Dangerous Georgian fugitive captured, internationally wanted, was among 100 most dangerous fugitives.

Katibashvili Maka, a 43-year-old Georgian citizen, has finally been arrested and deported to Italy after a long period on the run. Wanted internationally with an Interpol Red Notice for voluntary homicide and violation of the law on weapons, Maka was affiliated with the Georgian criminal organization “Thieves in law”. Sentenced to 21 years in prison for her role in the murder of Revaz Tchuradze in Bari in 2012, the woman had adopted a false identity and lived in Turkey after 2017, sending money to Georgia. Thanks to the coordinated work of SCIP, the Bari Flying Squad and the Turkish police forces, supported by the Italian Security Expert in Turkey and the Italian Ministry of Justice, Maka was tracked down and brought to justice in Italy, marking a significant victory for the investigative forces.

Investigations

Thus ended yesterday, with her arrival at the Italian airport of Rome Fiumicino, the long period of fugitive status of Katibashvili Maka, 43, a Georgian citizen wanted internationally with an “Interpol Red Notice” for voluntary homicide and violation of the law on weapons.

The woman, believed to be affiliated with the Georgian mafia-style criminal organization known as “Thieves in law”, must serve a 21-year prison sentence in Italy, having acted as an insider in the murder of Tchuradze Revaz, a fellow countryman murdered in Bari on 6.01.2012, which arose from a violent clash between Georgian clans for the control of sectors of the legal business. Investigations carried out, at the time of the facts, by the Public Prosecutor's Office and the Flying Squad of Bari.

Capture and extradition

The tracking activities of the fugitive abroad, conducted by the Service for International Police Cooperation of the Central Directorate of Criminal Police, led to the discovery of the new identity adopted by the fugitive to escape Italian justice. After fleeing to Georgia, in 2017 the woman had entered into a fictitious marriage with a Georgian citizen, changing her surname and obtaining a new passport. Thanks to this false identity, she had moved to Turkey, from where she sent money to Georgia.

Despite the numerous stratagems put in place, the excellent investigative work conducted by SCIP in close collaboration with the Bari Flying Squad and the Turkish police forces allowed her to be tracked down and brought to justice. Coordination with the Italian Security Expert in Turkey and the support of the Italian Ministry of Justice in the context of diplomatic activities were also crucial.