ITALIAN police yesterday captured the top boss of the powerful 'ndrangheta mob, whose clan feuds have bloodied the southern region of Calabria for years.
Pasquale Condello, 57, a fugitive for 20 years, was arrested in an flat in the centre of the regional capital, Reggio Calabria.
Although there was a pistol in the flat, Condello offered no resistance.
In recent years, the 'ndrangheta has eclipsed the Sicilian Mafia in power, especially in cocaine trafficking.
Giuliano Amato, the interior minister, said: "Pasquale Condello was the No 1 boss of the 'ndrangheta. It is the latest, extraordinary operation against organised crime."
Condello was known as "the supreme one" and before his capture had been No 2 on the list of Italy's most dangerous fugitives.
Mr Amato said investigators considered Condello the "Provenzano of Calabria." He was referring to Bernardo Provenzano, the reputed "boss of bosses" of Sicily's Cosa Nostra, who was arrested in 2006 after 40 years as a fugitive.
