Mafia boss in hiding busted after he’s spotted celebrating soccer team win

August 8, 2023

Italian mob boss Vincenzo La Porta was arrested in Greece over the weekend after police spotted him in a photo celebrating Napoli’s win in the Serie A professional soccer championship several weeks ago.

La Porta has been on the run for 11 years and linked to a dangerous organized crime group known as the Camorra.

As reported by Sky News, La Porta was snapped in Corfu Island in Greece celebrating on a balcony after his hometown team won a soccer championship.

After investigators spotted him they headed to the Greek island to tail the 60-year-old fugitive.

Officers managed to take him into custody after blocking him going down a street on his motor scooter, Sky News reported.

He was captured near the restaurant where he had reportedly been working as a chef.

His lawyer said he has started a new family in Greece and does not want to be extradited.

“Betraying him was his passion for soccer and for the Napoli team,” police said in a statement. “With the championship victory, La Porta couldn’t resist celebrating.”

La Porta was wanted on convictions of criminal association, tax evasion and fraud.

Italian mafia boss in hiding busted after he's spotted celebrating soccer team win. — Italian mafia boss Vincenzo La Porta was busted after he was spotted celebrating on his balcony.

SSC Napoli's players celebrate the Scudetto, the trophy of Italian Serie A Championship, during the ceremony after the Italian Serie A soccer match SSC Napoli vs UC Sampdoria — SSC Napoli’s players celebrate the Scudetto, the trophy of Italian Serie A Championship, during the ceremony after the Italian Serie A soccer match SSC Napoli vs UC Sampdoria

Appearing before a prosecutor on Saturday, he was ordered to be held in prison until a panel of appeal court judges rules on an extradition request from Italy.

Italian authorities want him to be flown back so he can serve a 14-year prison sentence, but his lawyer told Sky News LaPorta does not want to be extradited so he can stay in Greece with his new family.

“He was sentenced long ago for tax offenses,” Athanassios Giannakouris said.

Love for his Naples football team betrayed the hideout of a longtime fugitive, who was captured while riding a moped on a Greek island, Italian police have said. — Love for his Naples football team betrayed La Porta — who had been on the run for 11 years.

Fans of Napoli light some smoke-bombs as they celebrate after Victor Osimhen of Napoli has scored a goal on a penalty kick during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and UC Sampdoria at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on June 4, 2023 in Naples, Italy. — Fans of Napoli light some smoke-bombs as they celebrate after Victor Osimhen of Napoli.

“He has started a new family in Greece… he has a 9-year-old boy and is working as a cook to get by. He suffers from heart ailments. If he’s extradited, he and his family will be ruined,” he told Sky News.

Police in Italy had reportedly been monitoring La Porta’s activity for months, waiting for him to make a false move that would give them insight into his whereabouts.

Fox News Digital’s Haley Chi-Sing contributed to this report.