International fugitives arrested in Italy for smuggling and terrorism

Italian authorities detained several individuals wanted abroad on separate international warrants. In Genoa's Sampierdarena port, the Guardia di Finanza stopped a man attempting to blend in with passengers from a Palermo‑bound vessel. He was identified as a suspect in a cigarette‑smuggling ring and faces a 13‑year prison term imposed by a foreign court.

In the coastal town of Francavilla al Mare, police arrested 41‑year‑old Turkish citizen Bilal Cinar after a check‑in triggered an alert. He is serving a 7‑year‑6‑month sentence for terrorism‑related offenses, linked to an Istanbul attack in 2009 and alleged membership in the MLKP militant group. The arrest was carried out by the Chieti mobile squad and Digos.

A separate operation in Otranto led to the detention of a 28‑year‑old foreign national wanted by Pakistani authorities for an alleged aggravated robbery. He is being held pending extradition proceedings.