Mazzarella boss arrested: Del Prete discovered in a false bottom closet in Forcella

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Mafia Boss Giuseppe Del Prete Caught Hiding in the False Bottom of a Forked Wardrobe 2026 09 30

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Naples – His time on the run ended at dawn, in the heart of the territory he considered his kingdom. Giuseppe Del Prete, seriously suspected of being a top figure and a relentless organizer of the Mazzarella clan, was arrested by the Carabinieri of the Operational Unit of the Napoli Stella Company.

For months, he had managed to evade the restrictive measure issued on March 3rd, becoming a ghost to investigators. But his daring escape was dashed against a wooden wall: officers found him curled up in a cleverly created space inside a closet equipped with a sophisticated false bottom system in his home in the Forcella neighborhood.

The criminal network and its role in the Mazzarella family

The investigation, coordinated by the Public Prosecutor's Office and delegated to the Naples Flying Squad, has drawn a disturbing map of the criminal organization's operations since 2020. The geo-criminal area under the clan's suffocating control extended well beyond Forcella, encompassing key areas such as La Maddalena, Tribunali, Mercato, San Gaetano, and Case Nuove.

In this complex network of drug dealing and extortion hubs, Del Prete held key roles. According to the preliminary indictment, he acted as an organizer, interacting directly with the cartel's leaders—part of the broader Giuliano-Ferraiuolo-Mazzarella conspiracy—and actively participating in crucial meetings for the division of shares and the management of illicit business.

The repentant's statements and the investigative breakthrough

The impetus and solidity of the prosecution's case were provided by key statements made by justice collaborator Salvatore Giuliano, known as "'o Russ," supported by a massive and extensive wiretapping effort. Wiretaps and field investigations, begun in May 2021, have allowed a detailed reconstruction of Del Prete's criminal career within the organization. From systematic extortion to international and local drug trafficking, the boss's name has emerged as the operational linchpin and direct contact of the clan's historic leaders.

Today's operation represents a severe blow to the balance of power within Neapolitan organized crime. Since it was ordered during the preliminary investigation phase, the individuals involved remain subject to proceedings and are therefore presumed innocent until a final conviction is handed down. However, for Del Prete, his time as a fugitive and in hiding has officially come to an end.