Powerful mafia boss, Matteo Messina Denaro's sister is arrested in Sicilian raid Police say they have never been closer to catching elusive crime kingpin Matteo Messina Denaro, 50, became known as the 'Playboy Boss' His sister Patrizia was arrested along with other family members in Sicily With his sister Patrizia Messina Denaro (pictured) arrested today, police say that they have never been closer to catching mafia boss Matteo Messina Denaro Close family members of the Sicilian Mafia's fugitive 'boss of bosses' have been arrested with police saying they are closing in on the kingpin. Police hunting Matteo Messina Denaro, who runs Sicily's Cosa Nostra operation arrested his sister Patrizia, his nephew and two cousins. Investigators called Friday's pre-dawn sweep a major step in their quest to capture Messina Denaro, who has been at large since 1993. The capture of other Mafia fugitives has now left the kingpin as the top Cosa Nostra figure being sought. Carabinieri commander Mario Parente said: 'We have never come as close to Matteo Messina Denaro as today.' In total, police said around 30 people were arrested around Trapani in the west of the Italian island in a major operation that they called a 'hard blow' to the Mafia leadership around the fugitive boss. Police also say they have confiscated more than £5million worth of property believed to belong to the missing crime boss and his family. Mario Messina Denaro (left) cousin of the mafia boss and (right) his nephew Francesco Guttaduro were also arrested in the dawn raid Messina Denaro, 50, who was once known as the 'Playboy Boss' because of his love of fast cars, women and gold watches, has been a fugitive since 1993. He has been running the crime group since the arrest in 2006 of Bernardo Provenzano after nearly four decades as a fugitive. Patrizia Messina Denaro is arrested by Sicilian special police Police said they believed Messina Denaro's 43-year-old sister and other arrested family members maintained contact with the boss and helped him run the crime syndicate. The arrested were accused of belonging to a criminal group and extortion related to the control of a number of construction companies in Sicily. A computer generated image released by Italian Police of Mafia top boss contender Matteo Messina Denaro