Key Takeaways:
– Italian drug trafficking fugitive Luigi Belvedere arrested in Medellin, Colombia.
– Belvedere had been sentenced to 19 years in jail for international drug trafficking but fled in December 2020.
– He acted as the middleman between Colombian cartels and the Naples mafia.
– Italian police and Europol worked collaboratively with Colombian authorities in the capture.
Luigi Belvedere, a dangerous fugitive flagged by the Italian interior ministry, has been arrested in Medellin, Colombia. Belvedere, formerly on the run for his role in international drug trafficking, is believed to be the link between the drug cartels of Latin America and the Naples mafia.
The Capture of Luigi Belvedere
Belvedere found himself behind bars after evading the law since December 2020 when his almost 19-year jail sentence for drug trafficking was declared. His apprehension in Medellin marked the culmination of a transnational law enforcement operation, aided by Colombian investigators and the European Union policing body, Europol.
An interesting aspect of the arrest announcement was the release of a photo by Italian police. The image shows Belvedere visiting the grave of the legendary Pablo Escobar, founder, and chief of the Medellin cartel who was gunned down by police in 1993.
The Role of Luigi Belvedere
Originating from Caserta, north of Naples, Belvedere marked his criminal career with the illegal import of cocaine. His pivotal role as the intermediary between the Colombian cartels and some notorious clans of the Camorra mafia residing in Casalesi, positioned him as a significant player in the narcotics arena.
Casalesi, a nefarious branch of the Camorra mafia, whose base is traditionally Naples, consists of many different clans. This mafia-type syndicate has been a prominent entity in Italy’s underworld, with its influence spreading to various parts of the country.
Belvedere’s Activities in South America
Investigators tracked Belvedere to Colombia, where he continued to organize drug shipments from the South American continent to Europe. His use of a well-established messaging system largely facilitated his illegal endeavors, making him an active participant in the drug trafficking scene.
Belvedere, around 32 years old, found his name on the Italian interior ministry’s list of hazardous criminals. This added another level of complexity to the international pursuit, calling for cooperation across national boundaries and inter-state policing bodies.
Recent Captures in the Drug Trafficking World
Belvedere’s arrest follows only three months after another significant apprehension in the field of drug trafficking. Pazooki Farhad, known as “The Professor,” was accused of leading a crime ring that transported cocaine from South America to Europe. He was arrested at El Dorado airport in Colombia.
His alleged comrade, Bernsten Bjarte, was simultaneously caught in Barranquilla, a coastal city in the Caribbean. These arrests marked another victory in the ongoing fight against international drug cartel operations.
The numerous arrests in the underworld of drug trafficking reflect the heightened cooperation among international law enforcement. The capture of fugitives like Belvedere underscores the commitment and the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat drug trafficking and organized crime at large. The fight against these global criminal operations continues to intensify as authorities work tirelessly to bring justice to those responsible.