A Mafia boss has been arrested in London after nearly two decades on the run.
Domenico Rancadore, who is wanted by the Italian authorities, was held by the Metropolitan Police yesterday, sources said.
He was sentenced to seven years in his absence for links to the Mafia group Cosa Nostra, and is expected to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court later today.
According to Italian media, Rancadore was running a travel agency while living in the capital and had married an English woman. It is understood that he ran Trabia, near Palermo in Sicily, for the Mafia.
Scotland Yard confirmed that Rancadore, 64, was arrested at 7pm yesterday by the force's extradition unit.
A spokesman said: "Officers from the Metropolitan Police Service extradition unit arrested Domenico Rancadore on a European arrest warrant alleging that he has an outstanding sentence of seven years imprisonment to serve for participation in Mafia association between December 17 1987 and April 13 1995 in Palermo, Italy.
"He was taken into police custody and is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court today."