Francesco Pelle
{{Short description|Italian mobster (born 1977)}}
{{Infobox criminal
| name = Francesco Pelle
| image = File:Mugshot of Francesco Pelle.jpg
| imagesize = 150px
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1977|2|4|df=yes}}
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality = Italian
| allegiance = Pelle 'ndrina / 'Ndrangheta
| parents = Domenico Pelle
| relatives =
| criminal_status = Imprisoned
}}
Francesco Pelle ({{IPA|it|franˈtʃesko ˈpɛlle}}; born 4 February 1977), nicknamed Ciccio Pakistan, is an Italian mobster belonging to the Pelle 'ndrina of the 'Ndrangheta in Calabria. Until his arrest in 2021, Pelle was considered to be one of the most dangerous and wanted fugitives in Italy.{{Cite web|url=http://www.interno.gov.it/it/ministero/dipartimenti/dipartimento-pubblica-sicurezza/direzione-centrale-polizia-criminale/direzione-centrale-polizia-criminale-elenco-dei-latitanti-massima-pericolosita|title=Direzione centrale della Polizia Criminale - Elenco dei latitanti di massima pericolosità|website=Ministero dell‘Interno|accessdate=2020-11-13}}
Biography
Pelle is the son of Domenico Pelle known as Micu 'U Mata, according to investigators, Ciccio Pakistan was the protagonist in the San Luca feud, the war between the Pelle-Vottari against the Nirta-Strangio.{{Cite web|url=https://larivieraonline.com/san-luca-padre-di-francesco-pelle-assolto-dal-reato-di-associazione-mafiosa|title=San Luca: Padre di Francesco Pelle assolto dal reato di associazione mafiosa|website=Riviera Web|date=2019-07-20|accessdate=2020-11-13}}{{dead link|date=December 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{Cite web|url=https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2020/06/12/ciccio-pakistan-il-boss-latitante-a-milanoMilano09.html|title=Ciccio Pakistan il boss latitante a Milano - la Repubblica.it|website=Archivio - la Repubblica.it|date=12 June 2020 |accessdate=2020-11-13}} Pelle is accused of having ordered the Maria Strangio's murder, who fell shot dead by the Pelle-Vottari killers in 2006 Christmas shooting, whose target was the husband Giovanni Luca Nirta, head of the rival 'ndrina who survived the attack. It would be a response to the ambush, which occurred in July earlier, on the day of his son's birth, due to which he is confined to a wheelchair due to a gunshot wound to the back. Revenge of the Nirta came in 2007 during the Duisburg massacre, where six people believed to be close to the Pelle were killed.{{Cite web|url=https://www.milanotoday.it/cronaca/latitante-boss-francesco-pelle.html|title=Milano, sparito il boss Francesco Pelle: 'Ciccio Pakistan' (di nuovo) latitante dopo l'ergastolo|website=MilanoToday|accessdate=2020-11-13}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.unitremilano.it/707/cronaca/boss-francesco-pelle-nuovamente-latitante-dopo-lergastolo.html|title=Boss Francesco Pelle: nuovamente latitante dopo l'ergastolo|author=Giusy Pirosa|website=UNITREMILANO|date=2019-07-21|language=it-IT|accessdate=2020-11-13}}
Capture and aftermath
In 2008, Pelle was arrested in a hospital in Pavia. Then in 2014, he was sentenced to life in prison. In 2018, Ciccio Pakistan was released from prison and was subjected to the obligation of residence in Milan pending the sentence, but following the confirmation of the life sentence he becomes a fugitive again.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2019/07/21/ndrangheta-boss-di-san-luca-francesco-pelle-scomparso-dopo-la-conferma-dellergastolo/5340457/|title='Ndrangheta, boss di San Luca Francesco Pelle scomparso dopo la conferma dell'ergastolo|website=Il Fatto Quotidiano|date=2019-07-21|accessdate=2020-11-13}} In March 2021, he was recaptured at a hospital in Lisbon, Portugal, where he was receiving treatment for COVID-19, {{Cite web|title=Italian mobster Francesco Pelle arrested at Portuguese COVID clinic after two years on the run|url=https://news.sky.com/story/italian-mobster-francesco-pelle-arrested-at-portuguese-covid-clinic-after-two-years-on-the-run-12260484|access-date=2021-03-30|website=Sky News|language=en}} and then was extradited to Italy in September.