Naples - Italian police say they have arrested an influential mafia boss in the southern city of Naples.

They say Luigi Esposito - who is on the list of Italy's 30 most wanted men - was held at a luxury villa in the city.

He is believed to be one of the heads of the Nuvoletta clan of the Camorra, which operates in the Naples region.

He had been on the run since 2003. He was sentenced to nine years is prison for drug trafficking and associating with mafia in 2006.

Mr Esposito, aged 49, is the latest in a string of senior mafia bosses held recently in southern Italy.

Last week, three brothers of the Camorra's Russo clan were arrested near Naples.

Interior Minister Roberto Maroni described their arrest as "a heavy blow for the Camorra".

The Camorra is believed to have about 5,000 members.