Uploaded March 2023 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
A Mafia boss made a daring escape from a maximum-security prison by climbing down a rope ladder made from bed sheets — becoming the first inmate to ever escape prison on an island in the Mediterranean. Let me tell you about it.
The Mob Reporter here with news of Marco Raduano, an Italian Mafia boss who escaped while awaiting trial on murder charges. His escape from Badu 'e Carros, an old-school prison on the island of Sardinia, in the Mediterranean Sea, was on Feb. 24, 2023. Raduano, 39, nicknamed “Pallone,” is man of Sacra Corona Unita, a crime group in southern Italy’s Apulia region. It’s often called the “fourth Mafia,” because it is similar in form to the older and better-known Italian Mafias — the Cosa Nostra of Sicily, ‘Ndrangheta of Calabria and Camorra of Napoli.
Raduano worked in the prison library and spent much of his time watching the movement of guards, memorizing their routine, and planning his break down to the smallest detail. He somehow had a key that got to him out of the maximum-security wing. The rope ladder was made from knotted sheets and was tied down at the top with supports that could sustain his weight. He likely had help inside. On the big day, he presented at the afternoon headcount. He then took advantage of staffing shortages that left the security cameras on the walls completely unmonitored, officials say. So, while the cameras caught the escape, providing this footage, it wasn’t seen until after it was too late. Once in the prison courtyard, he climbed a perimeter fence and likely had someone meeting outside to whisk him away. He had a two-hour head start before guards realized he was gone.
There are calls for immediate fixes at Italy’s prisons. The guards’ union says prison staff across Italy has been reduced by several thousands, including removing sentries from prison walls. Raduano’s base was in Vieste, a picturesque coastal town in an abundantly beautiful area, surrounded by a huge national park.
CREDITS:
Music is Forget Me Not by Patrick Patrikios // Cover by Patrick Patrikios;
Map animations created using Google Earth Studio; Prison fences from Google Street View; Prison exterior video by Telesardegna;
Fireworks by MotionDigitial at Videvo; Police car video by Kindel Media, Fireworks Display At Night by Pixabay, Talking to media by Werner Pfennig, Convicts along wall by Ron Lach, security camera by cottonbro studio all from Pexels;
Vieste beach by Samuele Wikipediano 1348 at Italian Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=107740583; Viesta from sea by Anczlu - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21512082; Coastal erosion by LucaLuca - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2639457
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• Crime in Italy: youtube.com/CrimeInItaly
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Please watch: "Genius jewel heist wrecked by sloppy mistakes": youtu.be/KkEk0k0d_7Y
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A Mafia boss made a daring escape from a maximum-security prison by climbing down a rope ladder made from bed sheets — becoming the first inmate to ever escape prison on an island in the Mediterranean. Let me tell you about it.
The Mob Reporter here with news of Marco Raduano, an Italian Mafia boss who escaped while awaiting trial on murder charges. His escape from Badu 'e Carros, an old-school prison on the island of Sardinia, in the Mediterranean Sea, was on Feb. 24, 2023. Raduano, 39, nicknamed “Pallone,” is man of Sacra Corona Unita, a crime group in southern Italy’s Apulia region. It’s often called the “fourth Mafia,” because it is similar in form to the older and better-known Italian Mafias — the Cosa Nostra of Sicily, ‘Ndrangheta of Calabria and Camorra of Napoli.
Raduano worked in the prison library and spent much of his time watching the movement of guards, memorizing their routine, and planning his break down to the smallest detail. He somehow had a key that got to him out of the maximum-security wing. The rope ladder was made from knotted sheets and was tied down at the top with supports that could sustain his weight. He likely had help inside. On the big day, he presented at the afternoon headcount. He then took advantage of staffing shortages that left the security cameras on the walls completely unmonitored, officials say. So, while the cameras caught the escape, providing this footage, it wasn’t seen until after it was too late. Once in the prison courtyard, he climbed a perimeter fence and likely had someone meeting outside to whisk him away. He had a two-hour head start before guards realized he was gone.
There are calls for immediate fixes at Italy’s prisons. The guards’ union says prison staff across Italy has been reduced by several thousands, including removing sentries from prison walls. Raduano’s base was in Vieste, a picturesque coastal town in an abundantly beautiful area, surrounded by a huge national park.
CREDITS:
Music is Forget Me Not by Patrick Patrikios // Cover by Patrick Patrikios;
Map animations created using Google Earth Studio; Prison fences from Google Street View; Prison exterior video by Telesardegna;
Fireworks by MotionDigitial at Videvo; Police car video by Kindel Media, Fireworks Display At Night by Pixabay, Talking to media by Werner Pfennig, Convicts along wall by Ron Lach, security camera by cottonbro studio all from Pexels;
Vieste beach by Samuele Wikipediano 1348 at Italian Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=107740583; Viesta from sea by Anczlu - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21512082; Coastal erosion by LucaLuca - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2639457
~ The Mob Reporter is a professional journalist bringing you real-life mob, police and true crime news and educational videos.
~ PLEASE SUBSCRIBE: youtube.com/user/themobreporter?sub_confirmation=1
~ Please subscribe to my other channels:
• Crime Watch: youtube.com/CrimeWatchWorld
• Crime in Italy: youtube.com/CrimeInItaly
~ To read my written journalism: nationalpost.com/author/ahumphreys
Please like, share, comment and subscribe.
Thanks for watching!
-~-~~-~~~-~~-~-
Please watch: "Genius jewel heist wrecked by sloppy mistakes": youtu.be/KkEk0k0d_7Y
-~-~~-~~~-~~-~-
