Antonio Commisso

Antonio Commisso (Siderno, January 16, 1956) is an Italian criminal and a member of the 'Ndrangheta. 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).it icon [http://wwww.dsonline.it/componenti/sinistrads/documenti/print.asp?id_doc=26576 Latitante Commisso arrestato da Polizia in Canada] , ANSA, June 28, 2005] He is also known by his nickname "l’avvocatu" ("the lawyer"). [http://www.canada.com/national/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=9af45529-0622-4e8e-be40-ebfc4c7a4f2b Back to the 'wolves'] , National Post July 30, 2005]

Biography

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

In the 1980s, the Commisso were challenged by the Costa 'Ndrina over the command of Siderno. The Costa’s had returned from Toronto (Canada). By 1991, the feud – that 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.

Fugitive

He was first arrested in 1999.it icon [http://www.repubblica.it/2005/f/sezioni/cronaca/nostromo/presoboss/presoboss.html Preso a Toronto Antonio Commisso boss della 'ndrangheta di Siderno] , La Repubblica, June 28, 2005] While awaiting appeal, he regularly had to report to police, and was subjected to a strict night-time curfew and a prohibition against leaving town.

On April 15, 2004, Commisso was definitively convicted and sentenced to 10 years and seven months for Mafia association and trafficking in weapons. 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.

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. [http://www.yorku.ca/nathanson/CurrentEvents/2005_Q2.htm#Italian Organized Crime in Canada: A Quarterly Summary, April to June, 2005] , Nathanson Centre]

The Commisso clan was involved in international drug trafficking thanks family ties in Italy, Canada, the United States and Australia.it icon [http://www.poliziadistato.it/pds/online/comunicati/index.php?aa=2005&mm=06&id=716 'Ndrangheta: latitante arrestato da Polizia in Canada] , Polizia di Stato, June 28, 2005]

References