Mafia suspect arrested for videos on networks 0:42
(CNN) -
A suspected Italian mob fugitive who had been on the run since 2014 was arrested by police in the Dominican Republic thanks to his hobby as a YouTube chef.
Marc Feren Claude Biart, 53, a suspected member of the 'Ndrangheta mafia organization, arrived in Milan, Italy, on Monday after his arrest on March 24, according to a statement from Italy's financial police.
Biart has Italian and Dutch nationality and is charged with drug trafficking for the Cacciola de la 'Ndrangheta clan between Italy and the Netherlands, Italy's national gendarmerie said.
Biart was arrested in the Dominican Republic.
Biart led a quiet life in the tourist destination Boca Chica in the Dominican Republic, not far from the country's capital, Santo Domingo, according to police.
In Boca Chica he was known simply as Marc, and he was cautious, according to police.
However, police claim that Biart posted videos on YouTube cooking Italian recipes with his wife.
While the videos never showed his face, investigators say they were able to recognize Biart from his tattoos.
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"His fondness for Italian cuisine allowed (the police) to follow his tracks on the web and social media, while his fondness for tattoos allowed them to recognize the fugitive as that cook," the statement said.
Investigators say they recognized Biart's tattoos from videos posted on YouTube.
Biart, born in Rome, was detained by Interpol agents and flown to Milan.
Biart had previously lived in Costa Rica and moved to the Dominican Republic about five years ago, police said.
CNN has not been able to reach his attorneys.
His arrest is part of the Interpol Cooperation Against 'Ndrangheta (I-CAN) project, involving 10 countries from around the world.
The project is funded by Italy and led by Interpol.
The 'Ndrangheta is present in at least 32 countries, 17 of them in Europe, according to prefect Vittorio Rizzi, deputy director general of Public Security and central director of the Italian Criminal Police, told CNN.
Rizzi described Biart as "one of the most dangerous fugitives from the 'Ndrangheta."
Biart arrived in Milan on Monday.
The 'Ndrangheta comes from Calabria, in southern Italy.
Authorities say the criminal organization has used money laundering and drug trafficking to become the most powerful mafia group in the country, controlling roughly 80% of the cocaine entering Europe.
Following Biart's arrest, Italy's financial police emphasized the organization's reach.
"This is an operational success that demonstrates once again that the 'Ndrangheta is not a Calabrian or Italian pandemic, but represents a serious international threat," the statement said.
In January, more than 320 suspected members of the 'Ndrangheta clan appeared in court on charges of extortion, drug trafficking and robbery, in one of the largest mafia trials in Italian history.
CNN's Antonia Mortensen contributed to this report.
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