'Ndrangheta, boss Rocco Morabito arrested in Uruguay.
On the list of the most dangerous fugitives
Confiscated assets and new images by Rocco Morabito: among the 10 most wanted mafia in Italy
Share
June 24, 2019 The boss of the Calabrian 'Ndrangheta Rocco Morabito escaped last night along with three other inmates from the central prison of Montevideo, where he was awaiting the definition of his extradition process to Italy. This was announced today by the Uruguayan Ministry of the Interior. Morabito, 53, was arrested in 2017 after 23 years in hiding and at the end of last March a criminal court of appeal had confirmed the authorization for extradition to Italy. According to what has been learned, Morabito, who had been sentenced in Italy to 30 years in absentia, was hospitalized with his accomplices for observation in the prison infirmary. The escape occurred through a passage created in the roof, from where they descended into a neighboring farm,where they stole money from the owner.
After the confirmation of the extradition granted on appeal, Morabito's lawyers presented, as a last resort, an appeal to the Supreme Court of Justice.
The boss tried in every way to avoid his transfer to Italy, even going so far as to insult the judge during the hearing in order to have the trial suspended. The Uruguayan authorities have issued a national alarm indicating a telephone number to contact in case of useful information.
When he was captured, in a hotel in Montevideo, he had been wanted for 23 years, spent in various parts of Italy and the world before settling in Uruguay. Morabito as a fugitive lived in Punta del Este where thanks to a fake Brazilian document he had obtained the Uruguayan identity card. Born in Africo, in the province of Reggio Calabria, on 13 October 1966, Morabito had lived in Uruguay for about ten years and was included in the list of fugitives of maximum danger drawn up by the Central Directorate of the Criminal Police. He had been wanted since 1994, for mafia-type association, criminal association aimed at drug trafficking and other serious crimes; must atone for 30 years of imprisonment. On February 10, 1995, the international research for thearrest for extradition purposes.
"It is disconcerting and serious that a criminal like Rocco Morabito, boss of the 'Ndrangheta, managed to escape from a prison in Uruguay while he was waiting to be extradited to Italy". The Minister of the Interior Matteo Salvini says this, announcing: "I make two commitments. First: to shed full light on the modalities of the escape, asking for immediate explanations from the Montevideo government. Second: we will continue to hunt Morabito, wherever he is , to throw him in jail as he deserves ".