According to Interpol and the Italian authorities, Brazil has extradited mafia boss Rocco Morabito to Italy.
Morabito's extradition is a "strong message: As powerful as the Mafia's criminal network may be, our worldwide police network is stronger," said the head of Reggio Calabria's anti-mafia prosecutor, Giovanni Bombardieri, on Wednesday.
The 56-year-old leader of the Calabrian 'Ndrangheta was arrested last year after 27 years on the run.
Morabito has been wanted by the Italian judiciary since 1995.
He was first arrested in 2017 in a hotel in Uruguay's capital, Montevideo, after living in the South American country under a false identity for 13 years.
In 2019, the “cocaine king” escaped over the roof of his detention center and was arrested again in May 2021 in João Pessoa, northeastern Brazil.
Uruguay waived an extradition request to allow Morabito's direct transfer to his home country, where he had been sentenced in absentia to 30 years in prison.
According to Interpol, he was one of the "most wanted fugitives in the world".
Morabito, 56, arrived at Rome airport on Wednesday morning, accompanied by several carabinieri.