Mafioso Hunted Through Italian Sewers

Fugitive Drops Through Trap Door To Escape Police; Convicted Murderer On Run Since Last Year

(AP)  One of Italy's most-wanted mafia fugitives eluded capture Monday by climbing through a trap door and into the sewer as police closed in on his hideout in southern Italy, authorities said.

Carabinieri police and divers followed Giuseppe Setola into the labyrinthine sewage system but by late Monday they hadn't found him or the bodyguard who escaped with him, Carabinieri Lt. Domenico Forte said.

"We were on the floor, and they were under the floor," Forte said in a phone interview from Caserta, near Naples.

Setola, a purported boss in the Neapolitan Camorra crime organization who is on Italy's list of the 30 most-wanted fugitives, has been on the run since last year, when he escaped from house arrest that was granted because of an eye problem.

Already sentenced to life in prison for murder, Setola is accused of having masterminded the Sept. 18 gangland-style killing of six African immigrants in Naples - slayings that sparked rioting and prompted the government to deploy 500 soldiers to help police in the violence-ridden area.

Investigators believe Setola orchestrated the slayings to punish the Africans for getting involved in drug trafficking, one of the syndicate's lucrative activities.

Police started closing in on Setola soon after the killings, arresting several members of his clan in an October raid that Setola himself managed to escape.

On Monday, about 50 Carabinieri paramilitary police surrounded his hideout in Trentola Ducenta near Caserta. What they found was a small, 50 square meter (540 square foot) apartment that had a false floor underneath a bed that receded to show a trap door leading to the sewer, all of which was locked with a sophisticated locking system, Forte said.

Forte said Setola a good head start into the sewer since it took so long for police to break through the trap doors. While the sewer conditions are treacherous, Forte said he expected Setola and his bodyguard to survive.

"They are very resistant," he said. "They have stamina."

Setola's wife was left behind and was brought in for questioning, Forte said.

[smurfcrusher]

I thought ALL mobsters live in sewers.

[jocly52]

Giuseppe: Sniff-Sniff...***! Who farted?

[questionnews]

If there were a just god, this story would be about Bush and Cheney living in sewers.

Posted by timothyone at 05:49 PM : Jan 12, 2009


Another typical post from a politically obsessed putz.

[rrozsa-2009]

''Setola ... has been on the run since last year, when he escaped from house arrest that was granted because of an eye problem.''

''Already sentenced to life in prison for murder, Setola is accused of having masterminded the Sept. 18 gangland-style killing of six African immigrants in Naples ....''
==============

Let me get this straight... He was sentenced to life in HOUSE arrest? Because of an eye problem?? And they are surprised he escaped? Sounds like he had paid some judge for the easy "life sentence". He''ll get away scot-free.

[pdhlondon]

These are really nasty guys but one has to admire their ''brass'' just a little bit. They will eventually all go down but not before they use every bit of their cunning and resourcefulness to give the police a run for their money.

Pure Godfather stuff.

[pepperwood2]

One of Italy''s most-wanted mafia fugitives eluded capture Monday by climbing through a trap door and into the sewer as police closed in on his hideout in southern Italy, authorities said.

Why can''t the police issue an order for all the residents to flush their commodes at the count of three. Then maybe this sewer rat will be flush out and resurface at a down stream septic plant. There the Poliza will be waiting for his arrival.

Tim u s%uck!

[bb543]

The election is over, Tim. Get a life would ya ?

[timothyone-2009]

If there were a just god, this story would be about Bush and Cheney living in sewers.