What is the most powerful mafia? The names of Italian mafiosi are the most famous gangsters in the world

General idea fighting the government or laws, money laundering or drug trafficking, thirst for violence, sadism - all these factors gather people into separate groups. It is not uncommon for such groups to grow into the most dangerous and violent gangs.

Based on numerous films, we are accustomed to thinking that the Sicilian mafia or “Yakuza” are the most widespread and brutal groups. But people from unfavorable areas Latin America, notorious thugs from the African continent and lawbreakers from the criminal areas of the United States have long surpassed the “film” bandits. The number of murders and violence, the inventive cruelty and mass character of many gangs are not at all similar to the “old mafia” with their ideas, laws and principles.

18th Street Gang

The ranking of the most violent gangs opens with a street gang from Los Angeles. Murder, violence, drug trafficking are the main activities of the criminal gang, which numbers more than 70,000 people in its ranks. Even five years ago, reports on 18th Street reported daily homicides in the Los Angeles area.

Ethnic organized crime group from the 90s. Almost the entire gambling business in Moscow was under the control of the mafia. Laundering unimaginable amounts of money, brutal reprisals against competitors and those who got in the way. Having seized control of more than 200 banks in the country, they supplied bandit groups with weapons and money. In Russia, the gang lasted only eight years, but in some countries members of organized crime groups They still dominate the oil market, the banking sector, and construction.

Wah Ching

Chinese-American street gang. From an ordinary gang of petty violators in San Francisco, in seven years an army of seventy thousand thugs grew. Constant clashes with other clans, crime and murder. In the 90s, the FBI discovered the gang's underground warehouses, where weapons and explosives were manufactured.

Bloods

A gang also based in Los Angeles. It developed as a competitor to the criminal group Crips. The gang is known not only for brutal reprisals against rivals and drug mafia, it has created a separate culture with its own alphabet, slang language, and dance style. Some famous rappers come from the group.

Jamaican Posse

The group from the island of Jamaica, created under the protection of the government, is known for its sophisticated methods of murder. Any available means - a shovel, an iron, an ax - often became a weapon for reprisals. The gang has several of its “brigades” in Latin America and the USA.

Area Boys

Once created by a bunch of teenagers, a gang of extortionists from Nigeria has grown into a well-coordinated criminal group, known for its kidnappings, extortion and murders. The inability of local authorities to prevent the gang's activities only swells its ranks and strengthens its influence throughout the country.

The main troublemakers of Brazilian streets. The gang was created due to the unjust oppression of prisoners in the country's prisons. Numerous clashes with law enforcement agencies, kidnappings of people, including tourists, and drug trafficking are the group’s main business. In 2001, a mass prison uprising, escape and destruction in Brazilian cities resulted in 150 innocent victims.

Aryan Brotherhood

The constant oppression of white prisoners in US prisons gave impetus to the need to create their own clan. Forty years ago, a group of white men in a California prison declared their brotherhood. Today it is the most powerful and brutal movement. Those wishing to join the team must kill someone. A fifteen-thousandth gang of thugs, scattered throughout US prisons, consisting mainly of those with life sentences. There are no laws or principles for them.

Los Zetas

Location – Mexico. Under the leadership of one of the most famous drug lords Mexico, a cartel was created from a professional team of mercenaries, former army soldiers, and police officers. The Los Zetas cartel is known for its brutal fight against competitors, as well as numerous reprisals against innocent people. Terrible torture, dismemberment of corpses, mass graves - all this is on the account of the Mexican gang.

For more than a hundred years, the organization with a list of moral and ethical rules has grown into a gangster structure, brutally dealing with those who stand in their way. Bribery of officials and control of business, destruction of competitors and ruthless reprisals against the families of enemies, all this led to thousands of victims. The Sicilian mafia, and later the American one, became popular all over the world after the film “The Godfather”.

An organized network of gang units. The number of people who have joined the ranks of the Yakuza throughout Japan exceeds 120 thousand people. The official location of the headquarters and their own establishments with symbols speaks of their “roof” on the part of the authorities. Distinctive feature gangs - a code of honor, compliance with internal laws and unquestioning obedience to the boss. The criminal organization has its gangster branches in South Korea, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, USA. Controls the gambling business, the porn industry, and the banking sector. Engaged in human trafficking, including for the purposes of prostitution, drug trafficking, and kidnappings. The gang is known for its sophisticated methods of punishment against those who do not agree to obey them.

Triad

The largest association of bandits (over 2.5 million). The triad is widespread throughout the Asian world. Gang members are involved in absolutely everything - business control, contract killings, selling people, drug trafficking, car thefts. Members of the group who are members of the government structures make it possible to commit crimes with impunity. The triad has one of the best disguises in the system: secret call signs, gestures and signs that identify each other. The popularity of the gang was brought by the disappearance without a trace of people who refused to obey them.

Crips

The three finalists are opened by a gang organized by 16-year-old black teenagers in Los Angeles. After 6 years, the group has grown significantly and spread throughout America. Petty hooliganism, beating passers-by, fighting with competitors, arson, theft, robbery, kidnapping, violence - the gang has more than a thousand different crimes on its record. Having surpassed the number of participants of 50 thousand people, mostly from African countries, the organization poses a serious danger to the people of the United States.

Mungiki

These thugs from Kenya can hardly be called an organized gang. The number of these scumbags has reached 500 thousand. A distinctive feature of the group is brutal showdowns with beheadings, massacres with huge knives, and mass fights.

Make a request in any search engine for the most brutal gang, the clear winner is the MS-13 gang. These most dangerous, bloodthirsty and merciless members of the group live in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and the USA. The American government calls the Salvatrucha organization the most dangerous after al-Qaeda. Almost every one of the 300 thousand members of the group participated in violence, brutal reprisals, and kidnappings. The gang earns huge profits from drug trafficking and the sale of weapons to Middle Eastern countries, including terrorist organizations.

2016.04.03 by

It so happened that any criminal groups or gangs, groups of participants in financial fraud, or smugglers are called mafia. The governments of all states are trying to fight them, but members of mafia organizations carry on their criminal activities, no matter what. Their circles have their own laws and rules; they are cruel and self-willed.

And today in the criminal world there are also organized groups, headed by authorities. They conduct illegal business, persuade business owners and government officials to submit, they manage to evade criminal penalties, they are rich and fearless. The most famous mafiosi have gone down in history, their names are known all over the world and still inspire fear and horror.

Everyone knows that the birthplace of the mafia is Sicily. It was in sunny Italy that such a phenomenon as the mafia originated. The most famous Italian mafiosi are still on everyone’s lips.

Racketeer

Al Capone was born in Italy in 1899. At a young age, his parents moved him to America. In Al Capone, he worked during the day at a bowling alley, in a pharmacy and even in a candy store, and at night he visited entertainment venues. So, one day while working in a billiards club, he had a fight with a woman. As it turned out later, she was the wife of Frank Galluccio. A fight ensued between Al Capone and Frank, during which he received a knife wound on his cheek. It is believed that this is the same one turning point in his life.

At the age of 19 he was accepted into the “Gang of 5 Trunks”. His first crime was the murder of 7 authoritative leaders at once, subordinate to Bugs Moran. Moreover, for committing this and other criminal acts, he was not punished in court. But he was still sentenced to 11 years in prison for tax evasion. He served only five years of them and was released.

Al Capone is the most famous mafioso. The whole world shook at his name. He was involved in racketeering, drugs, bootlegging, gambling and murder. He was very cruel and heartless. The police were unable to catch him and they lacked evidence and grounds to put him in jail. In 1947 he fell ill with pneumonia and died at the age of 48.

"The Godmother" - La Madrina

There were women in the world of the mafia. Maria Licciardi is a native of Italy, born in 1951. She was the leader of the "Licciardi" clan in Naples. Maria was included in the women's list of the most famous mafiosi in the world. When two brothers and a husband were put behind bars, she took on the role of leader of a powerful group. It was she who was able to unite several mafia families and expand the drug market.

In 2001, Maria was arrested for fraudulently luring underage girls into prostitution.

Lucky

Born in 1897 in Sicily into a poor family. When he was a young man, his family moved to America to build a new life. As a child, he was a street hooligan; bad companies always surrounded him.

At the age of 18, he was sentenced to prison for drug distribution. When the sale of alcohol was prohibited in the States, he was part of a smuggling organization for the supply of alcohol. So, by breaking the law, he turned from a beggar into a millionaire. It should be noted that at the time when Prohibition was introduced in the United States, the most famous mafiosi of all time rose to prominence in bootlegging.

At the age of 34, the mafioso organized the “Big Seven”, which included smugglers. Thus, Charles becomes the leader of the Cosa Nostra clan, which, in turn, subordinates the entire criminal structure of the United States.

They nicknamed Luciano “Lucky” - the lucky one, because he was on the verge of death after being tortured by the Maranzano gangsters.

Lucky Luciano currently tops the list of the most famous mafiosi in America. He killed 10 leaders of competing criminal organizations in 24 hours. This made him the rightful master of New York. He also created the Five Families of New York and the National Syndicate. In 1936, he was sentenced to 35 years in prison for pimping. While in prison, Lucky still retained his authority and continued to give orders from his cell. Soon he was released early and then deported to his homeland in Italy. In 1962, the mafioso suffered a heart attack from which he died.

Gambler

Meer Lansky was born in Russian Empire in 1902. At the age of 9, he and his parents moved to New York. There he met Charles Luciano. Lansky was a leader and authority in the underworld, in no way inferior to Lucky. He smuggled alcohol and opened illegal bars and bookmakers. Meer successfully developed gambling in America. He also managed to conduct and control affairs in other countries. Thus, the most famous Russian mafioso becomes one of the most influential leaders of the US criminal circle.

The police began to closely monitor him and collect evidence of crimes, so he decided to move to Israel. Two years later he had to return back to America. He never suffered punishment and lived until he was 80 years old. In 1983 he died of cancer.

Drug lord

Pablo Escobar was born in Colombia in 1949. In his youth, he stole tombstones, erased the inscriptions from them and resold them. From an early age, he was involved in drug and cigarette speculation, and also counterfeited lottery tickets. As he grew up, he moved on to larger transactions - car theft, robbery, racketeering and even kidnapping. Already at the age of 22, Pablo became an authority in criminal areas.

This is the most famous mafioso - drug lord. He was incredibly cruel, and his drug empire had the ability to supply cocaine anywhere in the world. By the age of 40, he was a billionaire thanks to sales narcotic drugs. He was involved in the murder of one thousand people. In 1991 he was arrested and a year later escaped from prison. In 1993, Pablo was shot and killed by a sniper.

Carlo Gambino

Carlo Gambino is the founder and leader of the Gambino mafia empire. As a teenager, he traded in theft and extortion, and later began to engage in smuggling.

The Gambino crime family consisted of 40 groups, these most famous mafiosi kept fear and had power over the most major cities America. It should be noted that Carlo himself was not involved in drug trafficking, he loved gambling, put people on the “counters”, and “protected” businesses. And he was imprisoned once in 1938 for 2 years for tax evasion. At 74 he died of a heart attack.

Albert Anastasia

Albert was born in 1902. He was part of the Gambino family. He organized his own criminal gang, Murder Inc. The gangsters of this group killed more than 700 people. The killers did not leave any witnesses, so Anastasia remained unpunished. But in 1957, Albert ordered the murder of Carlo Gambino.

Elegant Don

John Gotti was born in 1940. He grew up in a large poor family, he had 12 sisters and brothers. Even as a young boy, he fell under the influence of the gangster Aniello Dellacroce.

John Gotti was part of the Gambino family group, and later replaced its boss, Paul Castellano. His name terrified and feared all of New York. But, like many other mafiosi, despite numerous crimes, he managed to evade criminal punishment.

He was nicknamed “The Elegant Don” for his impeccable taste in dressing. Gotti got rich from theft, he was involved in racketeering, car theft and murder. Next to John was always Salvatore Gravano, whom Gotti considered his reliable friend. But in 1992, Salvatore, whom Gotti trusted so much, turns him over to the police. The court sentenced him for all his “dark deeds” - life imprisonment. In 2002, he died from cancer.

Banana Joe

Joseph Bonanno Born in 1905 into a poor family in Italy. At the age of fifteen, he lost his parents and moved to the United States. At the age of 26, Joseph organized the Bonanno crime family. He was the leader of this group for 30 years of his life. While leading the clan, he becomes a multimillionaire, the likes of which have never been seen in history. “Banana Joe” decided to leave crime in order to quietly retire in his old age. But at the age of 75, he was still arrested for illegal sales of real estate. He served 14 months in prison and died in 2002, when he was 97 years old.

Godfather

When listing the names of the most famous mafiosi and clans, it is necessary to note the Genovese family and its organizer, Vincent Gigante. He was born in 1928 in New York. At the age of 9 he dropped out of school and went into professional boxing. At the age of 17 he begins to commit his first crimes. In one of the authoritative criminal groups he becomes a leader - the “Godfather”, and then an adviser.

In 1981, Vincent organized the Genovese family. This mafioso is a cruel and unbalanced person. I could go for a walk at night in just my dressing gown. Thus, he created the opinion of himself as a mentally ill person. So, he hid from the police for 40 years. In 1997, the court nevertheless decided to imprison him for 12 years. Even while behind bars, Vincent managed to commit criminal acts. In 2005, his heart gave out and he died.

Big man

Marat Balagula was born in 1943 in Odessa. At the age of 34, he moved to America, where he joined a group whose leader was Yevsey Agron. Russia's most famous mafiosi fled to the United States after imprisonment in search of a good life, or to avoid long-term criminal punishment in their home country.

In 1985, after the murder of Yevsey Agron, Balagula becomes the leader of the clan. He successfully established relationships with such families as Cosa Nostra, Genovese, and Luchese. He organizes a gasoline business. Then, running a huge scam on citizens’ credit cards, he is caught by the police. But he doesn't have to go to jail. He is released on bail of 500 thousand dollars and Marat flees to South Africa. After 4 years, he was still arrested for 8 years. For tax evasion, he gets another 14 years.

Godfather of the Russian mafia

Vyacheslav Ivankov - nicknamed Yaponchik - was an authoritative thief in law in the 90s. Vyacheslav was born in 1940. He decided to commit his first crime at the age of 25. Then he falls under the influence of Gennady Korkov, nicknamed Mongol. So, Yaponchik begins to engage in extortion, blackmailing underground millionaires, collectors and blackmailers. They, in turn, do not want to go to the police so as not to talk about their illegal income, so they obeyed and paid money.

In 1974, Ivankov gets involved in a fight in which one of the criminals dies from a bullet. Vyacheslav will end up in “Butyrka” (Butyrka prison), where he receives the status of thief in law. The Jap sat on the bunk more than once. And while in prison, he had to prove his authority: he fought with fellow inmates, his punishment was tightened. There was an attempt on his life, but he died in 2009 in a hospital from cancer.

The most famous mafiosi, as a rule, did not commit criminal acts themselves, but gave orders to other gang members. That is why the police were unable to find evidence for criminal punishment. Often the police know the leaders of the groups by sight and sometimes do not even try to catch them or convict them of anything. Today, many films are made about mafias. Gangsters are idealized, admired and tried to imitate their manners.

The cinema is full of stories about the mafia. It is the representatives of this mysterious criminal structure that are often the main villains. Films such as " Godfather", "Casino" and "Bugsy".

But why are so many films made about bandits? And who is the most famous mafioso? Getting on the “honorable” list is not easy; to do this you need to leave a noticeable criminal mark in the history of the mafia. It should be noted that the majority of representatives this list left their mark on American history.

Although these people were not saints, one cannot help but admire their influence and talents, even if directed in the wrong direction. Let's talk about the most famous mafiosi and what films were created based on their criminal activities.

Vincent "The Chin" Gigante (1928-2005). This criminal was born in 1928 in New York. Vincent's character was extremely complex - he never finished school, dropping out in the ninth grade. Study was replaced by a new hobby - boxing. Competing as a light heavyweight, Gigante won 21 out of 25 fights. His first arrest took place at the age of 25, but by that time Vincent had already been in a criminal gang for 8 years. The bandit's very first high-profile case as a member of the Genovese family was the attempted murder of Frank Costello. However, Gigante missed. Despite the failure, his rise up the criminal ladder continued, with Vincent eventually becoming a godfather, and later, in the early 80s, a consolere. After the conviction of the major mafia boss Tony Salerno, it was Giganto who became the new leader of the clan. But what caused such a rise? In the late 60s, Vincent avoided going to prison by pretending to be crazy. In the future, the bandit continued to maintain this image - it cost him nothing to walk along the streets of his hometown in pajamas. This fact gave Gigante nicknames such as "King of Pajamas" and "Weirdo". Only after being convicted in 2003 for extortion did the criminal admit that his mental health was poor. in perfect order. Thanks to lawyers and poor health, Gigante was supposed to be released from prison in 2010, but the mafioso’s heart could not stand it, and Vincent died on December 19, 2005. Vincent Giganto's character was used in an episode of Law & Order and in the 1999 film Bonanno: The Godfather Story.

Albert Anastasia (1903-1957). This mafia representative was born, like many of his colleagues, in Italy, but moved to America as a child. Albert's career began with the murder of a longshoreman on the Brooklyn docks. The killer began serving his sentence in the famous Sing Sing prison, but soon the only witness mysteriously died and Anastasia was released without serving his sentence. Albert earned the nicknames "Lord Executioner" and "Mad Hatter" for his many murders. Over time, the criminal ended up in Joe Masseria's gang, who just needed a cold-blooded killer. However, Albert was very friendly with his competitor, Charlie "Lucky", so Masseria's betrayal became a matter of time. It was Anastasia who became one of the four sent to kill the boss in 1931. Already in 1944, Albert became the leader of a group of murderers, which even got its name “Murder, Inc.” The criminal himself was never prosecuted for the murders, but according to authorities, his group was directly related to at least 400 deaths. The 50s elevated Albert to the status of leader of the Luciano family, but at the direction of Carlo Gambino, Anastasia was killed in 1957. The prototype of this mafioso became the basis for the films "Murder, Inc" with Peter Falk and Howard Smith in 1960, as well as "The Valacci Papers" in 1972 and "Lepke" in 1975.

Joseph Bonanno (1905-2002). And this bandit was born in Italy, his homeland in 1905 was the island of Sicily. Already at the age of 15, the boy was left an orphan, and when he was 19, he fled from the fascist regime of Mussolini, first to Cuba, and from there to the USA. The young man soon became known as "Joey Bananas", becoming a member of the Maranzano family. Maranzano managed to form the “Commission”, which managed to establish control over the mafia families in Italy itself. However, Luciano soon killed his competitor. Bonanno gradually amassed large amounts of capital by managing cheese factories, as well as clothing and funeral businesses. But Joseph’s plans to gradually eliminate the remaining families did not come true. Bonanno was kidnapped, it took him 19 days to come to the decision to retire. But this decision allowed Joseph to live long life. As a result, the bandit was never convicted of anything serious during his career. It was about Bonanno that two films were made: Love, Honor and Obedience: The Last Alliance Mafia, 1993, starring Ben Gazarra; and Bonanno: The Story of the Godfather, 1999, starring Martin Landau.

Arthur Flegenheimer (1902-1935). This mafioso became known by his nickname "Dutch Schultz". He was born in the Bronx in 1902. Even in his youth, Arthur became an organizer of crap games, thereby trying to impress the boss Marcelo Poffo. Already at the age of 17, the young man went to prison, having been convicted of theft. Arthur soon realized that the only way for him to earn money was to sell alcohol during the era of Prohibition, or bootlegging. The bandit tried to enter the newly formed crime syndicate, but in doing so he made serious enemies for himself in Capone and Luciano. In 1933, Arthur flees justice to New Jersey. After his return in 1935, the mafiosi are killed by Albert Anastasia's henchmen. Dutch Schultz was made famous by Dustin Hoffman in the 1991 film Billy Bathgate, another reflection was in the 1997 Bully with Tim Roth. The image of a bandit is also found in the films “Gangster Wars” of 1981, “The Cotton Club” of 1984 and “Natural Gift” of the same year.

John Gotti (1940-2002). This gangster stands out from all the New York celebrities of his kind. John was born in 1940 and was always considered smart. Already at the age of 16, Gotti was a member of the Fulton Rockaway Boys street gang. John's talents allowed him to quickly become the leader of the group. In the 60s, the “Guys” lived in petty theft and car theft. However, this was clearly not enough for Gotti; in the early 70s he was already the godfather of the Bergin group, which was part of the Gambino family. Gotti's ambitions pushed him to take dangerous steps even among the mafia - he began to distribute drugs, which was prohibited by family rules. It's no surprise that boss Paul Castellano decided to remove Gotti from his organization. However, in 1985, John and his henchmen managed to kill Castellano and personally lead the Gambino family. Although New York law enforcement tried numerous times to convict Gotti, the charges consistently failed. The mafioso himself always looked presentable, which the media liked. It was they who gave the gangster the nicknames “Elegant Don” and “Teflon Don.” The police only reached Gotti in 1992, convicting him of murder. The gangster's life was cut short in 2002; he died of cancer. The life of a mafioso has been embodied in films many times - he was played by Antonio Denilson in the film "Getting Gotti" in 1994, Armand Assante in "Gotti" in 1996. And in the 1998 films "Mafia Witness" with Tom Sizemoor and "The Big Heist" in 2001 without the participation of a famous bandit.

Meyer Lansky (1902-1983). In 1902, a boy, Mayer Sachovlyansky, was born in Russia, who was destined to become a famous American gangster. In 1911, he and his parents moved to New York. Back in childhood Meyer's friend was Charles Luciano. He demanded money from the stranger for patronage, but Lansky refused. There was a fight, the result of which was... friendship between the boys. After some time, Bugsy Seagal joined the guys, who was introduced into the company by Meyer. The friendly trio became the core of the Bug and Meyer group, which later grew into the famous Murder, Inc. At first, Lansky took up gambling and the money that comes with it. The arena of his actions was Florida, New Orleans and Cuba. Meyer became an investor in Seagal's casino, which he opened in Las Vegas; the mafioso even acquired an offshore Swiss bank in order to better launder money. When the National Crime Syndicate was formed in America, it was Lansky who was its co-founder. However, business is business, when Bugsy Seagal stopped giving money to the Syndicate, Lansky cold-bloodedly ordered the death of his old friend. Gambling houses all over the world were subject to racketeering by Lansky's boys, but he never spent a single day in prison. The role of Meyer Lansky was brilliantly portrayed by Richard Dreyfuss in the 1999 film Lansky, as well as Nyman Roth in the 1974 Godfather Part II. The gangster was played by Mark Rydel in 1990's Havana, Patrick Dempsey in Gangsters and Ben Kingsley in 1991's Bugsy.

Frank Costello (1891-1973). And this gangster was born in Italy, moving to the United States at the age of four. Already at the age of 13, Francesco Castilla became a member of a criminal gang, changing his name to a more sonorous one - Frank Costello. After his prison term he becomes best friend Charlie Luciano. This couple began organizing gambling and bootlegging together. Costello's influence was based on the fact that he connected the mafia and politicians. Frank was friendly with the Tammany Hall Democrat, which allowed him to avoid persecution by the New York police. Luciano's arrest made Costello a man in law. Tensions within Vito Genovese led to him attempting to kill Costello in the mid-50s. This led to the retirement of Frank, who died quietly in retirement in 1973. Costello's image in the best possible way portrayed by James Andronica in the 1981 film Gangster Chronicles. It is worth noting the work of Jack Nicholson in “The Departed” 2006, Carmine Caridi in “Bugsy” and Costas Mobsters in “Gangsters” 1991.

Benjamin "Bugsy" Segal (1906-1947). The future gangster was born in 1906 in Brooklyn, where he met Meyer Lansky. The nickname "Bugsy" appeared due to the unpredictable nature of the bandit. Seagal committed many murders for Charlie Luciano, which made him a lot of enemies. It is not surprising that in the late 30s Bugsy fled to Los Angeles, where he managed to make many acquaintances among Hollywood stars. After the passage of the Nevada gambling law, Segal borrowed millions of dollars from the Syndicate and founded the Flamingo Casino Hotel in Las Vegas, one of the first in the city. However, the business did not turn out to be profitable when criminal colleagues discovered that Seagal simply stole their money, Bugsy was killed. Benjamin Seagal was best portrayed by Warren Beatty in the 1991 film Bugsy and by Armand Assante in The Married Man (1991).

Carlo Gambino (1902-1976). The Gambino family has been part of the mafia clan for several centuries. Who could Carlo become if not a gangster? He began killing on demand at the age of 19. In Italy at this time Mussolini began to gain power, so Gambino emigrated to America, where his cousin Paul Costellano was waiting for him. Carlo consisted of contrasts; many of the criminals considered him a total coward; there is a known case when Anastasia publicly hit him for an oversight. Gambino himself preferred to appear misunderstood. The 40s brought the extradition of Luciano, and Albert Anastasia took his place. However, Carlo could not come to terms with this state of affairs, and in 1957 he gave the order to kill his rival. Vito Genovese quickly climbed to the “warm” place, who planned that all dirty work That's exactly what Gambino will get. However, he planned from the very beginning to remove his new opponent. Soon he went to prison on a trumped-up drug case. Carlo Gambino became the new boss of the family, which he kept under a tight rein until his death in 1976. Many films have been made about Gambino - "Boss of Bosses" in 2001 with Al Ruccio. Between Love and Honor (1995), Gotti (1996) and Bonanno: The Godfather Story (1999).

Charlie "Lucky" Luciano (1897-1962). Salvatore Luciania's birthplace was Sicily. 9 years after his birth, in 1906, the whole family moved to the USA, to New York. Time passed, and now Charlie became a member of the Five Points gang, controlling prostitution and racketeering in Manhattan. In 1929, there was an attempt on Luciano’s life, and he decided to create the National Crime Syndicate in order to protect himself from attacks from competitors. There were no major obstacles to the execution of his plans; by 1935, “Lucky” Luciano had also become known as the “Boss of Bosses” not only in his city, but throughout the United States. However, the police did not sleep; in 1936, the gangster was sentenced to prison for a term of 30 to 50 years. However, bribes and lawyers did their job - in 1946, Charlie was released from prison on the condition that he leave the country. The influence of the mafioso was so great that during the Second World War, even the US Navy turned to him for assistance in order to assist them in landing in Italy. Luciano died in 1962 due to a heart attack. The gangster was portrayed by Christian Slater in 1991's Gangsters, Bill Graham in 1991's Bugsy, and Anthony LaPaglia in 1999's Lansky.

Al Capone (1899-1947). This gangster deservedly goes under Number One, because his name is known to everyone. Alphonse Capone was born in Brooklyn to a family of Italian immigrants. After some time, the young man joined the Five Points gang, where he played the role of a bouncer. It was then that Capone was given the nickname "Scarface." In 1919, in search of new challenges, the bandit moved to Chicago to work for Johnny Torrio. This allowed Capone to begin to quickly move up the criminal hierarchy. During Prohibition, Capone did not disdain to engage not only in bootlegging and gambling, but also in prostitution. In 1925, the gangster is only 26 years old, but he is already the head of the Torrey family and is not afraid to start a family war. Capone became famous not only for his pomp and vanity, but also for his cruelty and intelligence. Suffice it to recall the famous massacre that occurred during the celebration of St. Valentine's Day in 1929, during which many leaders of criminal groups were killed. The police managed to arrest Al Capone for... tax evasion! This was done in 1931 by federal tax agent Eliot Ness. In 1934, a gangster got into famous prison Alcatraz, from where he left 7 years later, already fatally ill with syphilis. Capone lost his influence; his friends preferred to tell him fictitious stories about the true state of affairs. There have been many films about Capone, the most famous of which are 1967's "Valentine's Day Massacre" with Jason Robards, 1975's "Capone" with Ben Gazarra and 1987's "The Untouchables" with Robert De Niro.

Tony Accardo "Big Tuna" (1906-1992). Tony was the boss of the Chicago mafia for more than ten years, from the very end of World War II. At this time, his competitors left the scene - Paul Ricca went to prison, and Frank Nitti committed suicide. And Accardo came to his first roles during the time of Capone, being at first his bodyguard. It was Tony who in 1931 became the main suspect in the murder of his boss's rival, Joe Aillo. Accardo is also credited with participating in the famous Valentine's Day massacre. After Capone's capture, Tony became... right hand new boss, Frank Nitti. They say that it was Accardo who eventually managed to introduce the Chicago family into the gambling business, and he also “set up” the rackets of the entertainment industry and industry. Tony remained an influential member of the Family for a long time. When Giancana fled the country in 1966, Accardo returned to his usual leadership role. As a result, Accardo retired from business in the 80s, moving to California. There he died on May 27, 1992.

Bernardo Provenzano (born 1933). Bernardo Provenzano was born in the small Sicilian village of Corleone, into a poor peasant family. Already in his youth he became a member of the Corleone clan. The boss of this clan’s unit, Luciano Liggio, is known to have said that Bernardo “shoots like an angel and thinks like a chicken.” The rise of Provenzano's career dates back to 1958, when his boss's main rival was killed. The next 10 years brought Provenzano connections to a dozen more crimes and murders. He was put on the wanted list, but the police didn’t even try to look for him for the first twenty years. Provenzano gained power and authority, eventually taking over the entire illegal business of Palermo - prostitution, arms and drug trafficking, gambling. As a result, by the end of the 80s, the entire local Cosa Nostra passed into the hands of Bernardo and his accomplice, Salvatore Riina. Provenzano received the nicknames The Beast, The Accountant and The Bulldozer. The last nickname testifies to his intractability and uncompromising nature. Although they also say that this is evidence of how he steps over people. Nevertheless, Provenzano was an excellent leader. In the early 90s, the Italian authorities declared war on the mafia, making a number of high-profile arrests. It was then that an active hunt for Provenzano began. By the time of his arrest in 2006, the police only had a photo from 1959. So Bernardo Provenzano has been caught. The Almighty Boss of Bosses Sicilian mafia appeared as a 73-year-old man in jeans and a sweater. The mafioso's sentence was passed in absentia a long time ago; he will spend the rest of his days in prison.

Giuseppe Antonaio Doto "Joe Adonis" (1906-1971). Adonis was born in 1906, near Naples. A common story at that time - the boy’s family sent him to America. Giuseppe's criminal career began with famous gangsters Frank Yal and Anthony Pisano. After Yalo's death in 1928, Adonis and his friends joined the Pisano family as the most prominent Neapolitans working in crime in New York during the 1920s. Adonis was present at a 1929 national bootlegging deal in Atlantic City, later joining Charlie Luciano's group. Giuseppe eliminated his competitors - Maceria and Salvatore Maranzano, which allowed the reorganized group led by him to take its place in the underworld. The exact place in the hierarchy of the Adonis Family remains unclear. One thing is clear - he played a prominent role in the Mangano family. As a result, Adonis was involved in everything - racketeering, drugs, alcohol, gambling. It was Giuseppe who was responsible for the Family's relations with other groups, including non-Italian ones. Adonis was trusted, he was Frank Costello's confidant and even the arbiter of all mafia affairs. Giuseppe was in the hands of the New Jersey gambling business; at one time the mafioso even supported Robert Kennedy himself. Adonis died of natural causes in Ancona, Italy in 1971. True, the body of the mafia was transported to America for burial.

The shady underground world of the Mafia has captured the imagination of people for many years. The luxurious but criminal lifestyle of thieves' groups has become an ideal for many. But why are we so fascinated by these men and women who are, in essence, just bandits living at the expense of those who are unable to defend themselves?

The fact is that the mafia is not just some organized criminal group. Gangsters are seen as heroes rather than the villains they truly are. The criminal lifestyle looks like something out of a Hollywood movie. Sometimes it's a Hollywood movie: many of them are based on real events from the life of the mafia. In the cinema, crime is ennobled, and it already seems to the viewer that these bandits are heroes who died in vain. As America gradually forgets about the days of Prohibition, it is also forgotten that bandits were looked upon as saviors who fought against an evil government. They were the Robin Hoods of the working class, pitted against impossible and strict laws. In addition, people tend to admire the powerful, rich and beautiful people and idealize them.

However, not everyone is given such charisma, and many major politicians are hated rather than admired by everyone. Gangsters know how to use their charm to appear more attractive to society. It is based on heritage, on family history associated with emigration, poverty and unemployment. The classic rags to riches storyline has captivated attention for centuries. There are at least fifteen such heroes in the history of the mafia.

Frank Costello

Frank Costello was from Italy, like many other famous mafiosi. He headed the feared and famous Luciano family in the criminal world. Frank moved to New York at the age of four and, as soon as he grew up, immediately found his place in the world of crime, leading gangs. When it's sad famous Charles Luciano, nicknamed Lucky, went to prison in 1936, Costello quickly rose through the “career” ladder, leading the Luciano clan, later known as the Genovese clan.

He was called the Prime Minister because he ruled the criminal world and really wanted to get into politics, connecting the Mafia and Tammany Hall, political society US Democratic Party in New York. The ubiquitous Costello ran casinos and gaming clubs throughout the country, as well as in Cuba and other Caribbean islands. He was extremely popular and respected among his people. Vito Corleone, the hero of the 1972 film The Godfather, is believed to be based on Costello. Of course, he also had enemies: in 1957, an attempt was made on his life, during which the mafioso was wounded in the head, but miraculously survived. He died only in 1973 from a heart attack.

Jack Diamond

Jack "Legs" Diamond was born in Philadelphia in 1897. He was a significant figure during Prohibition and a leader of organized crime in the United States. Earning the nickname Legs for his ability to quickly evade pursuit and his extravagant style of dancing, Diamond was also known for unprecedented cruelty and murder. His criminal escapades in New York went down in history, as did his liquor smuggling organizations in and around the city.

Realizing that this was very profitable, Diamond moved on to larger prey, organizing truck robberies and opening underground liquor stores. But it was the order to kill the famous gangster Nathan Kaplan that helped him strengthen his status in the world of crime, putting him on a par with such serious guys as Lucky Luciano and Dutch Schultz, who later stood in his way. Although Diamond was feared, he became a target himself on several occasions, earning the nicknames Skeet and the Unkillable Man due to his ability to get away with it every time. But one day his luck ran out and he was shot dead in 1931. Diamond's killer was never found.

John Gotti

Known for leading New York's notorious and virtually invulnerable Gambino mob family during the turn of the 1980s and 1990s, John Joseph Gotti Jr. became one of the most powerful men in the Mafia. He grew up in poverty, one of thirteen children. He quickly joined the criminal atmosphere, becoming the six of the local gangster and his mentor Aniello Dellacroce. In 1980, Gotti's 12-year-old son Frank was crushed to death by neighbor and family friend John Favara. Although the incident was ruled an accident, Favara received numerous threats and was later attacked with a baseball bat. A few months later, Favara disappeared under mysterious circumstances, and his body has still not been found.

With his impeccable good looks and stereotypical gangster style, Gotti quickly became a tabloid darling, earning the nickname The Teflon Don. He was in and out of prison, it was difficult to catch him red-handed, and each time he ended up behind bars for short term. However, in 1990, thanks to wiretaps and inside information, the FBI finally caught Gotti and charged him with murder and extortion. Gotti died in prison in 2002 from laryngeal cancer and at the end of his life he faintly resembled the Teflon Don who never left the pages of the tabloids.

Frank Sinatra

That's right, Sinatra himself was once an alleged associate of gangster Sam Giancana and even the ubiquitous Lucky Luciano. He once stated: “If it weren’t for my interest in music, I probably would have ended up in the criminal world.” Sinatra was exposed as having ties to the mafia when his participation in the so-called Havana Conference, a mafia meeting in 1946, became known. Newspaper headlines then shouted: “Shame on Sinatra!” Sinatra’s double life became known not only to newspaper reporters, but also to the FBI, which had been monitoring the singer since the beginning of his career. His personal file contained 2,403 pages of interactions with the mafia.

What stirred the public the most was his relationship with John F. Kennedy before he became president. Sinatra allegedly used his contacts in the criminal world to help the future leader in the presidential election campaign. The mafia lost faith in Sinatra because of his friendship with Robert Kennedy, who was involved in the fight against organized crime, and Giancana turned his back on the singer. Then the FBI calmed down a little. Despite obvious evidence and information linking Sinatra to such major mafia figures, the singer himself often denied any relationship with gangsters, calling such statements a lie.

Mickey Cohen

Myer "Mickey" Harris Cohen has been a pain in the LAPD's ass for years. He had a stake in every branch of organized crime in Los Angeles and several other states. Cohen was born in New York but moved to Los Angeles with his family when he was six years old. After starting a promising career in boxing, Cohen abandoned the sport to follow the path of crime and ended up in Chicago, where he worked for the famous Al Capone.

After several successful years during the Prohibition era, Cohen was sent to Los Angeles under the patronage of the famous Las Vegas gangster Bugsy Siegel. Siegel's murder struck a nerve with the sensitive Cohen, and the police began to take notice of the violent and hot-tempered bandit. After several assassination attempts, Cohen turned his home into a fortress, installing alarm systems, floodlights and bulletproof gates, and hiring Johnny Stompanato, who was then dating Hollywood actress Lana Turner, as a bodyguard.

In 1961, when Cohen was still influential, he was convicted of tax evasion and sent to the famous Alcatraz prison. He became the only prisoner who was released from this prison on bail. Despite numerous assassination attempts and constant manhunt, Cohen died in his sleep at the age of 62.

Henry Hill

Henry Hill inspired the creators of one of the best films about the mafia - “Goodfellas”. It was he who said the phrase: “For as long as I can remember, I always wanted to become a gangster.” Hill was born in New York in 1943 into an honest, working family with no connections to the mafia. However, in his youth he joined the Lucchese clan due to large quantity bandits in his area. He began to quickly advance in his career, but due to the fact that he was of both Irish and Italian descent, he could not occupy a high position.

Once Hill was arrested for beating a gambler who refused to pay the money he lost and was sentenced to ten years in prison. It was then that he realized that the lifestyle he led in freedom was essentially similar to that behind bars, and he constantly received some kind of preferences. After his release, Hill became seriously involved in selling drugs, which led to his arrest. He surrendered his entire gang and overthrew several very influential gangsters. He entered the federal witness protection program in 1980, but blew his cover two years later and the program ended. Despite this, he managed to live to the age of 69. Hill died in 2012 from heart problems.

James Bulger

Another Alcatraz veteran is James Bulger, nicknamed Whitey. He received this nickname because of his silky blond hair. Bulger grew up in Boston and from the very beginning caused a lot of problems for his parents, running away from home several times and once even joining a traveling circus. Bulger was first arrested at the age of 14, but this did not stop him, and by the end of the 1970s he found himself in the criminal underground.

Bulger worked for the mafia clan, but at the same time was an FBI informant and told the police about the affairs of the once famous Patriarca clan. As Bulger expanded his own criminal network, police began to focus more on him rather than the information he provided. As a result, Bulger had to escape from Boston, and he ended up on the list of the most wanted criminals for fifteen years.

Bulger was caught in 2011 and charged with several crimes, including 19 murders, money laundering, extortion and drug trafficking. After trial After a two-month trial, the notorious gang leader was found guilty and sentenced to two life sentences plus an additional five years, and Boston could finally rest easy.

Bugsy Siegel

Known for his Las Vegas casino and criminal empire, Benjamin Siegelbaum, known in the criminal world as Bugsy Siegel, is one of the most notorious gangsters in the world. modern history. Starting with a mediocre Brooklyn gang, young Bugsy met another aspiring bandit, Meer Lansky, and created the Murder Inc. group, specializing in contract killings. It included gangsters of Jewish origin.

Becoming increasingly famous in the world of crime, Siegel sought to kill old New York gangsters and even had a hand in eliminating Joe “The Boss” Masseria. After years of smuggling and gunfights on the West Coast, Siegel began making money large sums and gained connections in Hollywood. A real star he became thanks to his Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas. The $1.5 million project was financed from the bandit common fund, but during construction the estimate was significantly exceeded. Siegel's old friend and partner Lansky decided that Siegel was stealing funds and partially investing in legal businesses. He was brutally murdered in his own home, riddled with bullets, and Lansky quickly took over management of the Flamingo Hotel, denying any involvement in the murder.

Vito Genovese

Vito Genovese, known as Don Vito, was an Italian-American gangster who rose to fame during Prohibition and beyond. He was also called the Boss of Bosses and led the famous Genovese clan. He is famous for making heroin a popular drug.

Genovese was born in Italy and moved to New York in 1913. Quickly joining criminal circles, Genovese soon met Lucky Luciano, and together they destroyed their rival, gangster Salvatore Maranzano. Escaping from the police, Genovese returned to his native Italy, where he remained until the end of World War II, making friends with Benito Mussolini himself. Upon his return, he immediately returned to his old lifestyle, seizing power in the world of crime and once again becoming the man everyone feared. In 1959, he was accused of drug trafficking and sent to prison for 15 years. In 1969, Genovese died of a heart attack at the age of 71.

Lucky Luciano

Charles Luciano, nicknamed Lucky, was seen many times in criminal adventures with other gangsters. Luciano received his nickname due to the fact that he survived a dangerous stab wound. He is called the founder of the modern mafia. Over the years of his mafia career, he managed to organize the murders of two major bosses and create an absolutely new principle functioning of organized crime. He had a hand in creating the famous "Five Families" of New York and the national crime syndicate.

Having lived quite a long time social life, Lucky became a popular character among the population and the police. By maintaining an image and a stylish image, Lucky began to attract attention, as a result of which he was charged with organizing prostitution. When he was behind bars, he continued to conduct business both outside and inside. It is believed that he even had his own cook there. After his release he was sent to Italy, but settled in Havana. Under pressure from the US authorities, the Cuban government was forced to get rid of him, and Lucky went to Italy forever. He died of a heart attack in 1962 at the age of 64.

Maria Licciardi

Although the world of the mafia is mainly a world of men, it cannot be said that there were no women among the mafiosi. Maria Licciardi was born in Italy in 1951 and led the Licciardi clan, a notorious Camorra, Neapolitan criminal group. Licciardi, nicknamed the Godmother, is still very famous in Italy, and much of her family has ties to the Neapolitan mafia. Licciardi specialized in drug trafficking and racketeering. She took over the clan when her two brothers and husband were arrested. Although many were unhappy since she became the first female head of a mafia clan, she managed to quell the unrest and successfully unite several city clans, expanding the drug trade market.

In addition to her activities in the field of drug trafficking, Licciardi is also known for human trafficking. She used underage girls from neighboring countries, such as Albania, forcing them to work as prostitutes, thus violating the long-standing Neapolitan Mafia code of honor that one should not make money from prostitution. After a heroin deal went wrong, Licciardi was placed on the most wanted list and arrested in 2001. Now she is behind bars, but, according to rumors, Maria Licciardi continues to lead the clan, which has no intention of stopping.

Frank Nitti

Known as the face of Al Capone's Chicago crime syndicate, Frank "Bouncer" Nitti became the top man in the Italian-American Mafia once Al Capone was behind bars. Nitti was born in Italy and came to the United States when he was only seven years old. It didn't take long before he started getting into trouble, which attracted the attention of Al Capone. In his criminal empire, Nitti quickly succeeded.

As a reward for his impressive successes during Prohibition, Nitti became one of Al Capone's closest associates and strengthened his position in the Chicago crime syndicate, also called the Chicago Outfit. Although he was nicknamed the Bouncer, Nitti delegated tasks rather than breaking bones himself, and often orchestrated multiple approaches during raids and attacks. In 1931, Nitti and Capone were sent to prison for tax evasion, where Nitti suffered terrible bouts of claustrophobia that plagued him for the rest of his life.

Upon his release, Nitti became the new leader of the Chicago Outfit, having survived assassination attempts by rival mafia groups and even the police. When things got really bad and Nitti realized that arrest could not be avoided, he shot himself in the head so that he would never suffer from claustrophobia again.

Sam Giancana

Another respected gangster in the underworld is Sam Giancana, nicknamed Mooney, who was once the most influential gangster in Chicago. Having started out as a driver in Al Capone's inner circle, Giancana quickly made his way to the top, making acquaintances with several politicians, including the Kennedy clan. Giancana was even called to testify in a case in which the CIA organized an assassination attempt on Cuban leader Fidel Castro. Giancana was believed to have key information.

Not only did Giancana's name appear in the case, but there were also rumors that the mafia had made a huge contribution to election campaign John F. Kennedy, including ballot stuffing in Chicago. The connection between Giancana and Kennedy was increasingly discussed, and many believed that Frank Sinatra was an intermediary to deflect the Feds' suspicions.

Things soon went downhill due to speculation that the Mafia had a hand in the assassination of JFK. After spending the rest of his life wanted by the CIA and rival clans, Giancana was shot in the back of the head while cooking in his basement. There were many versions of the murder, but the perpetrator was never found.

Meer Lansky

Just as influential as Lucky Luciano, if not more, Meer Lansky, whose real name is Meer Sukhomlyansky, was born in the city of Grodno, which then belonged to the Russian Empire. Having moved to America at a young age, Lansky learned the taste of the streets by fighting for money. Not only could Lansky take care of himself, but he was also exceptionally smart. Becoming an integral part of the emerging world of American organized crime, Lansky was at one point one of the most powerful men in the United States, if not the world, with operations in Cuba and several other countries.

Lansky, who was friends with such high-ranking mobsters as Bugsy Siegel and Lucky Luciano, was both a feared and respected man. He was a major player in the alcohol smuggling market during Prohibition, running a very profitable business. When things went better than expected, Lansky became nervous and decided to retire by emigrating to Israel. However, he was deported back to the US two years later, but still managed to avoid prison as he died of lung cancer at the age of 80.

Al Capone

Alfonso Gabriel Capone, nicknamed the Great Al, needs no introduction. Perhaps this is the most famous gangster in history and he is known all over the world. Capone came from a respected and prosperous family. At the age of 14, he was kicked out of school for hitting a teacher, and he decided to take a different path, plunging into the world of organized crime.

Under the influence of gangster Johnny Torrio, Capone began his path to fame. He earned a scar that earned him the nickname Scarface. Doing everything from alcohol smuggling to murder, Capone was immune to the police, free to move around and do as he pleased.

The games ended when Al Capone's name was implicated in a brutal massacre called the Valentine's Day Massacre. Several gangsters from rival gangs died in this massacre. The police could not attribute the crime to Capone himself, but they had other ideas: he was arrested for tax evasion and sentenced to eleven years in prison. Later, when the gangster's health deteriorated greatly due to illness, he was released on bail. He died of a heart attack in 1947, but the world of crime was changed forever.

There were and still are gangster groups in the world, which, due to their high organization and the number of loyal followers, began to be called the mafia. Some have become so famous for their power and cruelty that it is impossible not to include them in the TOP.

It appeared in Sicily at the beginning of the century before last, and after a hundred years of existence it turned into an organization of international scale. Initially, the mafia protected planters and nobles from their own attacks, something very similar happened in Russia in the 90s. But then the Sicilians expanded their activities to other aspects.

The group recognized as the most terrible. Even FBI agents name representatives of the Russian mafia the most dangerous people on the planet. Westerners consider not only Russian mafia, but also mafia structures of neighboring states to be the “Russian mafia”.

This criminal organization became famous for its active activities in the drug business. Members of the Mexican Mafia are distinguished by a special tattoo on their chest depicting a black hand. This organization was created in the 50s by representatives of a street gang serving time in a California prison. There were only thirteen organizers, some of them were members of another gang. La eMe was originally called Mexicananemi.

This largest and most dangerous crime syndicate originated in Japan. It contrasts greatly with other similar criminal organizations, for example, the Yakuza has its own office buildings, and their activities are widely covered in the press. The Yakuza love to make tattoos that are complex and multi-colored over the entire surface of the skin. Moreover, tattoos are made by manually injecting ink under the skin (irezumi). To decorate yourself in this way, you need to have a certain courage, as it causes severe pain.

The Triad is an association of secret criminal groups in China. This criminal society is distinguished by a common conviction and beliefs, for example, representatives firmly believe in secret meaning the numbers “3” (that’s where the name comes from). Today, triads have spread to Taiwan, America and other places of the Chinese diaspora. As a rule, the Triad specializes in drug trafficking.

By the way, representatives of the Triad are very patriotic; for example, when the outbreak of atypical mycoplasma pneumonia began, the organization offered a prize of one million US dollars to anyone who would find a cure for this disease.

This is the largest motorcycle club with branches scattered throughout the planet. It belongs to the “Big Four” outlaw clubs, and is considered the most sensational among them. IN law enforcement agencies In many countries they are known as the "motorcycle gang". They are involved in drug trafficking, banditry, resale of stolen goods, violence and murder.

As the legend posted on the Hells Angels website says, during the Second World War in the American air force There was a bomber squadron called the Hells Angels. After the war ended and the units were disbanded, the pilots were left without a livelihood. The offended bombers considered that their homeland had committed a betrayal, and decided to switch to bikes, unite in motorcycle clubs, with the goal of causing a rebellion across the entire system.

This mafia structure is involved in a variety of criminal activities: it sells drugs, weapons and even people, robs, kills, engages in racketeering, kidnapping, pimping, steals cars, launders money, etc.

To be able to operate in the territory occupied by the Mara Salvatrucha, street vendors and shop owners have to give almost 50 percent of their proceeds to the mafia. Salvadorans living in the United States are also forced to pay a kind of rent; if they do not pay, their relatives face imminent death or injury.

This criminal organization expanded its operations not only in Montreal, but also in Quebec and Ontario. One day, the Rizzutos merged with New York crime families, which eventually resulted in real wars in Montreal in the 70s. Rizzuto's representatives own real estate in all countries, with a total value of hundreds of millions of dollars. They also own hotels, restaurants, bars, discos, construction, food, trade organizations, furniture factories and much more.

This criminal group is a political-religious organization and has been banned for more than ten years. The Mungiki want to revive the traditional religion of Africa, but so far they have only achieved massacres and conflicts with government officials.