Gaetano Santaiti
Giuseppe Gaetano Santaiti (Italian pronunciation: [dʒuˈzɛppe ɡaeˈtaːno santaˈiːti];[citation needed] March 17, 1967 in Seminara), is a boss of the 'Ndrangheta, a Mafia-type criminal organisation based in Calabria, Italy. Santaiti was the acknowledged head of the area of Seminara, located about 30 km northeast of Reggio Calabria, together with the Gioffrè clan.[1]
The clan expanded to northern Italy, notably Liguria and Lombardy, as well as to Turkey where links were established with Kurdish rebel groups for the purpose of drug trafficking.[2]
Wanted since 1993 for mafia association, drug trafficking, extortion and possession of arms, he was included in the list of most wanted fugitives in Italy. He had been sentenced to 24 years of imprisonment. Santaiti was arrested in Seminara on May 20, 2001.[3][4][5]
He decided to become a government witness (pentito) in 2003 and his testimony resulted in the arrest of some 30 people.[1] In July 2010, the protection as a government witness was revoked after his arrest for "false statements in his defense".[6]
References
[edit]- ^ a b (in Italian) Una Caporetto per la 'ndrangheta Archived 2012-06-17 at the Wayback Machine, Gazzetta del Sud, April 30, 2003
- ^ (in Italian) Il boss Santaiti preso dalla polizia a Seminara Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine, Gazzetta del Sud, May 21, 2001
- ^ (in Italian) Arrestato latitante Santaiti Archived 2011-08-07 at the Wayback Machine, Polizia di Stato, May 21, 2001
- ^ (in Italian) Arrestato boss della ' ndrangheta. E' Santaiti, latitante da otto anni, Corriere della Sera, May 21, 2001
- ^ (in Spanish) La Policía italiana captura a uno de los grandes «capos» de la mafia calabresa, ABC, May 20, 2001 (with photo)
- ^ (in Italian) Il Tar: «No alla revoca della protezione per il collaboratore Santaiti», Corriere della Calabria, January 23, 2012