Mafia cocaine trafficker arrested after posing by Escobar’s grave

In a recent turn of events, Italian authorities have successfully apprehended a notorious mafia fugitive who had been on the run for nearly four years in South America. Luigi Belvedere, a key figure in the Italian drug trafficking scene, was arrested in Medellín, Colombia—the former stronghold of the infamous drug lord, Pablo Escobar.

When announcing his capture, the Italian police released a striking image of Belvedere alongside Escobar’s grave, underscoring the gravity of his criminal affiliations. Despite his efforts to evade law enforcement by fleeing Europe, it appears that Belvedere remained deeply involved in orchestrating drug shipments from South America to Europe.

At just 32 years old, Belvedere had made his way onto Italy’s list of most wanted criminals. Originating from Caserta, located north of Naples, he was particularly known for his role in the illegal importation of cocaine. According to police statements, he acted as a vital link between various mafia clans in Italy and Colombian cocaine producers, primarily cooperating with the Casalesi, a faction of the notorious Camorra organization.

Belvedere’s troubles began in December 2020, when he was sentenced to close to 19 years behind bars for international drug trafficking. His evasion came to an end thanks to a collaborative effort between Europol and Colombian investigators, who successfully tracked him down in Medellín, a city with a notorious history of cocaine-related activities, having served as the operational center for Escobar’s drug empire.

Escobar’s Medellín cartel, which was established in the 1970s, famously controlled approximately 80% of the global cocaine market at its peak and propelled Escobar onto the Forbes list of billionaires for seven consecutive years. The cartel’s reign of power ended in 1993 when Escobar was killed by police.

In a poignant echo of history, the image of Belvedere crouching beside Escobar’s tomb resonates with a past photograph of the drug lord himself, who once posed confidently in front of the White House during the height of his power.