Antonio Commisso
Encyclopedia
Antonio Commisso is an Italian
criminal and a member of the 'Ndrangheta, a criminal and mafia-type organisation in Calabria
, Italy
. He was a fugitive since 2005 and included in the list of most wanted fugitives in Italy until his capture on June 28, 2005, near Toronto
, Canada
. He is also known by his nickname "l’avvocatu" ("the lawyer").
into a traditional 'Ndrangheta family, the Commisso 'ndrina
. Siderno was the fiefdom of Antonio Macrì
the undisputed boss at the time. In January 1975, Macrì was killed in the so-called first 'Ndrangheta war. His right-hand man – who was wounded in the attack on Macrì – Francesco Commisso was intended to be his successor. However, he appointed his son, Cosimo Commisso
, also known as "the quail" ("'u quagghia"), as the new boss of the locale of Siderno.
In the 1980s, the Commisso were challenged by the Costa 'Ndrina over the command of Siderno. The Costas had returned from Toronto. By 1991, the feud – that spilled over to Toronto as well – ended in a victory for the Commisso clan. Officially, there were 28 dead among the Costas and eight among the Commissos. Cosimo Commisso was sentenced over the vendetta and his nephew Antonio Commisso succeeded him as the acting boss of the clan.
On April 15, 2004, Commisso was definitively convicted and sentenced to 10 years and seven months for Mafia association and trafficking in weapons. When police arrived at his home to arrest him, he was nowhere to be found. On May 14, 2004, he presented himself to the Canadian immigration officials at Montreal's Trudeau International airport. The Canadian authorities here had no choice but to admit him because he had been granted permanent residency status in Canada in 1974, when he was 18.
, on an extradition warrant issued in Canada at the request of the Italian Government. The federal government was already taking steps to have Commisso permanently deported from the country.
The Commisso clan was involved in international drug trafficking using family ties in Italy, Canada, the United States and Australia.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
criminal and a member of the 'Ndrangheta, a criminal and mafia-type organisation in Calabria
Calabria
Calabria , in antiquity known as Bruttium, is a region in southern Italy, south of Naples, located at the "toe" of the Italian Peninsula. The capital city of Calabria is Catanzaro....
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. He was a fugitive since 2005 and included in the list of most wanted fugitives in Italy until his capture on June 28, 2005, near Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He is also known by his nickname "l’avvocatu" ("the lawyer").
Early life
Commisso was born in SidernoSiderno
Siderno is a town and comune located in Calabria, Italy about 3 kilometres from Locri.Siderno Marina is the newer town located on the Ionian coast. It is popular with both Italian and foreign tourists and has a bathing beach....
into a traditional 'Ndrangheta family, the Commisso 'ndrina
Commisso 'ndrina
The Commisso 'ndrina is a powerful clan of the 'Ndrangheta, a criminal and mafia-type organisation in Calabria, Italy. The 'ndrina is based in Siderno, but has an important branch in the Greater Toronto Area in Canada.-In Siderno:...
. Siderno was the fiefdom of Antonio Macrì
Antonio Macrì
Antonio Macrì , popularly known as Zzi 'ntoni, was a historical and charismatic boss of the 'Ndrangheta, a criminal and mafia-type organisation in Calabria, Italy...
the undisputed boss at the time. In January 1975, Macrì was killed in the so-called first 'Ndrangheta war. His right-hand man – who was wounded in the attack on Macrì – Francesco Commisso was intended to be his successor. However, he appointed his son, Cosimo Commisso
Cosimo Commisso
Cosimo Commisso , also known as "the quail" , is an Italian criminal and a member of the 'Ndrangheta, a mafia-type organisation in Calabria...
, also known as "the quail" ("'u quagghia"), as the new boss of the locale of Siderno.
In the 1980s, the Commisso were challenged by the Costa 'Ndrina over the command of Siderno. The Costas had returned from Toronto. By 1991, the feud – that spilled over to Toronto as well – ended in a victory for the Commisso clan. Officially, there were 28 dead among the Costas and eight among the Commissos. Cosimo Commisso was sentenced over the vendetta and his nephew Antonio Commisso succeeded him as the acting boss of the clan.
Fugitive
He was first arrested in 1999. While awaiting appeal, he regularly had to report to police, and was subjected to a strict night-time curfew and a prohibition against leaving town.On April 15, 2004, Commisso was definitively convicted and sentenced to 10 years and seven months for Mafia association and trafficking in weapons. When police arrived at his home to arrest him, he was nowhere to be found. On May 14, 2004, he presented himself to the Canadian immigration officials at Montreal's Trudeau International airport. The Canadian authorities here had no choice but to admit him because he had been granted permanent residency status in Canada in 1974, when he was 18.
Arrest and extradition
After living as a fugitive in Canada for more than a year, Commisso was arrested at his residence in Woodbridge, OntarioWoodbridge, Ontario
Woodbridge is a large suburban community in the City of Vaughan, just north of Toronto in Southern Ontario. It was once an independent town before being amalgamated with nearby communities to form the city in 1971. Its traditional downtown core is the Woodbridge Ave...
, on an extradition warrant issued in Canada at the request of the Italian Government. The federal government was already taking steps to have Commisso permanently deported from the country.
The Commisso clan was involved in international drug trafficking using family ties in Italy, Canada, the United States and Australia.
External links
- Mafia In Our Midst, CBC News Sunday, February 10, 2008