Italian mobster Gianfranco Seda arrested after flight from Sofia

Gianfranco Seda, an 83-year-old Italian mobster linked to the Nuova Mala del Brenta criminal organization, was arrested at Rimini Federico Fellini Airport on August 10. His arrest occurred immediately upon his arrival on a flight from Sofia, Bulgaria.

Seda had been under house arrest at a residential facility for the elderly in the province of Rovigo. He fled the facility on August 4, initially traveling to Bulgaria by bus. Italian authorities had been monitoring his movements and intercepted him as he attempted to return to Italy.

Seda has a long criminal history, including a 2022 conviction for a violent robbery in Pordenone. He has previously evaded authorities, including an incident in Greece in 2023. Investigators have noted his historical connection to Bulgaria, as he was previously investigated by Venetian prosecutors for his alleged role in international heroin trafficking between Bulgaria and Italy.