Who is Vicenzo Pasquino, Italian extradited from Brazil on charges of being part of the ‘Ndrangheta mafia

At the request of prosecutors from the cities of Turin and Reggio Calabria, the Italian Vincenzo Pasquinoimprisoned in Brazil since 2021 and convicted of being part of the mafia ‘Ndranghetaspecialized in international cocaine trafficking, was extradited to the Italy this Tuesday, 26th.

The return to the country of origin was informed by the Federal police and by the Italian authorities, who were interested in the Italian’s extradition due to the importance that his capture could have for the investigations into the activities of the mafiosi.

The ‘Ndrangheta is a mafia from the Calabria region and considered one of the main and most powerful criminal organizations in the world. With the Calabrian group’s business, Pasquino operated on the cocaine trafficking route that connects Brazil, Spain and Italy.

Pasquino entered Brazil in 2018 and was arrested in May 2021, in João Pessoa, in the same operation that led to the arrest of Rocco Morabito, another powerful Italian drug dealer and mafioso known as the “Cocaine King” of Milan.

On the run since 2019, Morabito was sentenced to more than 100 years in prison for involvement in international drug trafficking and criminal participation. He was extradited in 2022.

Pasquino’s delivery to Italy had already been approved by the 1st Panel of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) since February 2023. But it was only in March of this year that Minister Alexandre de Moraes officiated the Minister of Justice and Public Security, Ricardo Lewandowski, to adopt ‘necessary measures’ to extradite the Italian.

Previously, Vincenzo Pasquino even asked for refuge in Brazil, but was unanimously denied by the National Committee for Refugees (Conare), linked to the Justice department. The Italian’s defense did not appeal the decision, and the bureaucracy of the request ended up blocking the mobster’s extradition process.

Last January 5, Deputy Attorney General of the Republic Hindenburgo Chateaubriand Filho requested the issuance of the letter so that the Ministry of Justice could begin the procedure for handing over Vicenzo Pasquino.

Last Monday, the 19th, Moraes accepted the request and urged Lewandowski to proceed with the extradition, which was carried out this Tuesday. / WITH AGENCY BRAZIL