By Emily Hong
On August 20, 2024, authorities from Italy and Slovenia, supported by Eurojust, successfully apprehended Salvatore Roberto Perricciolo, leader of an Italian organized crime group (OCG). Perricciolo, 40, is a fugitive of Calabrian origin who had been on the run for six months following his conviction for crimes including drug trafficking, extortion, and kidnapping.1 His arrest in Koper, Slovenia, marks a significant achievement in the ongoing battle against organized crime in Europe.
As leader of an OCG, Perricciolo not only oversaw cocaine trafficking operations across Italy but also was involved in robbery, fraud, embezzlement, extortion, kidnapping, and illegal possession of weapons. In a separate trial, he was found guilty of mafia-related offenses, further solidifying his position as a dangerous figure within the criminal network.2
In February of 2024, before his final sentencing by Italy’s Court of Cassation, Perricciolo promptly fled – escaping his impending 21-year prison sentence and prompting a national and European Arrest Warrant. Despite the challenges law enforcement officials faced during their months of investigation, they were able to track Perricciolo to Slovenia, where he had been hiding in the port city of Koper.
The success of this operation can largely be attributed to the involvement of Eurojust, the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation. Eurojust played a pivotal role by executing a European Investigation Order (EIO), a crucial legal tool that allowed for swift and coordinated investigative measures across borders. The EIO is a “a judicial decision which has been issued or validated by a judicial authority of a Member State to have one or several specific investigative measure(s) carried out in another Member State” without the lengthy procedures typically associated with mutual legal assistance treaties.3
The EIO issued in this case authorized extensive surveillance activities in Slovenia – phone tapping, physical tailing, and other forms of monitoring – to pinpoint Perricciolo’s exact location within just ten days of its execution.4 The success of the operation underscores the importance of surveillance in modern law enforcement, especially in cases involving high-profile fugitives with the resources and expertise to evade capture. In particular, wiretapping, when conducted legally and with proper oversight, can provide invaluable real-time information that is often crucial for the success of such operations.
Perricciolo’s arrest highlights the evolving nature of European law enforcement in addressing transnational crime. The effectiveness of Eurojust in this case demonstrates its growing importance in the European legal landscape, particularly in complex cases requiring swift action and rapid coordination between borders. Furthermore, the use of the EIO in this operation exemplifies its value as a tool for a streamlined and efficient approach to law enforcement. The quick execution of the EIO in this case shows how it can be leveraged to expedite justice and prevent criminals from taking advantage of bureaucratic delays.
The success of this operation sets a precedent for future international cooperation in law enforcement – demonstrating that when countries work collaboratively, supported by institutions like Eurojust, they can effectively tackle even the most challenging of criminal cases. However, it also highlights how cross-border judicial coordination and communication between national authorities will be crucial to ensure that such operations can be conducted swiftly and successfully.
Emily Hong is a fall editorial intern for the IELR. She is a sophomore at Johns Hopkins studying International Studies and Economics.
[1] Eurojust (2024). Fugitive Italian crime leader arrested in Slovenia, Eurojust, https://www.eurojust.europa.eu/news/fugitive-italian-crime-leader-arrested-slovenia#:~:text=A%20fast%20and%20coordinated%20action,a%2021%2Dyear%20prison%20sentence.
[2] Castori (2024). The super fugitive Salvatore Perricciolo arrested in Koper, il Resto del Carlino, https://www.ilrestodelcarlino.it/marche/cronaca/tesoro-latitante-casa-auto-confisca-perricciolo-4f77ea5d
[3] Directive 2014/41/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 April 2014 regarding the European Investigation Order in criminal matters, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32014L0041
[4] The Slovenia Times (2024). Fugitive Italian crime boss arrested in Slovenia, Slovenia Times, https://sloveniatimes.com/40761/fugitive-italian-crime-boss-arrested-in-slovenia