Italian mafia boss Sebastiano Brunno has finally been extradited to Italy after being held for months in Malta.

Brunno, 58, was arrested in St Paul’s Bay on 2 October 2014. He had been on the run since 2009 and was considered by Italy as a dangerous fugitive.

News website LaSicilia.it reported that Brunno landed at Rome’s Fiumicino airport at 2pm yesterday aboard an Alitalia flight. He was accompanied by Interpol agents on the flight and handed over to the Italian police on arrival.

Brunno, considered the ‘regent’ of the Nardo clan, will be serving a life sentence for murder and mafia-related crimes. Once the formalities are over he will be transferred to the prison of Rebibbia in Rome.

Mr Brunno was arrested in an operation by Italian and Maltese police officers. When he was stopped he had produced a fake Italian ID card. Officers had also found €1,500 in cash and a mobile phone with a Maltese sim card.

The mafioso had filed and lost an appeal against his extradition. He then launched a constitutional case, insisting that Italy would “treat him cruelly.” His request was turned down by the courts, finally paving the way for his extradition to Italy.