Two alleged members of the Italian mafia 'Ndrangheta are arrested in Paraguay
Both detainees, who may be extradited or expelled, had a red code by Interpol and would be "trying to coordinate contacts and links to be able to direct their actions" from South America.
07/14/2023 - 9:05 a.m. CET
Two alleged members of the powerful Italian 'Ndrangheta mafia were arrested in Paraguay in an operation by the National Police, which was alerted by Interpol, the Paraguayan Minister of Justice and Interior, Federico González, reported last Thursday.

The apprehended, of Italian nationality, were captured on Wednesday in the town of Itacurubí del Rosario -190 kilometers northwest of the capital Asunción- as part of the ICAN project, a global rapid alert system and multilateral police cooperation in the fight against this Italian criminal group, González explained to ABC Cardinal radio.

"There is a close link with the Italian security authorities, specifically we work with the Finance Police and we are entering into a scheme to fight against precisely this mafia, criminal, large Italian group," he said.

The Paraguayan head of Justice and Interior indicated that the corresponding procedures are being carried out for the "extradition or eventual expulsion" of these two citizens. In fact, the local media confirmed that this Friday the Italians will be handed over to Spain.

Both detainees had a red code from Interpol, and they would be "trying to coordinate contacts and links to be able to direct their actions" from Paraguay, he asserted.

González said that the Government of Paraguay is "giving a frontal fight to transnational organized crime", an issue that - he assured - was part of the conversation agenda between the Paraguayan head of state, Mario Abdo Benítez, and his Italian counterpart, Sergio Mattarella. , during the official visit of the European president to the South American country last week.

"It was one of the points on the agenda debated, negotiated or discussed between the presidents," he asserted.

The detainees in Itacurubí del Rosario are alleged cousins ??and answer to the same name, Giuseppe Giorgi, 26 and 22 years old, respectively, the head of Interpol Paraguay, Carlos Duré, told ABC.

Two other people who were with the Italians aboard a vehicle were also arrested in the capture operation. They are Julio Das Chagas, Brazilian, 41 years old; and Osvaldo Cáceres, Paraguayan, 25.