Antonio Rao, 67, a native of Reggio Calabria, who lived in Rivalta (Turin) and is considered "a member of the mafia" has been captured in Bolivia.

This was reported by the police chief of Sant Cruz, Miguel Mercado. Rao, Mercado added, "is a very dangerous individual, with a 25-year criminal career linked to drug trafficking and human trafficking". He had taken refuge in Bolivia, from a convicted wife to escape a final sentence of 10 years in prison for sexual violence against minors and drug dealing. The operation that led to his arrest was completed "in less than 12 hours" in collaboration with agents of the Italian section of Interpol who arrived in Santa Cruz last Monday.

They stopped him on Monday before he left for the escape: he already had a plane ticket to Madrid for yesterday, with a false name. Three people, a woman and two men living between Rivalta and Piossasco were investigated for aiding and abetting. They had helped him to go to Spain from which he then moved to Bolivia. They also sent him money to support himself.

Rao was arrested in the Rewind anti-drug operation of the Turin mobile team dating back to 2012. He was the link between Brazilian and Italian traffickers, and names of members of the 'Piedmontese ndrangheta' were also arrested in the blitz. Released, Rao had raped a Romanian minor forcing her to take cocaine.