In Sicily, on the hunt for the last mafia fugitive
GuardianMar 04, 2018
On Monday, Matteo Messina Denaro, Italy's most wanted mafia boss, was arrested in Sicily after evading capture for 30 years. The alleged leader of the Cosa Nostra mafia was reportedly captured at a private clinic in Palermo where he was set to receive cancer treatment.
Messina Denaro, also known as "Diabolik," was sentenced in absentia to life in prison in 1992 for his role in the murders of Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino, both of whom were anti-mafia prosecutors.
Even after 30 years of evading capture, Matteo Messina Denaro still has a healthy following of devoted fans. To his cohort of followers, he is a Robin Hood who works for the poor and corrects mistakes. In his eyes, he is a philosopher and even a folk hero. As one of the world's most wanted men, he continued to live lavishly and serve his "family." He carried no shame and no remorse for his actions, in fact, he continued the family business while in hiding. This arrest is the first step towards justice for his victims.
This arrest is a turning point in Italy's decades-long battle against organized crime as the alleged Cosa Nostra crime syndicate chief Messina Denaro had been on the country's most wanted list since the early 1990s. Myths about his ability to dodge authorities and theories that he was receiving protection from state officials had emerged during his 30 years of evading capture. Hopefully, it will not take another 30 years to bring the next Mafia leader to justice.
Yes, Messina Denaro was arrested but the Italian law is not up to snuff in holding mafia members accountable for their violent and heinous crimes. Despite protests across the political divide, Cosa Nostra's key operator Giovanni Brusca has been on a four-year probation after serving a 25-year sentence for his role in attacks including the one that killed anti-mafia prosecutor Giovanni Falcone and the murder of Di Matteo, while the truth about these crimes remains unknown. The law seems to be working against the victims.