Italian police create profile of fugitive

ROME, July 1 (UPI) -- Italian police hunting a Mafia boss on the run since 1993 say they have reconstructed a genetic DNA profile of the fugitive.

The profile of Matteo Messina Denaro, the so-called Godfather of Trapani, was assembled from evidence, including hair, obtained from Denaro's brothers without their knowledge, ANSA reported Thursday.

The profile is considered a major breakthrough because the 47-year-old Denaro has never been arrested and fingerprints from his time in the military have long since been destroyed, ANSA said.

Denaro built his power base in western Sicily and, as head of the Cosa Nostra, is suspected of trying to expand his criminal empire abroad. Police say they've found evidence of trips to Austria, Greece, Spain and Tunisia.

Italian authorities have been conducting a "scorched earth" strategy for more than a year to try and flush Denaro out, arresting scores of his underlings and seizing million of euros in assets, ANSA reported.