Markham
August 08, 2008 11:55 AM
By: Joe Fantauzzi, Staff Writer
A man wanted by Italian authorities on drug offences was arrested in Markham.
Just before 1 p.m. Thursday, members of the federal Immigration Task Force arrested Giuseppe Coluccio, 41, at a Markham strip mall, according to a news release. Mr. Coluccio was wanted on a Canada-wide immigration warrant for an admissibility hearing under immigration legislation. He is being detained on an immigration hold.
“He misrepresented himself when he came into the country,” Royal Canadian Mounted Police Sgt. Marc LaPorte alleged, adding an immigration warrant was issued for Mr. Coluccio in 2006.
His arrest was related strictly to immigration matters, Sgt. LaPorte added.
Italian media reports Friday described Mr. Coluccio as a boss associated with the Calabrese ‘Ndrangheta.
Mr. Coluccio was apparently a Toronto resident and not identified as an Italian fugitive living in York Region, York Regional Police Chief Armand La Barge told the Economist & Sun Thursday.
In a statement, federal public safety minister Stockwell Day commended the task force.
“This arrest protects the integrity of our immigration program and reinforces the security of Canada,” Mr. Day said. “Canada is not a safe haven for individuals who gained admission to Canada by hiding the fact that they are wanted by a foreign authority in relation to a criminal offence.”