An alleged leader of the Italian ’ndrangheta mafia has been arrested in Colombia on suspicion of overseeing large-scale cocaine shipments to Europe.
Giuseppe Palermo, known as “Peppe,” was detained on the streets of Bogotá during a joint operation involving Colombian, Italian, and British police, alongside Europol. He was wanted under an Interpol red notice, which calls for arrest and extradition in 196 countries.
Colombian police say Palermo played a key role in organising drug routes from South America to Europe. He is accused of purchasing large shipments of cocaine in Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador. He also reportedly manages the land and maritime trafficking routes used to smuggle drugs across the Atlantic.
Carlos Fernando Triana, head of Colombia’s national police, described Palermo as part of “one of the most tightly knit cells” of the ’ndrangheta. In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), he praised the coordinated international efforts that led to the arrest.
The ’ndrangheta, based in Calabria, is considered one of Italy’s most powerful and secretive criminal organisations. Authorities across Europe accuse the group of dominating the continent’s cocaine trade.
According to the United Nations, illegal cocaine production reached a record 3,708 tonnes in 2023. This is a 34% rise on the previous year. The increase is largely due to the continued growth of coca leaf cultivation in Colombia.
