Mafia kingpin amongst Italy’s ‘most harmful fugitives’ arrested at luxurious resort
Roberto Mazzarella, one of Italy’s four most dangerous fugitives, has been arrested at a luxury resort after more than a year on the run – he was wanted for mafia-style murder
Roberto Mazzarella was arrested(Image: EPA)
A mafia kingpin wanted for murder who had been on the run for more than a year has been captured, Italian police have announced. Fugitive Roberto Mazzarella, one of the nation’s four most dangerous wanted men, was seized after police stormed a luxury resort in Vietri sul Mare (Salerno).
He had been hiding at the resort using a fake identity alongside his wife and children. Mazzarella, 48, was chief of the eponymous clan, which holds sway in Naples and its surrounding province.
Italian press agency ANSA reported: “Mazzarella had been wanted since 28 January, 2025, when an arrest warrant was issued for aggravated mafia-style murder. He was believed to have ordered and carried out the death of Antonio Maione, murdered in a Naples delicatessen on 15 December, 2000, as part of a clan-wide vendetta.
“His only crime was being the brother of the hitman who killed Salvatore Mazzarella, Roberto’s father.”
Police found three luxury watches, about €20,000, some false documents, and mobile phones at the resort after their raid at the luxury resort. Last month, the force also detained 16 people allegedly linked to the Mazzarella clan on charges of cyber fraud, BBC reported.
The documents seized will now be subjected to a series of investigations that could provide investigators with useful information to reconstruct the clan’s dynamics, ANSA reported.
The 48-year-old was an influent figure within the Camorra organised crime group in Naples, and was listed as one of Italy’s most dangerous fugitives.
His clan is famed for its involvement in counterfeiting in Naples, which has long been associated with banknote forgery, BBC also added.
Carabinieri’s General Commander, Salvatore Luongo, told the officers involved in the operation: “I can only tell you that I am proud of Carabinieri like you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Chiara Colosimo, president of the Parliamentary Anti-Mafia Commission, described the arrest as “a very significant achievement in the fight against organized crime”.
