A fugitive wanted in Italy for drug trafficking has been detained in Girona. Authorities identified him after he inadvertently alerted them during a routine administrative appointment.
The man had been living in hiding in Catalonia for five years to avoid imprisonment. Consequently, the National Police (Policía Nacional) arrested him on 29 January.
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Italian drug trafficker arrested in Girona: captured by bureaucracy
The fugitive’s cover was blown when he voluntarily attended the documentation office. According to police reports, he was attempting to renew his NIE (Foreigner Identity Number). However, he also sought to modify his name details on the official registry.
When administrative officers input his data, the security system immediately flagged an international alert. Therefore, the database revealed an active European arrest warrant for search, detention, and extradition issued by Italian judicial authorities.
A quiet life in Girona ends for Italian drug trafficker
The suspect had been on the run to escape a prison sentence in Italy. Before a final sentence could be handed down by Italian courts, he fled the jurisdiction. Subsequently, he settled in Girona, where he had reportedly been living since 2021.
Upon discovering the warrant, staff at the documentation office alerted the Violent Crimes Group. Officers from the Provincial Brigade of the Judicial Police in Girona then transferred the man to the police station. Meanwhile, his identity was irrefutably confirmed through personal documentation and fingerprint analysis.
Facing extradition after arrest in Girona
Following his identification, the man was formally arrested. He was then placed at the disposal of the Central Investigating Court of the National High Court (Audiencia Nacional) in Madrid. The court has ordered his remand in custody while extradition proceedings are arranged. Ultimately, he will be returned to Italy to serve his sentence.
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