An escaped remand prisoner has been captured after spending 17 years on the run.

Italian Guiseppe Roncari was arrested in the United States earlier this week and extradited to Bermuda on Tuesday.

He was last seen on the Island in June 1981, after his arrest for allegedly importing cocaine intended for supply.

Roncari was 26 when he was caught and spent several months on remand until escaping.

It is understood he was captured in New York after coming to the attention of the authorities there, who discovered he had an outstanding warrant for his arrest in Bermuda.

The details of his apprehension in the US are not yet fully known.

It is believed he has business interests there and employs a number of people.

He appeared in the Supreme Court yesterday and will be arraigned on December 1. No charges were put to him and he was remanded in custody until the hearing.

At the short hearing, Brian Calhoun appeared for the Attorney General's chambers and Richard Hector appeared for Roncari in the abscence of Mark Pettingill.

Roncari, from New York, was originally arrested on March 15, 1981 and charged with possession and importing cocaine intended for supply.

He first appeared in court two days later and was committed for trial in the Supreme Court on June 1.

His escape came ten days later when he was one of five prisoners on a trip to a dental practice at Mangrove Bay, Somerset from Casemates prison at Dockyard.

He made his bid for freedom at the clinic and despite Police roadblocks, he disappeared.

A manhunt was launched and checks were made at the airport and on cruise ships.

Prison clothing was found near Somerset Bridge but the only reported sighting was on South Shore Road, Warwick. A Prison Officer who was on duty during the incident was later disciplined.

But Roncari, who it was thought at the time may have worked on the cruise ship Oceanic , slipped the net and fled the Island -- until this week.

Guiseppe Roncari