Croatia arrests ex-mafia member sought by Italy

Croatian police said Wednesday they have arrested a former member of a mafia group sought by Italy, where he was convicted for drugs trafficking.

The 72-year-old man was arrested in the capital Zagreb on Monday on a European arrest warrant issued by Italy, where he is to serve a 10-year jail term, an interior ministry statement said.

The man was convicted as a "member of a criminal organisation and ... for trafficking of larger quantities of heroine and cocaine." State-run HRT television identified the man arrested as Claudio D'Este, formerly a member of the powerful Venice-based Mala del Brenta mafia group.

He lived in Zagreb for more than a decade, HRT reported.