for several years.
For all this, the Team for Fleeing Justice of the Central Operational Unit (UCO) moved quickly to verify the evidence obtained and, with the help of the Judicial Police Unit of the Catalonia Area (UPJZ), it was possible to locate to a family member closely linked to GR, establishing an intense and discreet vigilance over him before the possibility that he could somehow contact the fugitive, or provide any clue as to his whereabouts.
This surveillance paid off when the agents were able to locate an address where this person would be residing and whose location was off the radar of the investigators until that moment. Focused on this address, hours later the agents observed how a person left it and, together with what seemed to be his sentimental partner, went to the Mercat de Sant Gervasi in Barcelona, where he could finally be identified as the aforementioned fled and immediately stopped
Research in Italy
The now detainee is known by the nicknames "u pacciu", "maluferru" or "u nanu", and is the son of A.R, 74, alias "centocapelli" and currently detained in Parma. G.R is being investigated for two preventive detention orders and investigated within the framework of the Italian operation "European Ndrangheta Connection" whose exploitation took place in several European countries simultaneously and from which he managed to escape.
In November 2020, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison for playing a prominent role in international drug trafficking and money laundering in his country.
In fact, the fugitive had established his domicile in Germany, but he traveled between Calabria, Lombardy and northwestern Europe regularly in order to close agreements with drug suppliers and other intermediaries residing in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, who organized transport of about 40 kilograms of cocaine a week from Holland to Milan with the collaboration of other Calabrian associates, several of them already sentenced in the first instance to high prison terms as a result of the trial resulting from the aforementioned police operation.
INTERPOL Cooperation Against ‘Ndrangheta (I-CAN)
The 'Ndrangheta is one of the largest and most powerful criminal organizations in the world. Originally from the Italian region of Calabria, it has spread throughout the world and continues to grow steadily. Today, the 'Ndrangheta is considered the only Italian mafia organization present on all five continents.
Therefore, in 2020 and promoted by the Italian Department of Public Security, the I-CAN project was created, of which Spain is a part. This initiative, developed within INTERPOL, was established to coordinate the different police forces around the world in the fight against the 'Ndrangheta, all with the aim of transforming police intelligence into the dismantling of these types of groups. and the arrest of the most wanted fugitives from justice.
It has been within the framework of this project that this operation has been developed, by coordinating members of this initiative to the Mobile Brigade of the Reggio Calabria Police Headquarters and the Central Operational Service of the Polizia di Stato with the Civil Guard to facilitate the coordination of the information that has ultimately led to the arrest of this person.
This arrest is part of a larger operation started years ago by the Central Operative Service of the Polizia di Stato and the Mobile Brigade of the Reggio Calabria Police Headquarters, coordinated by Europol through its ITOC project on Italian organized crime against the 'Ndrangheta and drug trafficking, carrying out operations at the European and international level and which has also allowed the capture of dangerous fugitives from the powerful Calabrian mafia organization.
For more information, you can contact the Press Office of the Central Operational Unit on the telephone number 915031327.
