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A picture released Friday, Dec. 12, 2013, by the Italian Police, showing Patrizia Messina Denaro. Police have arrested the sister of Italy's No. 1 Cosa Nostra fugitive in pre-dawn sweep in western Sicily that investigators say brought them closer than ever in their quest to capture the powerful Mafia boss. Matteo Messina Denaro has eluded capture since 1993. On Friday, police arrested his sister, Patrizia Messina Denaro, at home in Castelvetrano, a town in the heart of the crime clan's stronghold. They also arrested a nephew and a cousin of his and 27 others, including businessmen allegedly in cahoots with him. After the capture of other Mafia long-time fugitives in the last two decades, Messino Denaro is the top Cosa Nostra figure still at large. In Palermo, Carabinieri commander Mario Parente told reporters: "We have never come as close to Matteo Messina Denaro as today." (AP Photo/Italian Police) (The Associated Press)
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A picture released Friday, Dec. 12, 2013, by the Italian Police, showing Mario Messina Denaro cousin of Matteo Messina Denaro. Police have arrested the sister of Italy's No. 1 Cosa Nostra fugitive in pre-dawn sweep in western Sicily that investigators say brought them closer than ever in their quest to capture the powerful Mafia boss. Matteo Messina Denaro has eluded capture since 1993. On Friday, police arrested his sister, Patrizia Messina Denaro, at home in Castelvetrano, a town in the heart of the crime clan's stronghold. They also arrested a nephew and a cousin of his and 27 others, including businessmen allegedly in cahoots with him. After the capture of other Mafia long-time fugitives in the last two decades, Messino Denaro is the top Cosa Nostra figure still at large. In Palermo, Carabinieri commander Mario Parente told reporters: "We have never come as close to Matteo Messina Denaro as today." (AP Photo/Italian Police) (The Associated Press)
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A picture released Friday, Dec. 12, 2013, by the Italian Police, showing Francesco Guttaduro nephew of Matteo Messina Denaro. Police have arrested the sister of Italy's No. 1 Cosa Nostra fugitive in pre-dawn sweep in western Sicily that investigators say brought them closer than ever in their quest to capture the powerful Mafia boss. Matteo Messina Denaro has eluded capture since 1993. On Friday, police arrested his sister, Patrizia Messina Denaro, at home in Castelvetrano, a town in the heart of the crime clan's stronghold. They also arrested a nephew and a cousin of his and 27 others, including businessmen allegedly in cahoots with him. After the capture of other Mafia long-time fugitives in the last two decades, Messino Denaro is the top Cosa Nostra figure still at large. In Palermo, Carabinieri commander Mario Parente told reporters: "We have never come as close to Matteo Messina Denaro as today." (AP Photo/Italian Police) (The Associated Press)
ROME – Police searching for Italy's No. 1 Cosa Nostra fugitive have arrested 30 people, including three of his relatives, accused of helping to run the crime clan's rackets while the powerful Mafia boss is on the run.
Investigators called Friday's pre-dawn sweep in Sicily a major step in their quest to capture Matteo Messina Denaro, who has been at large since 1993.
His sister, Patrizia Messina Denaro, was arrested at her home in Castelvetrano, a town in the crime clan's stronghold. The others taken into custody included a nephew and a cousin.
The capture of other Mafia fugitives has left Messino Denaro as the top Cosa Nostra figure being sought.
In Palermo, Carabinieri commander Mario Parente said: "We have never come as close to Matteo Messina Denaro as today."
