Italian police arrest Mafia boss after 30-year chase

Carabinieri paramilitary police on Monday arrested Matteo Messina Denaro, Italy’s No. 1 fugitive, at a private health clinic in Sicily—nearly 30 years since he went into hiding. Messina Denaro, 60, has been in hiding since 1993 but many thought he was still issuing orders from hideouts. Police believe Messina Denaro had been in Italy for years using contacts and family members to stay hidden and supplied with food and clothes. After his arrest, police took him to a secret location. 

What will happen to Denaro? He was tried in absentia and convicted for dozens of crimes that carry multiple life sentences. He was convicted of two bombings in 1992 that murdered anti-mafia prosecutors, Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino. Messina Denaro was the last of three top-level Mafia bosses who had eluded police for years. Salvatore “Toto” Riina was captured in 1993 after 23 years on the run. Bernardo Provenzano was arrested in 2006 after a record of 38 years as a fugitive. 

Dig deeper: Read Brad Littlejohn’s column in World Opinions on Italy’s recent election.