An Italian mafia boss was gunned down by unknown assailants on Friday, police said.

Francesco Verde, 58, headed the Verde clan which is active in northern Naples and thrives on drug trafficking and extortion like much of the Camorra -- the Neapolitan version of the mafia.

Verde was returning home with his nephew, when at least one motorcycle approached their car and fired more than 30 shots, killing the mafia boss and seriously wounding his nephew.

He had been released from prison in September, but was required to register with the police everyday. Police said it was too early to identify who the assailants might have been.