Snooped For A Week: Italian Mafia, Drug Lord And Van Gogh Painting Smuggler Arrested In Dubai

JAKARTA - An Italian mafia suspected of being a drug lord and trading two stolen paintings belonging to artist van Gogh on the black market has been arrested by police in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The man, known as Raffaele Imperiale (46), was arrested on July 30 at his residence. He is wanted for being accused of being the kingpin of the dreaded Camorra drug syndicate and organized crime in Naples, Italy.

He was arrested at his residence which is a large villa with a swimming pool. Dubai police said he was using a false identity on behalf of Antonio Rocco.

A number of valuables, including cash, two luxury cars and paintings, were seized in the raid. Officers said the Imperiale used a pseudonym and always concealed its movements to avoid officers, citing The National News Friday, August 27.

The raids were carried out after security forces conducted surveillance for a week, using artificial intelligence technology and more than 300,000 security cameras.

After arresting Imperiale, Dubai police arrested his right-hand man named Raffaele Mauriello (31) on August 14, who is suspected of being responsible for plotting and carrying out firearms executions.

Imperiale and Mauriello are wanted by the Italian authorities and Interpol which has issued a Red Notice against them. To avoid being chased by officers, Imperiale is said to have used different cars, and lived in an unregistered and isolated residence and could monitor people who came.

Being wanted internationally, both cases were transferred to the Dubai Public Prosecutor's Office, which determined their extradition mechanism. Interpol said its network helped secure the arrests.

"No matter how much wealth or power the fugitives accumulate, or how far they travel, the work of the police does not stop," said Interpol Secretary General Jurgen Stock.

"A case like this underscores the power of international police cooperation through Interpol's global network more than ever," he continued.

Meanwhile, Director of the Criminal Investigation Department of Dubai Police Brigadier Jamal Al Jallaf, praised the efforts of all investigative teams who were able to uncover the true identity of Imperiale.

One of the highlights is, Imperiale 'hides' two famous paintings belonging to world artists, the late Vincent van Gogh. The two paintings known as 'View of the Sea at Scheveningen' (1882) and 'Congregation Leaving the Reformed Church in Nuenen' (1884-1885) were stolen from the van Gogh Museum in 2002.

In 2016, the two paintings were found hidden in a farmhouse on the Imperiale property in the town of Castellammare, Stabia near Naples. Italian financial police found the paintings wrapped in cotton sheets, tucked in boxes and hidden behind bathroom walls

"The wealth accumulated illegally allowed him to buy two of Van Gogh's paintings on the black market for an incalculable value," Italian police said.

Imperiale has denied allegations of involvement in the theft of the paintings, claiming to have purchased the legendary work as an art lover in an interview with Naples newspaper Il Mattino this year.