An individual named Giuseppe Palermo, better recognized as “Peppe,” has been apprehended by Colombian police. He is purported to be a pivotal figure within the ‘Ndrangheta mafia’s operations in Latin America. Authorities allege that Palermo was responsible for orchestrating cocaine shipments and managing illicit trafficking networks that deliver drugs to Europe. Police efforts, involving a collaboration between Colombian, Italian, British authorities, and Europol, resulted in his capture in Bogotá, the capital of Colombia. This operation was carried out in response to an Interpol red notice calling for Palermo’s arrest across 196 countries.
law enforcement officials claim that Palermo played a significant role within a highly cohesive unit of the ‘Ndrangheta mafia, an organization renowned for its secrecy, violence, and influence on the international stage. It is particularly noted for its supplementation of cocaine entering Europe.
Furthermore, it is reported that Palermo not only managed the procurement of substantial quantities of cocaine from countries such as Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador but also supervised the transit routes, both maritime and terrestrial, that the drugs took en route to European markets.
The United Nations has documented a rise in illicit cocaine production, reaching 3,708 tonnes in 2023. This increase of nearly 34% from the previous year is largely attributed to the expansion of coca leaf cultivation in Colombia. The global illicit drug trade, with cocaine playing a major part, is estimated to generate revenues exceeding $500bn annually.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/12/colombia-arrests-alleged-leader-of-italian-mafia-in-latin-america?traffic_source=rss
