It turns out that Google Maps can be a great resource not only for finding the way to where you want to go, but also for locating mob bosses who have been on the run for decades. Gioacchino Gammino, 61, a convicted murderer and notorious Italian gangster escaped from a prison in Rome in 2002. From there he went to Spain, changed his identity, and started a new life as “Chief Manuel” at Cocina de Manu, a restaurant in Galapagar where he served several Sicilian dishes.
The former member of the Sicilian Stidda mafia avoided capture for almost 20 years with his new identity but was stunned when he was finally found by the police. According to what was learned, one of his first questions after his arrest was “How did you find me? I haven’t even called my family for 10 years”.
Sicilian police suspected Gammino was in Spain, but seeing a man matching his description on Google Maps helped them find him late last year. They later found photos of Gammino posted on the Cocina de Manu Facebook page, confirming his recent whereabouts.
Palermo prosecutor Francesco Lo Voi told The Guardian about the arrest that “of course we don’t spend our days looking for fugitives on Google Maps” and added: “There were many old and long investigations that took us to Spain. We were on a good track, Google Maps. helped validate our research.”
Gammino, who was sentenced to life in prison, had escaped from prison in 2002 while a movie was being filmed in prison. He was also wanted for murder and a number of other crimes related to the activities of the Stidda mafia.
While the former mafia member is currently in police custody in Spain, Spanish and Italian police think he will be extradited to Italy at the end of February.
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