Italian Mafia – Regional Criminal Powerbases
An Overview of Italy’s Organized Crime Syndicates
"People are worms and they have to stay worms." – Extract from Camorra wiretap [1].
The true face of Italy’s modern day mafia is a far cry from the impeccable pinstriped anti-heroics of popular fiction. Here the ruddy wheel of ‘business’ is churned by the underlings; the lookouts, the couriers, drivers and pimps. Those who sit hunched over the sweatshop sewing machines, those with rents to pay and mouths to feed. The fantasy allure of unimaginable wealth, unfettered respect and escape from a social vacuum that offers nothing is often too great to resist. But the reality that ingrains and finally consumes is one of unspeakable brutality, addiction, subservience and insatiable greed where ‘honor’ is nowhere to be seen.
Sicilian Mafia – Cosa Nostra
This, arguably, seminal genesis of modern Italian organized crime societies for many years identified itself by no formal name. The term “Cosa Nostra” (Our Thing) evolved over time to differentiate it from the various other criminal organizations that sprung up in its wake. Even the word ‘mafia’ was famously relegated by syndicate defector, Tommaso Buscetta as being ‘media created’. This elusive anonymity has long created extreme difficulties for authorities trying to track and prosecute its members.
The Sicilian mafia is thought to have originated from a ‘sect’ that operated in Sicily in the mid 1800’s. The structure and traditions of this early organization mirrored, what is today considered, stereotypical mafia activity. Its converts enjoyed high ranking political protection, fostered secret ways to communicate with each other, were immune in many cases to police prosecution and had a stringent internal code of loyalty.
Alongside its numerous criminal interests, the Sicilian mafia has gained particular notoriety for its merciless retaliatory attacks on high ranking prosecutors and officials; most notably being the horrific 1992 assassination of campaigning anti-mafia magistrate, Giovanni Falcone.
Neapolitan Mafia – Camorra
As with many of the various mafia societies, the origins of the Neapolitan Camorra is far from clear. Some place its beginnings as far back as the 16th century, when Naples was still under Spanish rule. Others suggest its emergence in the mid 1800’s; the offspring of disbanded prison gangs. One entomology of the word points to it being a blend of ‘capo’ or boss and an illegal street game called ‘mora’. It is of note that this particular prohibited Neapolitan pastime continued, with police ‘lookouts’ eliciting protection money from its players; shades of things to come.
The Camorra today boasts over 7,000 members, placing it as the most prolific of Italy’s crime networks with far reaching interests - especially in the areas of cigarette smuggling, narcotics and counterfeiting.
Waste Disposal
Recent events have exposed the Camorra’s disastrous handling of Naples much publicized garbage disposal problems. Illegal waste dumping and collusion with corrupt local businessmen and officials have exasperated an already critical situation. Camorra controlled entities receive lucrative ‘contracts’ to dispose of largely toxic material that eventually finds itself in illegal landfills, burnt at roadsides and even dumped into the ocean.
Calabrian Mafia – ‘Ndrangheta
The word “’Ndrangheta” derives from Griko, which in turn comes from the Greek and is still incorporated within Calabrian dialect; loosely translating to courage or loyalty. This particular crime network is believed to have formed from a group of exiled Sicilian criminals in the 1860s. Bloodlines were vastly important to the splinter groups that developed; a characteristic that today sets the 'Ndrangheta apart from its criminal cousins. Family affiliations are foremost with sons actively encouraged and expected to follow in the footsteps of their ndranghetisti fathers. This has again hampered agents seeking to infiltrate the organization’s ranks; which today number over 6000 members.
‘Ndrangheta revenue is principally derived from narcotic trafficking; an activity that is sometimes jointly shared with the Sicilian Cosa Nostra. Profits are subsequently poured into legitimate businesses; hotels, restaurants and construction companies becoming the recipients of an estimated $50-60 billion US annually.
Puglia Mafia – Sacra Corona Unita
A relative newcomer to Italy’s crime consortiums, the Sacra Corona Unita (Sacred United Crown), has already seen a period of boom and bust since its inception in the late 1970’s. Its early advantage was location, Puglia laying adjacent to the Adriatic; a natural corridor from which to export and receive contraband from the then tumultuous Balkan states. Deals were struck with various crime syndicates to allow landing rights; facilitating the even flow of goods including human cargo into south eastern Italy.
Originally the SCU was founded as an offshoot of Neapolitan operations by camorra boss Raffaele Cutolo; becoming an entity in its own right following his short lived reign. Peaking in the mid 90’s with approximately 50 affiliated clans and over 2000 members, the SCU would subsequently struggle following a series of successful police initiatives. Additionally, the end of hostilities in the Balkans would sizably reduce the importance once attributed to the Adriatic gateway.
Now, although far from its peak, it would be premature to consider the SCU defeated. For it is a common frustrating truth that the mafia, in all its forms, no matter how bloodied, seems eternally blessed with the power to reanimate.
Resources:
[1] Gomorrah – Italy’s Other Mafia, Saviano, Roberto; Pan Books (2008)
Related Articles:
The Garbage Problem of Naples, Italy
The Saint Valentine Day Massacre
Internet Sources:
Italian Organized Crime - Overview, Federal Bureau of Investigation
History of the Mafia – Picchi, Lorenzo
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