Italian drug fugitive arrested in Spain

An Italian woman who has been on the run from 20-year prison sentence for being involved in European drug traffic, was arrested by police of Spain, authorities said.

The 57-year-woman, identified only as Loredana Ida M. F., was convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison in Grasse, France, for her alleged part in a drug trafficking ring that operated in several European countries and South America.

She fled France before her prison term was to have begun in February of last year, and an international arrest warrant was issued. She was arrested in Madrid sometime in the past few weeks, the National Police said in a statement.

Using a surveillance system that allows investigators to monitor the names of people who buy or rent housing in Madrid, police were able to locate and arrest the fugitive a few weeks after they began searching for her on March 21, the police said.

The woman appeared before a Spanish judge pending extradition proceedings to France.