Turkish mafia boss arrested in Viterbo raid

  ROME -- Baris Boyun, an alleged Turkish mafia boss was arrested on Wednesday morning in Viterbo, according to sources from the Antimafia Investigation Directorate. 

  Boyun, who had previously been arrested in 2022 in Rimoni following a warrant from the Ankara government, was under house arrest in the village of Bagnaia in Viterbo when the raid took place. He is currently under investigation for criminal conspiracy, leading an armed gang aimed at forming a terrorist association, committing terrorist attacks, possession and illegal carrying of weapons and explosives, international drug trafficking, murder, and aiding of illegal immigration. 

  For Turkey, this affair must be handled delicately, with the Turkish president, Erdogan personally requesting Boyun’s repatriation during a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in January.  

  The mafia boss was previously denied extraction in 2023, a request made by Turkish authorities for Boyun, who was under investigation at the time for “murder, bodily harm, threats, participation in criminal conspiracy and violations of weapons regulations,” as stated by the supreme judges who denied extradition. 

  According to the judges, Boyun had “fundamentally posed the risk of being subjected to inhumane or degrading treatment, if handed over to Turkey, as he is of Turkish ethnicity (as it appears to be confirmed by the region of origin of both his parents) and affiliated with a Kurdish party.” 

  Wednesday’s raids resulted in a total of 19 Turkish citizens being Viterbarrested in Italy, Switzerland, and Germany. 

lw