Vincenzo La Porta, a long-time Italian fugitive, has been apprehended by the police after his love for football betrayed him.
Vincenzo’s passion for his Naples football team betrayed his hideout and led to the police capturing him on a Greek island.
Vincenzo, who was apprehended by the Naples-based Carabinieri paramilitary police, is said to be on Italy’s list of 100 most dangerous fugitives.
Vincenzo La Porta was spotted in a restaurant in Corfu, where he was celebrating after the Napoli football team won Italy’s top league trophy a few weeks ago.
Police immediately went to Corfu to track down the 60-year-old fugitive, who had been on the run for 11 years.
However, the police did not reveal when he was arrested but confirmed that officers intercepted him when he was going down a Corfu street on a moped.
Vincenzo La Porta, who is believed to have links to Naples-based Camorra syndicate, was convicted in absentia of criminal association, tax evasion, and fraud, the police said.
He was also confirmed to be working as an assistant chief in a different restaurant on the island for a month or so.
The Police in Corfu also confirmed that he appeared before a prosecutor on Saturday and was ordered to be held in detention until a panel of appeals court judges gets an extradition request.
Italy on the other hand is seeking to get an extradition so he can serve a prison sentence of 14 years and 4 months.
As of the time of writing, we cannot confirm if Vincenzo La Porta had a lawyer that would represent him in court.
Police also revealed that they had been trailing La Porta’s online activity, including financial movements, and waited for him to make a false move that could tip them off on his location.
In a released statement by the police, they said: “Betraying him was his passion for soccer and for the Napoli team.”
“With the championship victory, La Porta couldn’t resist celebrating.”
Investigators spotted him in a picture of fans celebrating at the restaurant and he was holding a scarf in the sky-blue colors of his hometown team.
Napoli’s Scudetto Win That Betrayed Vincenzo La Porta
Not only did Napoli win the trophy, it was also special because a whole generation (or more) of Napoli fans have never seen their side win the Scudetto.
The last time they actually came top in the Italian Top flight was in 1989/90 season, meaning the Partenopei have ended a 33-year wait for glory.
The 1990 team had special players in their squad who are somewhat similar to the ones we have today in the Napoli squad, especially Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia.
