An Australian citizen on the run from Italian police for seven years over alleged mafia-related drug trafficking has been arrested in Bali.

Antonio Strangio, 32, was arrested at Bali's international airport last week after stepping off a flight from Bangkok to transit to Australia where he has been living in Adelaide since 2016.

His presence at Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport triggered an Interpol 'red notice' global arrest warrant over the alleged intended sale of 160kg of marijuana in Italy in 2014 as an associate of the notorious 'Ndrangheta mafia clan.

Australian citizen Antonio Strangio (pictured right) has been arrested in Bali over Mafia-related drug trafficking in Italy

An arrest warrant was issued for Strangio in 2015 as part of a wider anti-mafia operation. 

Strangio is being held by Indonesian authorities and faces extradition to Rome, where he could face up to 30 years in prison if found guilty.

According to a report in Italian newspaper La Repubblica, police in southern Italy knew of Strangio's whereabouts and had even warned him they were keeping tabs on him.

However, Strangio reportedly felt safe because of his Australia citizenship. 

Although he was born in the southern Italian region of Calabria, Strangio is an Australian citizen by descent.

Strangio (pictured centre right) has been on the run from Italian police for seven years, which he has spent living in Adelaide

He applied for and was granted citizenship in 2011 and was travelling on an Australian passport when captured, Indonesian police said on Wednesday. 

Strangio has been working as a construction contractor and his address was listed at Norton Summit in the Adelaide Hills.

He is believed to have family in Adelaide. 

Police said Strangio had been 'co-operative' and had admitted he was the person the Italian police had issued the warrant for but denied any involvement with drug trafficking. 

Australian consular officials have been liaising with Indonesian police over the arrest.

A spokesman for the Australian Federal Police said Strangio's 'arrest' was 'a matter for authorities in Italy and Indonesia'.

 Italian prime minister Georgia Meloni (pictured) welcomed Strangio's arrest as part of a crackdown on the notorious 'Ndrangheta mafia

Italian prime minister Georgia Meloni said Strangio's arrest was the third apprehension in a few days of prominent 'Ndrangheta members and congratulated Italian police.

In June 2022 it was reported that Australian police had identified more than 5000 Italian mafia members operating in Australia using AN0M, a Trojan horse app the underworld was tricked into using.

The resulting Operation Ironside led to police investigating 51 Italian organised crime clans in Australia, including 14 from the Calabrian 'Ndrangheta.

The 'Ndrangheta are believed to be responsible for trafficking 70 per cent of the world's cocaine and in Australia they have also been linked to cannabis and methamphetamine trafficking. 

Who are the notorious 'Ndrangheta Mafia of Italy?

The 'Ndrangheta are a secretive organised crime syndicate that comes from the southern peninsula region of Calabria, which is the toe of Italy's 'boot' on maps.

Members of the 'Ndrangheta join autonomous clans, which number at least 100 and have strong blood ties. Worldwide membership is estimated at 10,000.

Police consider the 'Ndrangheta to be one of the world's richest and most powerful criminal organisations.

Their partnerships with South American drug cartels give them control of around 70 per cent of the world's cocaine trade with annual income estimated to be about $80billion.

Besides drug-trafficking, the 'Ndrangheta members are involved with extortion and money laundering. 

They pride themselves of being inconspicuous and displays of wealth are frowned on as they draw the attention of authorities.

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