Venezuela has detained an Italian drug lord, one of the five most wanted men by the Interpol in Europe, Venezuela's Interior and Justice Ministry said on Sunday.

"The Corps of Scientific, Penal and Criminal Investigation (CICPC) detained on Saturday night Italian citizen Salvatore Miceli," Minister Tarek El Alssami told state-owned Venezolana de Television (VTV).

Miceli, 63, has been wanted in Italy on drug trafficking charges since 2001.

"He is one of the five most wanted men in Europe for trafficking heroin, morphine and cocaine," Aissami said.

He did not give details of Miceli's capture, but said the capture "was done due to many intelligence works."

According to the minister, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has ordered Miceli's deportation to Italy, but did not mention when this would happen.

Source: Xinhua