‘King of Cocaine’ caught after 23 years

Alleged mafia boss nabbed in Uruguay hotel

An alleged mafia boss nicknamed “the King of Cocaine” has been captured in South America after 23 years on the run.

Rocco Morabito, wanted by Italian police for allegedly masterminding the trafficking of cocaine from Latin America to Europe, was living in luxury in the seaside resort town of Punta del Este under an alias and using a false Brazilian passport, authorities said Monday.

He was arrested in a hotel in Uruguay. He is considered to be one of Italy’s five most dangerous fugitives.

During a search of his home in Uruguay, police found 13 mobile phones, which investigators said were used for drugs deals, a 9 mm pistol, ammunition, a hunting knife and 150 passport photos of himself in different guises. Also confiscated was a luxury Mercedes coupe.

Morabito, an alleged kingpin in the ‘Ndrangheta mafia, is believed to have been living in Uruguay for around a decade under the alias Francisco Capeletto Souza. He had been able to obtain Brazilian identity documents, as well as the right to live in Uruguay.

Interior Minister Marco Minniti said the 51-year-old Morabito has been convicted of mafia association and drug trafficking.

His arrest was the result of a joint operation between police in South America and investigators in Calabria, the home of the ‘Ndrangheta. The organized crime network, which for years has been extending its reach, makes millions by smuggling cocaine into Europe, often via Italy.

Morabito was arrested in a hotel in Punta del Este, a tourist resort about 145 km from the capital, Montevideo, “after months of intense international cooperation in intelligence matters,” the Italian police said in a statement.

Media reports said that until a few months ago investigators had concentrated their manhunt in Brazil. But one of his children was recently registered for school in Uruguay with Morabito’s real name instead of an alias, shifting the focus of the hunt for him to that country, Italian news reports said.

Prosecutors have said the ‘Ndrangheta tries to ensure its cocaine deals with drug cartels are carried out to its satisfaction by having its own top bosses live in South America so they can be closer to the producers.

His false identity was known to Interpol, and when he checked into the hotel an alert was generated.

Rocco Morabito