Pasquale Condello

Pasquale Condello
Mugshot of Pasquale Condello taken after his arrest in February 2008
Born	(1950-09-24) 24 September 1950 (age 66) Reggio Calabria, Italy
Nationality	Italian
Other names	Il supremo
Allegiance	'Ndrangheta

Pasquale Condello (born 24 September 1950) is an Italian criminal known as a member of the 'Ndrangheta. He is also known as "Il supremo" ("the supreme one") for his role at the top of the crime syndicate. He was a fugitive since 1990 and included in the list of most wanted fugitives in Italy until his capture in February 2008. Investigators called him the "Provenzano of Calabria" – a reference to Bernardo Provenzano, the Sicilian "boss of bosses" who was arrested in 2006 after some 40 years as a fugitive.

Initially Condello was aligned with Paolo De Stefano, the undisputed boss of Reggio Calabria, who was the best man at his wedding.

Condello was probably involved in the killing of the historical and charismatic 'Ndrangheta boss Antonio Macrì from Siderno – who tried to stop the crime syndicate drifting into kidnapping and drug running and opposed the establishment of the Santa – on 20 January 1975. According to a state witness, Condello was one of his 'executioners'. The murder unleashed the First 'Ndrangheta war that cost some 300 lives, including Domenico Tripodo, the historical boss of Reggio. At the end of the conflict De Stefano was the new leader of Reggio Calabria 'Ndrangheta.

A second 'Ndrangheta war was triggered by the marriage between Giuseppina Condello – the sister of the Condello brothers, underbosses of De Stefano – and Antonio Imerti, the leader of a neighbouring 'ndrina in Villa San Giovanni. The conflict exploded in 1985, two years after the marriage and saw practically all the ‘ndrine in the city of Reggio Calabria grouped into either one of two opposing factions. De Stefano had become fearful of the new alliance that might challenge his power base. A failed attempt on Antonio Imerti triggered the murder of Paolo De Stefano on 13 October 1985. His brothers Paolo and Domenico Condello were arrested in January 1988 for killing De Stefano, for which Pasquale has been charged as well.