Naples - The investigation into the kidnapping that rocked San Giorgio a Cremano on April 8, 2025, has concluded with two new arrests. Officers from the Naples Flying Squad have executed a pre-trial detention order, signed by investigating judge Fabrizia Fiore, against Renato Franco, 28, and his cousin Giovanni Franco, 25, accused of being part of the gang that kidnapped the 15-year-old son of a car wash owner for ransom.
The operation, coordinated by the Naples Flying Squad and the Guardia di Finanza's PEF Unit, brought to a close months of intensive investigations that reconstructed every detail of the incident. The third member of the gang, Amaral Pacheco De Oliveira, 25, had already been arrested the same day as the kidnapping thanks to monitoring communications between the kidnappers and the victim's father.
The blitz with the masks
According to the investigation, the young man was abducted violently in broad daylight. The commando acted with determination: Mattia Maddaluno was literally dragged into a van, while Giovanni Franco brandished a gun to intimidate witnesses.
The kidnappers wore masks to avoid being recognized. Renato Franco, believed to have organized the kidnapping, monitored the operation remotely to ensure everything was proceeding according to plan.
The boy was held captive for several hours, tied up in the dark and wearing a hood. Only after ransom negotiations was he released near the Licola junction on the Naples ring road.
The arrest of the first kidnapper
The breakthrough came thanks to wiretaps. Investigators identified the kidnappers' meeting point near a hotel in Pozzuoli and blocked Amaral Pacheco De OliveiraThe man had in his pocket the cell phone he had used to contact the 15-year-old's father and demand the ransom, the same phone he used to communicate with his accomplices.
Subsequent investigations documented Renato Franco's attempts to buy Amaral Pacheco De Oliveira's silence: the kidnapping organizer allegedly handed over money to the arrested man's partner and paid his legal fees.
Links to organized crime
Investigators have reconstructed the connections between the Francos and local organized crime circles. Renato Franco appears to be linked to the Attanasio clan, while judicial police records reveal that he frequented individuals linked to the Aprea-Cuccaro clans. Giovanni Franco also maintained contacts with members of the Attanasio clan.
The precautionary order emphasizes the "brutality" with which the crime was committed and the "cold-bloodedness" displayed by the suspects, who have shown no remorse. The investigation has also uncovered other illicit activities: extortion demands accompanied by implicit threats regarding connections with local clans, and invoicing for non-existent transactions, most likely aimed at money laundering.
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Comments (3)
Reports like this are always shocking; something like this should never happen. Better solutions should be found to protect citizens, especially the youngest.
This is a very sensitive issue, and it amazes me how people can get this far. I hope law enforcement can put an end to these crimes; safety is essential for all of us.
The article is very informative, but I find it too complicated and confusing. The investigation appears to be complex, and the situation is very serious. Let's hope justice is served.