In Fuengirola, a major operation conducted by the National Police led to the arrest of a top boss linked to the Calabria-based Ndrangheta, a Mafia organization that has long drawn the attention of Italian justice. This arrest marks the culmination of efforts that began in 2015 when the suspect was declared a fugitive. Italian authorities identified him as Mario Palamara, a 53-year-old figure whose name had repeatedly surfaced in European arrest and extradition proceedings. The case involved four active European Arrest and Extradition Orders, with charges spanning drug trafficking connected to mafia activities, money laundering, corruption, and document fraud. Officials described Palamara as a central representative of key Calabrian clans dedicated to orchestrating cocaine shipments from Colombia to Italy, and as one of the principal targets of Italian law enforcement in recent years. [attribution: National Police; Italian justice]
The arrested individual had built a potent network, earning the trust of various Calabrian factions, including notable figures within the so-called marabout clan. His role enabled direct communication with cocaine suppliers in South America, facilitating the importation and preparation of shipments destined for European markets. The drug trafficking operations relied on multiple transportation channels, including sea vessels and air routes, with additional logistical systems layered into the process. Palamara’s leadership position allowed him to coordinate activities across a broad criminal landscape involving several Calabrian groups operating on Italian soil. [attribution: National Police; Italian justice]
Initial investigations into his whereabouts revealed that he exploited connections across Latin America to personally oversee substantial cocaine imports for diverse establishments, establishing himself as a central reference point for the Calabrian Mafia’s activities within Spain and Italy. The scale of the operations is underscored by seizures, including a notable instance involving 800 kilograms of cocaine intercepted in Italy during coordinated police actions that targeted buyers aligned with the Calabrian Ndrangheta. These seizures illustrate the transnational reach of the organization and the persistent vigilance of law enforcement across borders. [attribution: National Police; Italian justice]
As part of the European Fugitive Active Search Teams network, ENFAST, authorities initially identified Palamara’s location in Barcelona. Subsequent investigative steps, however, confirmed that he had assumed another identity and was residing in the province of Malaga. Investigators traced the fugitive to Fuengirola, where he was intercepted as he attempted to leave a residence while riding a bicycle. During the arrest, Palamara offered resistance, presenting himself under a false Italian identity. The capture demonstrates the ongoing collaboration among international police agencies to dismantle clandestine networks and disrupt the flow of illicit commodities into European markets. [attribution: National Police; Italian justice]