In a joint international operation, Lebanese authorities have arrested Bartolo Bruzzaniti, a notorious Calabrian fugitive wanted by four Prosecutors’ Offices. The arrest was the result of an investigation conducted by the Financial Guard of Reggio Calabria, in collaboration with numerous European and international institutions and agencies engaged in combating transnational crime.
Bartolo Bruzzaniti had fled in October 2022 to evade the execution of a precautionary measure issued against 36 individuals involved in international drug trafficking, with a particular focus on the ‘ndrangheta criminal organization. During that operation, financial authorities had seized over 4 tons of cocaine, causing an estimated financial loss of €800 million for the Calabrian mafia.
According to the investigations, Bruzzaniti was responsible for a vast drug trafficking network, involving periodic and substantial imports of over 2 tons of cocaine from South America to Calabria. The District Prosecutors’ Offices of Milan, Genoa, and Naples were involved in the investigations into drug trafficking cases in which Bruzzaniti was implicated. Now, with his arrest, these prosecutors can proceed with the investigation.
The capture of Bartolo Bruzzaniti was made possible through international cooperation among various agencies and law enforcement authorities, including the Second Section of the General Command of the Financial Guard, AISE, SCICO, OIPC-INTERPOL in Lyon, the American Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Lebanese Internal Security Forces (ISF). The I-CAN project (Interpol Cooperation Against ‘Ndrangheta), funded by the Department of Public Security, played a crucial role in coordinating information and apprehending Bruzzaniti. This project aims to identify Italian fugitives abroad and target the ‘ndrangheta’s interests beyond national borders.
After months of intensive tracking across Africa and the Middle East, authorities finally located Bruzzaniti at a well-known restaurant in Jounieh, Lebanon, where he was caught and arrested. The successful operation demonstrates the effectiveness of international cooperation in combating organized crime and apprehending fugitives.
Bartolo Bruzzaniti represents the latest among 76 individuals identified and arrested worldwide through the I-CAN project. Of these, 35 had been fugitives for a long time. Bruzzaniti’s arrest is a significant step forward in the fight against international drug trafficking and highlights law enforcement agencies’ commitment to countering the ‘ndrangheta’s influence globally.
