Italians Fugitives On Top List in Costa Rica
Costa Rica is not a haven only for Americans running away from justice, but according to the International Police - Interpol - Italians are on the top list of fugitives who come to Costa Rica to get away from the law in places like Rome, Bergamo, Milan, and Turin.

Interpol says that they receive on average one request per month for Italian fugitives and the flow to Costa Rica is constant.

"Not only are we asked to locate them, but also for their telephone numbers and bank account information, including that of their companies", said an Interpol agent.

Between 2002 and 2007, Interpol located ten Italians in Costa Rica wanted for fraud, robbery and drug trafficking.

The case of Dominick Curra, captured in La Sabana in March of 2002, is more notable than the others.

Curra was identified by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as an accountant for the New York mafia boss John Gotti. In Costa Rica, Curra was tied to a sports book operation.

When fugitives are located and apprehended in Costa Rica, deporting them is not always an easy task, according to Costa Rican immigration director, Mario Zamora.

In Italy, the judicial process continues even though the person is not on Italian soil. This is done because many of those accused of mafia activities disappeared after their initial arrest.

In contrast, in Costa Rica a person cannot be tried "in absentia" and that condition has caused the country to become a base for fugitives who ask Costa Rican authorities that the handing over to Italian authorities on the condition that they are given a new trial.

In absentia is Latin for "in the absence." In legal use it usually pertains to a defendant's right to be present in court proceedings

"That would be like trying a person twice for the same crime.. which is not possible", said the Costa Rican immigration director.

In a number of cases Costa Rica has had to use irregularities with their immigration status in Costa Rica as way of sending off the Italians by way of deportation rather than extradition.

One such case is that of Elio Migliori, who was detained by Interpol agents in Mal Pais, Cóbano. Migliori owned a local pizzeria since 2005. Migliori was wanted in Italy for drug trafficiking. Migliori, though he entered Costa Rica legally, his permanence in the country was not, and subject to deportation.

The latest is the case of Gabrio Cappelli, owner of a security company in San José, who was captured two weeks ago whose deportation was supported by the Sala Constitucional (Constitutional COurt). Cappelli was wanted Italy for fraudulent bankruptcy.

In the Cappelli case, the fugitive entered Costa Rica with a false Spanish passport and was married to a Costa Rican citizen, a way that many fugitives believe can legitimize their immigration status.

Although many of the Italian fugitives, as fugitives from other countries as well, prefer to maintain a low profile, living in tourist areas and some even establishing businesses there, others prefer to make alliances.

Following is a list of Italians who left their mark on Costa Rica:

- Gabrio Capelli - 18 May 2007, fraudulent bankruptcy

- Giuseppe Conti - 16 June 2006, robbery, money laundering, fraud

- Manuel Zarantin - 7 September 2005, drug trafficking

- Elio Migliori- 26 April  2005, drug trafficking

- Daniel Zanella - 23 March 2004, drug trafficking

- Ilvo Usai - 11 May 2004, fraudulent bankruptcy

- Giovanni Ferrari - 25 September 2003, drug trafficking

- Mauricio Perna - 25 September 2003, drug trafficking

- Igor Simmi - 4 July 2003, drug trafficking

- Dominick Curra - 12 March 2002, fraud