A major blow to transnational mafia organizations was dealt yesterday in Colombia, where Emanuele Gregorini, a well-known member of the Camorra and a fugitive wanted in the Hydra investigation by the Milan Prosecutor's Office, was arrested.
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The man, nicknamed “Dollarino,” had fled abroad and was captured in an apartment in Cartagena de Indias, where he had taken refuge after arriving from Panama on February 2.
Gregorini, considered one of the leading referents of the Camorra component within the so-called “Lombardy mafia system”, was among the 153 wanted individuals for whom the District Anti-Mafia Directorate (DDA) of Milan had issued arrest warrants at the end of 2023.
He was among the most wanted in Italy
The operation, the result of an international collaboration between the Colombian police forces and the Operations Department of the Carabinieri of Milan, led to the seizure of telephones and electronic devices in possession of the fugitive, now at the disposal of the Colombian Judicial Authority awaiting extradition to Italy.
Gregorini's arrest represents a significant turning point in the fight against transnational organized crime, as underlined by the chief prosecutor of Milan, Marcello Viola. "This result confirms the effectiveness of international cooperation in the fight against major fugitives," Viola said, highlighting the strategic role of the operation in dismantling the mafia alliances between Sicilians, Calabrians and Campanians active in Milan.
Gregorini, affiliated with the Campania-Roman clan led by Michele Senese, was known for his role as mediator between the different souls of organised crime.
He was the real boss of Milan
In a wiretap from the Hydra investigation, reported by Fatto Quotidiano, he had declared in peremptory tones: “This is Milan! There is no Sicily, there is no Rome, there is no Naples, the right things are done here!”. A phrase that sums up his role as coordinator of mafia interests in the Lombard capital.
The operation, which saw the fundamental contribution of the Carabinieri of Milan in locating the fugitive's apartment, marks a further step forward in the fight against organized crime, demonstrating how the synergy between law enforcement agencies of different countries can lead to concrete results even against the most elusive fugitives.
Gregorini now awaits extradition to Italy, where he will have to answer to the charges against him, while investigations continue to further dismantle the mafia networks active on the national and international territory.
Article published on March 18, 2025 - 13pm
