Antonio Commisso

Antonio Commisso (born January 16, 1956 in Siderno, Italy) is an Italian criminal and a member of the 'Ndrangheta, a criminal and mafia-type organisation in Calabria, Italy. He was a fugitive since 2005 and included in the list of most wanted fugitives in Italy until his capture on June 28, 2005, near Toronto, Canada.[1] He is also known by his nickname "l’avvocatu" ("the lawyer").[2]

Early life

Commisso was born in Siderno into a traditional 'Ndrangheta family, the Commisso 'ndrina. Since the 1960s, Siderno was the fiefdom of Antonio Macrì, the undisputed boss at the time, who was connected with the Commisso clan. In January 1975, Macrì was killed in the so-called first 'Ndrangheta war. His right-hand man Francesco Commisso – who was wounded in the attack on Macrì – was intended to be his successor. However, Commisso appointed his son, Cosimo, also known as "the quail" ("'u quagghia"), as the new boss of the locale of Siderno.[2]

In the 1980s, the Commisso were challenged by the Costa 'Ndrina over the command of Siderno, the latter having returned from Toronto. By 1991, the feud – that had spilled over to Toronto as well – ended in a victory for the Commisso clan. Officially, there were 28 dead among the Costas and eight among the Commissos. Cosimo Commisso was sentenced over the vendetta and his nephew Antonio Commisso succeeded him as the acting boss of the clan.[2]

Fugitive

Antonio Commisso was first arrested in 1999.[3] While awaiting appeal, he regularly had to report to police, was subject to a strict night-time curfew, and was prohibited from leaving town.[2]

On April 15, 2004, Commisso was definitively convicted and sentenced to 10 years and seven months for Mafia association and trafficking in weapons.[2][4] When police arrived at his home to arrest him, he was nowhere to be found. On May 14, 2004, he presented himself to the Canadian immigration officials at Montreal's Trudeau International airport. The Canadian authorities here had no choice but to admit him because he had been granted permanent residency status in Canada in 1974, when he was 18.[2]

Arrest and extradition

After living as a fugitive in Canada for more than a year, Commisso was arrested at his residence in Woodbridge, Ontario, on an extradition warrant issued in Canada at the request of the Italian government. The federal government was already taking steps to have Commisso permanently deported from the country.[4]

The Commisso clan was involved in international drug trafficking using family ties in Italy, Canada, the United States and Australia.[5]

References

  1. ↑ (Italian) Latitante Commisso arrestato da Polizia in Canada, ANSA, June 28, 2005
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Back to the 'wolves', National Post July 30, 2005
  3. ↑ (Italian) Preso a Toronto Antonio Commisso boss della 'ndrangheta di Siderno, La Repubblica, June 28, 2005
  4. 1 2 Organized Crime in Canada: A Quarterly Summary, April to June, 2005, Nathanson Centre
  5. ↑ (Italian) 'Ndrangheta: latitante arrestato da Polizia in Canada, Polizia di Stato, June 28, 2005

External links

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