Colombian police have arrested an Italian mafia boss named Gustavo Nocella, also known as ‘Ermes,’ who was running a massive drug shipping operation. What makes this arrest even more fascinating is that police tracked him down using his beloved pool table!
Nocella, one of the most wanted drug traffickers in the world, was arrested in Medellin after a six-month investigation. The Colombian National Police, along with Italian authorities and Europol, worked together in a mission called Operation Minerva to capture him. This operation aimed to dismantle his international drug network, which was believed to be shipping large amounts of drugs from Colombia to the Netherlands, where they would then be distributed across Europe.
So, how did they find him? Nocella was known to change luxury apartments every few months to avoid capture. However, he had a favorite pool table that he took with him wherever he went. Police were clever and decided to trace this unique table, which led them directly to Nocella’s latest apartment.
William Salamanca, the director of the National Police, shared the news of Nocella’s arrest on social media. He highlighted how crucial the investigation was, as Nocella was considered a key figure connecting South American and Italian mafia clans involved in the drug trade.
The arrest is particularly significant because Colombia is the largest producer of coca in the world, which is the main ingredient for cocaine. In fact, the country produced a staggering 60% of the world’s cocaine, with production levels continuing to rise. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime recently reported that coca bush cultivation increased by 10% last year, leading to a 53% rise in potential cocaine production compared to the previous year.
As authorities celebrate this major victory in the fight against drug trafficking, they are also focused on the ongoing battle against the growing cocaine production in Colombia. The investigation into Nocella’s operations is just one piece of the puzzle in tackling the international drug trade.
The story of how a simple pool table played a key role in capturing a dangerous criminal shows that sometimes, even the smallest details can lead to big breakthroughs in law enforcement.
