The Police have arrested in Soria Domenico Paviglianiti, one of the historic names of the Italian mafia and considered one of the top leaders of the ‘Ndrangheta, the criminal organization originating from Calabria.
The arrest took place on Friday, as reported by the Diario de Valladolid, which cites judicial and police sources. Paviglianiti, around 65 years old, had been hiding in the province of Soria, where he had tried to go unnoticed while having the protection of his closest circle.
He was wanted under a European Arrest Warrant for several crimes, including drug trafficking, crimes against persons, and money laundering. His capture represents a significant blow against one of the most powerful mafias in Europe.
Collaboration with Italy, key to the operation
The arrest was made thanks to the collaboration between Spanish authorities and the Guardia di Finanza of Reggio Calabria, according to the same sources cited by the Diario de Valladolid.
Investigators managed to locate the boss through phone taps and surveillance of his associates. Paviglianiti lived discreetly, but not entirely alone: the publication points out that he was protected by bodyguards, a detail that reinforces the importance of the detainee within the mafia structure.
The operation was reportedly carried out under the umbrella of the I-CAN project, an acronym for Interpol Cooperation Against ‘Ndrangheta, an initiative by Interpol in which 24 countries directly participate to strengthen international police cooperation against mafia organizations.
A familiar face to Spanish authorities
Paviglianiti's capture in Spain is not an isolated incident in his history. The boss was already arrested in Madrid in 2021, in a large-scale operation. However, he later managed to escape from prison, making him a priority target again for Italian authorities and European police forces.
His arrest in Soria closes, at least for now, a new period of escape. The presence of the mafia leader in a Spanish province far from the spotlight reflects a common strategy of major fugitives: seeking refuge in discreet locations, with less public exposure and far from the territories where their name is most recognizable.
Who is Domenico Paviglianiti
Domenico Paviglianiti is considered one of the most dangerous and bloodthirsty bosses of the Italian mafia. His name is linked to the ‘Ndrangheta, an organization that in recent decades has multiplied its international power, especially in drug trafficking, money laundering, and economic infiltration.
The ‘Ndrangheta, born in Calabria, has become one of the most powerful criminal structures in the world. Its ability to move cocaine, launder money, and operate through family and business networks has placed it at the center of numerous international investigations.
In this context, Paviglianiti represents a weighty figure within the old Italian criminal guard. His arrest in Spain once again shows the transnational dimension of these organizations and the need for coordinated operations between different countries.
The I-CAN project against the Calabrian mafia
The operation is part of the I-CAN project, an international initiative led by Interpol to combat the global expansion of the ‘Ndrangheta.
The program seeks to improve information exchange between countries, locate fugitives, coordinate arrests, and dismantle support networks that allow bosses to hide outside of Italy. 24 countries participate in it, a figure that gives an idea of the international scope of the threat.
The arrest in Soria precisely confirms this logic: Italian mafias no longer operate solely in their territories of origin, but use networks, refuges, and structures in different European countries.
The capture of Paviglianiti has a meaning that goes beyond Soria. On the one hand, it means locating a fugitive wanted by Italian justice. On the other hand, it strengthens cooperation between Spain, Italy, and Interpol in the fight against organized crime. And, furthermore, it once again positions Spain as a relevant territory in the routes of refuge, investment, or transit for international mafia structures.
The case also shows that big bosses do not always hide in spectacular settings. Sometimes they seek the opposite: quiet cities, discreet life, and a sufficient protection network to go unnoticed.
In the case of Domenico Paviglianiti, that strategy ended in Soria, with an arrest that once again strikes a blow to the historical leadership of the Calabrian mafia.