After nearly thirty years on the run, the last of Italy’s three mafia bosses was arrested in Palermo, Sicily. Sixty-year-old Matteo Messina Denaro was arrested Monday while at a private clinic. According to the BBC, Denaro was receiving chemotherapy at the clinic under a fake name. During the arrest, the mafia boss tried to make a run for it but quickly gave up after realizing the treatment center was surrounded. Reports show more than 100 armed forces were involved in his arrest. As he walked out in handcuffs, video shows the street filled with bystanders cheering and taking pictures.
Italy's most wanted mafia boss, Matteo Messina Denaro, was arrested by police at a private hospital in Sicily, where he was being treated for cancer https://t.co/MKESeTAN6U pic.twitter.com/OsGpMtZUan
— Reuters (@Reuters) January 16, 2023
VIDEO. People clapping and cheering Carabinieri police in the streets of Palermo after the arrest of Italy's top mafia boss Matteo Messina Denaro after 30 years on the run – @repubblica pic.twitter.com/W6ptsXu7lL
— Antonello Guerrera (@antoguerrera) January 16, 2023
Who is Matteo Messina Denaro
Until his recent arrest, Matteo Messina Denaro was one of the most wanted criminals in Italy. It is believed he is the boss of the notorious Cosa Nostra Mafia. He has been in hiding since 1992. During that time, Messina Denaro was thought to be the mastermind behind the killings of top anti-Mafia prosecutors. Shortly after the bombings that also killed several others, the mafia boss went into hiding. In 2002, he was tried and sentenced to life in jail for numerous murders. While in hiding, it is believed Messina Denaro was still issuing orders to the Mafia from secret locations.
History of Matteo Messina Denaro
The mafia boss is known to have a dark past. Messina Denaro was convicted over the 1992 killing of two anti-Mafia prosecutors, deadly 1993 bomb attacks in Milan, Florence, and Rome, and the kidnapping and killing of an 11-year-old boy who was the son of a mafia member turned state witness. Of course, prosecutors believe he had committed way more killings than the ones that could be proven. Messina Denaro has been heard bragging he could fill a cemetery with the number of people he has killed. He was also responsible for racketeering, money laundering, and drug trafficking for the Cosa Nostra Mafia. Many of Messina Denaro’s family and associates have also been arrested in recent years for helping keep him hidden. While authorities have been close to catching him many times, they have never been able to due to the help he has received. During a press conference, authorities suggested he was still receiving support. They point out that he did not appear poor or unkept during his arrest. He wore expensive luxurious clothes and jewelry and was well-kept.
Crime experts suggest Italian officials were finally able to capture the notorious mafia boss after receiving a tip in exchange for a favor. During the press conference, the Carabinieri denied these accusations saying it was Messina Denaro’s declining health that ultimately led to the arrest.
What’s Next for Matteo Messina Denaro?
After his arrest, Messina Denaro was taken to a secret location. Authorities say he will continue chemo treatment inside a prison ward. The Carabinieri also mentioned during their press conference it would be foolish to believe the Cosa Nostra Mafia is over. The Sicilian Mafia still runs drug trafficking operations and other lucrative illicit businesses.
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