Overview

• Palermo was arrested on July 11 outside a Bogotá supermarket by Policia Nacional special forces armed with automatic rifles.
• Colombian President Gustavo Petro called Palermo the chief ’ndrangheta boss in Latin America responsible for major cocaine routes to Europe.
• Authorities say Palermo coordinated a narcotics cartel spanning Colombia, Ecuador and Peru and served as a key link to the Piana di Gioia Tauro smuggling hub.
• His capture concludes the cross-border manhunt launched after he escaped Italy’s DDA Reggio Calabria ‘Pratì’ operation in early July.
• Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi hailed the joint effort as a blow to international trafficking and said extradition proceedings will now begin.