Italian fugitive Edgardo Greco tracked down as pizza maker after 16 years

A convicted Italian mafia slayer connected the tally since 2006 has been caught successful France, having hidden successful plain show arsenic a pizza cook for astatine slightest 3 years.

Edgardo Greco's seizure successful Saint-Étienne is the 2nd high-profile mafia apprehension by Italian authorities successful a substance of weeks.

Matteo Messina Denaro had been connected the tally for 30 years, erstwhile helium was detained connected a sojourn to a session successful Sicily.

Both men were wanted for carrying retired grisly murders successful the 1990s.

While Messina Denaro was the "boss of bosses" for Sicily's notorious Cosa Nostra, Greco was portion of the 'Ndrangheta organised transgression mob who originate from the Calabria portion successful Italy's heavy south.

The 'Ndrangheta are present the astir almighty mafia successful Italy and their tentacles agelong crossed Europe and South America.

Greco, 63, was wanted for the execution of 2 brothers during a "mafia war" betwixt 2 gangs successful the aboriginal 1990s.

Stefano and Giuseppe Bartolomeo were beaten to decease astatine a fishmonger's successful the tiny municipality of Cosenza successful January 1991. Their bodies were ne'er recovered and are believed to person been dissolved successful acid.

Greco was portion of a rival pack and helium was besides accused of the attempted execution of different antheral aboriginal that twelvemonth successful the aforesaid town.

When a proceedings justice issued an apprehension warrant for him successful 2006, Greco went connected the run.

Eight years later, helium settled successful the French metropolis of Saint-Étienne, south-west of Lyon, yet taking up the occupation of pizzaiolo successful an Italian restaurant.

He was, however, inactive being pursued by Italy's foremost anti-mafia prosecutor, Nicola Gratteri, who has spent decades tackling the emergence of the 'Ndrangheta.

In a statement, Italy's Carabinieri subject constabulary said that since 2019, investigators had traced Greco's enactment network, which yet led them crossed the Alps to Saint-Étienne.

Interpol said its anti-'Ndrangheta cognition besides became involved, with French authorities carrying retired surveillance of Greco's location. Italian constabulary past confirmed his individuality and moved successful to apprehension him.

Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi praised the constabulary for bringing to justness 1 of Italy's worst criminals, portion the caput of the Calabria region, Roberto Occhiuto, said the apprehension underlined Italy's committedness to the combat against each forms of organised crime.