Casalesi boss Donadio arrested in Vicenza after being on the run

The Venice Flying Squad has arrested 60-year-old Luciano Donadio, a boss of the Casalesi clan, in Vicenza, just three days after he evaded capture. The man, believed to be at the top of the clan's branch rooted in eastern Veneto, was wanted following restrictive measures issued by the Venice General Prosecutor's Office.

The investigation, supported by wiretapping activities and conducted with the assistance of the Central Operational Service and the Caserta Flying Squad, led to his location in areas within the jurisdiction of the Vicenza prison. Donadio, who was in contact with his closest relatives, reportedly intended to turn himself in at that very prison, where one of his sons is being held.

The boss, already sentenced on appeal in June 2025 to 30 years in prison, was taken in coordination with the Penitentiary Police to State Police facilities and will be incarcerated in Vicenza.

The Casalesi are one of the most powerful clans of the Camorra, the Campanian criminal organization, originating from the area of Casal di Principe in the province of Caserta. Their expansion over the years has seen them become entrenched even in regions of Northern Italy, including Veneto, where they control illicit activities and infiltrate the legal economy.

Luciano Donadio led the operational cell in eastern Veneto, particularly in the area of Eraclea (Venice). His life as a fugitive began after the Venice Court of Appeal, in June 2025, confirmed a 30-year prison sentence for him and 23 other defendants, likely for mafia association, extortion, and other crimes typical of Camorra infiltration.

His escape three days ago, together with an Albanian accomplice, triggered a manhunt that culminated with his arrest near the Vicenza prison, a choice that suggests an attempt to manage his surrender to remain close to his imprisoned son. This arrest represents a significant blow to the clan's operational structure in the Northeast.