Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — Police in the Dominican Republic have arrested an alleged high-ranking member of an Italian mafia group who was apparently hiding out in a resort town to avoid a prison sentence for drug offenses.
Nicola Pignatelli was arrested in the southern town of Juan Dolio on an international arrest warrant issued by Interpol. He fled Italy in 2011 before he was to start serving a sentence of more than 13 years in prison.
The 43-year-old Pignatelli is believed to be a high-ranking member of the 'ndrangheta mafia based in Calabria. Police spokesman Jacobo Mateo said it's not known how long he was in the Dominican Republic before his arrest Sunday. Authorities believe he was involved in drug trafficking and prostitution while in the country.
He is expected to be extradited Monday.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
