Three Italian drug barrons who were arrested in Malindi last week have been deported to Italy.
Mario Mele, 55, Alberto Fulvio, 88 and Stefano Poli, 70 who have been on Interpol’s Red Notice arrived in Italy on Wednesday and were taken to custody by local authorities.
The three are among twelve suspects arrested in Mombasa during a joint security operation where 11,220 Euros, $4,500, Ksh952,935, 73 kg packets, 136 sachets of substance believed to be heroin,fake $36,100 Ksh516,000 notes, two pistols with 25 9mm bullets and two vehicles were seized.
Officials say Filvio has been on the run for 24 years after being convicted by an Italian court for drug related charges renouncing his Italian citizenship and opting for naturalization as a Kenyan citizen.
Mele who has been in Kenya since 2012 left a trial in Italy where he was being charged with tax evasion and fraudulent bankruptcy amounting to €17 million.
He has been running Patapata Beach Club, Mario’s Restaurant and Mario’s Buddha Fashion Lounge in Malindi.
Police say he with other people promoted and organized the criminal association, setting up and running companies that were involved in criminal activities.
They include Edo Group, The Magic group, Hotel Della Spiaggia, Vacanze Azure, La Fenice Engineering and Herescafe’ Sas, among others.
Poli, arrived in Kenya in 2016, after escaping a 10-year and nine months’ sentence over fiscal fraud and fraudulent bankruptcy.
According to Interpol, he was the administrator of the society Cos Edil srl and was declared bankrupt by a Milan court and was to serve four years in prison.
Poli was accused of destroying and removing books and records of the society to cause prejudice to the creditors for millions of pounds in 2008, 2009 and 2010.