Leader of Calabrian-based crime syndicate Domenico Paviglianiti arrested in Madrid
A leader of the Calabrian-based ’ndrangheta crime syndicate has today been arrested in Madrid, the man is believed to be a leader in one of the world's wealthiest criminal organizations.
Paviglianiti was arrested in a joint operation with the Carabinieri, Spain's National Police said in a statement. Italian prosecutors confirmed that the arrest took place on Tuesday. According to reports Paviglianiti was in possession of fake Portuguese identity papers, six mobile phones and 6000 euros in cash when he was arrested.
Police say that Paviglianiti is the head of a ’ndrangheta clan that operates all around the world whilst being headquartered from its base in three small villages in Ital's Calabria region.
Paviglianiti was sentenced in his absence in January to 11 years, 8 months and 15 days in prison for a series of different crimes, ranging from murder and criminal association with the aim of drug trafficking.
He had already been sentenced to life in prison in Italy, a sentence that later got reduced to 30 years, for a number of drug trafficking and murder offences dating back to the earlier 1980s, however, he was released from prison in October 2019 due to what was said to be a clerical error in calculating his sentence.
Upon his release from prison in 2019 he is believed to have fled to Spain where he has lived under the protection of his drug trafficking associates until his most recent arrest.
The ’ndrangheta crime syndicate has come to power during the time of the Sicilian Mafia decline. It is believed to have spent tens of billions of pounds that it made through its cocaine trafficking business to expand its grasp throughout the rest of Europe, North and South America, Africa and Australia.
