Giovanni Motisi: The Hunt for Italy's Most Elusive Mafia Boss

Giovanni Motisi, the police have released a new identikit of the last major fugitive protagonist of the Cosa Nostra's bombing phase. Motisi, untraceable since 1998, has been included in the 'List of most dangerous fugitives' of the 'special search program' of the Ministry of the Interior. Therefore, the police investigations, coordinated by the Anti-Mafia District Directorate of Palermo, aimed at his capture continue relentlessly. For this purpose, the most modern investigative technologies are also used, including the 'Age progression' system for the reworking of facial features. Italy's most dangerous fugitives: here are the three elusive criminals (including Riina's trusted killer). 'Maximum alert' The new identikit The Age progression technique consists in the progressive physiognomic aging, starting from the study and updating of some specific anthropometric profiles that characterize the family of origin of the wanted person. Exploiting the professionalism and advanced technologies of the State Police's Scientific Police Service, some images of the fugitive, dating back to the '80s and the late '90s, have been 'revisited' and updated. This technical activity has allowed to create a prototype with some possible variations of the current facial features of the fugitive Giovanni Motisi. It is a further attempt to tighten the circle of investigations to arrive at the capture of the dangerous fugitive. The new identikit will facilitate the work of the investigators of the Central Operational Service and the Mobile Squad of Palermo, but it can also serve to solicit the collaboration of the citizens. Motisi, who he is Regent of the Pagliarelli district, according to the repentant Angelo Casano, succeeded boss Nino Rotolo, forced under house arrest. He replaced his uncle Matteo Motisi as head of the namesake clan: he is currently considered one of the most powerful mafia bosses in Palermo. Motisi, after the capture of Marco Di Lauro and Matteo Messina Denaro, has become the most dangerous and sought-after fugitive in Italy. Since '98 he has been wanted for murder, since 2001 for mafia association, and since 2002, for massacre. Trusted killer of Totò Riina, according to the statements of Calogero Ganci, collaborator of justice, was present in Cosa Nostra at the time it was discussed to assassinate General Carlo Alberto Dalla Chiesa. For the investigators, he would have approached the moderate wing of Cosa Nostra led by Bernardo Provenzano. He was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Commissioner Giuseppe Montana, killed on July 28, 1985. Promoted by Europol, in 2016 his figure was included in the list of the most wanted criminals in Europe.