Italian police use Facebook to nab Ndrangheta Mobster

The Mafia has been linked to the social networking site known as Facebook over the last year or so and some even think the mob has used it as a recruitment tool of sorts. Well for one of the Italy’s most wanted Mafia fugitives using his Facebook account was not a good idea. The Italian police using some high tech electronic surveillance equipment were able to track down the mobster to an apartment as he logged on to his Facebook account under his internet name Georgie.

Pasquale Manfredi has been wanted by Italian police and a fugitive for some time now. Manfredi is a reputed high ranking member of the Calabrian mafia known as the ‘Ndrangheta. Italian police say that Manfredi is a feared mafia hit man and is responsible for the mafia hits on rival gangster Carmine Arena who was killed with a bazooka in 2004. Manfredi is also linked to the murder of rival mobster Pasquale Tripaldi in 2005.

Manfredi is wanted on charges of Mafia association , murder, and drug trafficking and even for possessing heavy illegal armaments was one of Italy’s 100 most wanted suspects. It is believed that Manfredi led the ‘Ndrangheta clan in the southern town of Calabria. Manfredi often used the name “Scarface” to refer to himself online and he even had a picture of the scarface movie character on his Facebook page. Italian police think Manfredi may have been using Facebook to receive coded messages from other Mafia members and his log of 200 friends is being investigated closely for any Mob ties.