What is the Sicilian mafia doing now? Sicilian mafia boss

, and in 1866 it was used by the British consul in Sicily, who reported to the leadership about “... juntas elected by the mafia (Spanish.junta- “meeting, committee, association”), which participate in the income of workers, maintain contacts with criminals.”

The organization the consul spoke about has historical origin. The word most likely has Arabic roots: mu`afah. This term has many meanings: security, skill, skill, safety, efficiency.

But there is more nice option origin. During the uprising of March 30, 1282, which broke out in Sicily and went down in history under the name "Sicilian Vespers", the cry was born M orte a lla F rancia, I talia a nela! (“Death to France, sigh, Italy!”). The initial letters of this slogan make up the word "MAFIA".

It is even more difficult to identify the fundamentals of an organization. According to many historians, the seed from which this criminal organization sprang was sown back in the 12th century, when secret associations appeared against the Holy Roman Empire of the German nation. (Sacrum Romanorum Imperium Nationis Germaniae).

Some sources point to the Bourbon dynasty, who used the services of former brigands to patrol remote parts of the island's interior. They, in turn, quickly began to take bribes, turning a blind eye to some points.

Many specialists also start from the founding of the so-called gabellotti organization, which collected tribute for the state or acted as intermediaries between peasants and landowners.

They quickly got rich by intimidating the former and acting as representatives of the others. The Gabelloti, realizing what kind of power fell into their hands, created a separate caste, the basis of which was a code of honor and a semi-official structure.

All these theories have one thing in common common element: a huge gulf that from time immemorial separated the Sicilians from representatives of the “alien” government.

No one, anywhere, felt as helpless and humiliated as the rootless Sicilian peasant, forced to hard labor in local latifundia - large feudal landholdings owned by eternally absent rulers who were residents of Naples or Palermo. The latifundium system was invented in Ancient Rome and existed until the Second World War. As you can see, where the usual system of power and justice could not cope, the question of the appearance of local judges - the so-called amici (friends) or uomini d'onore (men of honor) - was only a matter of time.

In the book "Trip to Sicily and Malta"(Viaggio in Sicilia e a Malta), the English traveler and writer Brydone Patrick (1743-1818) posted the following comment in 1773:

“These banditti are the most respected people on the island, with the noblest and most romantic sentiments, which are taken as a matter of honor; they show their respect to each other, as well as to everyone to whom they have ever sworn allegiance; Moreover, they show the most unshakable loyalty. Administrative and judicial officials are often obliged to protect them, and even to please them. These banditti are also known to be full of determination and desperation. So vengeful that they will not hesitate to kill anyone who is even suspected of provocations.”

These words can be repeated 200 years later.

Most people do not know, however, that Italy once came close to defeating this organization. During his reign, the legendary police chief, Cesare Morti, resorted to brutal and illegal methods in the fight against the mafia. And if not for the second world war, perhaps he would have been able to destroy her forever. Ironically, the American intervention evened out the forces. When preparing for the landing of soldiers in Sicily, they had only one reliable source of intelligence - the mafia.

Contacts with her were established through American gangsters of Italian origin, such as Lucky Luciano.

I, in turn, would like to quote an excerpt from the book “The Great Godfather” by Vito Bruschini:

“In an atmosphere of social and political collapse, the mafia, with the support of its allies, began to regain control over the territory of the island and the distribution of basic food products.

Food was brought to Palermo based on the population of four hundred and fifty thousand people. In fact, when the bombing of the city began, two-thirds of the residents chose to leave for the countryside, where everyone had relatives or acquaintances. So, after the products were distributed using ration cards among the remaining residents of the city, Most of the food went to the black market.

Gathering his trusted friends, Don Calo explained to them that helping the American secret service agents would almost certainly guarantee freedom of action on the island after the end of the war. That is why you should cooperate with your American friends in all actions, including sabotage against German and Italian troops.

This began to happen with the beginning of spring. At the Nazi military base where she was stationed tank brigade Goering, gas oil barrels were replaced by barrels filled with water mixed with oil. The engines of tanks filled with this mixture burned out, and combat vehicles stuck in repair shops for a long time. The navy also constantly suffered from sabotage: the ships were forced to remain in port due to various damages.”

After occupying the island, the alliance strengthened the mafia, often appointing its important members to the leadership of the military government. Of the 66 Sicilian cities, 62 were entrusted to individuals with criminal origins. The mafia's further rise was fueled by the post-war construction boom in Italy, which became the source of huge fortunes for the mafia, who invested laundered money in legitimate businesses or multiplied it through drugs, which changed the nature of the mafia forever.
IN recent years the police won several battles. The most great success There was the arrest in 2006 of godfather Bernardo Provenzano. Convicted in absentia of more than a dozen murders, the 73-year-old mafioso was captured in a Sicilian farm hideout.

Despite some legal successes, the destruction of the mafia is unlikely. Mainly because it is already very firmly integrated with the Italian economy. It's not without reason that Italians call the mafia la piovra – octopus.

In my opinion personal experience and opinion - I am sure that the mafia exists and will exist. Once I asked my good friend Mario, who worked for 30 years as a Sicilian, does it exist? To which they received a series of emotional statements that it does not exist, it has long been defeated, these are all inventions of journalists, writers, and so on.

Well, taking my experience of study and interest this issue, as well as the statements of many of my Italian friends to the contrary, I am even more convinced and respect this structure.

I hope the following quotes from my favorite books by writers Mario Puzo and Vito Bruschini will clarify the concept of the mafia for you:

“Once upon a time in the south of Italy (particularly in Sicily), anyone who talked too much could be killed by the mafiosi and his tongue cut out. So that everyone knows why he was punished. The flower on the corpse hinted at love affairs. The mafia always killed for some offense.

During the period of rampant terrorism in Italy, one Sicilian boasted that on his island there were no terrorist attacks that would take the lives of innocent people (for example, bombs in a cafe, at a train station, etc.). Not like on mainland Italy! “With us,” he said, “the mafia will immediately find the culprit and he will be in trouble.”

“In the neighboring province of Cinesi, perhaps the largest and poorest in Sicily, one small village clan was headed by a cruel, fearless bandit named Fissolini. In his village, he had absolute power and had virtually no connections with other clans of the island. He had no idea how much power Don Aprile had; he could not imagine that this power could reach his godforsaken village. He decided to kidnap Don Aprile and get a ransom for him. He, of course, understood that he was breaking one of the unwritten laws: by kidnapping Don Aprile, he was invading the territory of another family, but he reasoned that it was worth the risk for such rich booty.

Cosca, family, clan,- The basic cell of the mafia and usually consists of blood relatives. Law-abiding citizens, for example, lawyers or doctors, do not break, but rather strengthen ties with their clan, because it defends their interests. Each clan is closed organizational structure, but he can ally with a stronger and more influential clan. The entire set of clans is usually called the mafia. But it does not have a single leader or commander.

Each clan usually specializes in a certain area of certain territory.One controls the price of water and prevents the government from building dams that would lower the price. In a certain sense, this clan is destroying the state monopoly on power. Another can control the market for food and essential goods. At that time, the most powerful in Sicily were considered to be the cosca Clericuzio from Palermo, this clan dominated all the new construction on the island, and the cosca Corleone from Corleone, who controlled many Roman politicians and ensured the transportation of drugs around the world. There were also greedy clans that took money from romantic young men for the right to sing under the balconies of their loved ones.

All clans regulated crime. They did not tolerate those who robbed respectable citizens who honestly gave their clan a share of the income.

Both robbers and rapists faced the same punishment - death. And, of course, all clans did not tolerate adultery. In such cases, both the man and the woman were executed. No one had any questions.

Cosca Fissolini lived from bread to water. This clan controlled the sale of holy icons, took payments from farmers for guarding their herds, and kidnapped the rich who had lost their vigilance.

And when Don Aprile and little Astorre walked leisurely along the street of the village, two army trucks with Fissolini, who had no idea who he raised his hand against, and his people stopped nearby with a squeal of brakes ... "

From the book “Omerta”, Mario Puzo.

“Omerta is a Sicilian code of honor that prohibits informing anyone about crimes that people who have aroused suspicion may have committed.”

“At the head of the Corleone family clan was the Don, he directed all the activities of the family and determined its policies. Three layers, three buffers separated the Don from those who carried out his will and directly carried out his orders. Thus, not a single trail could lead to the top. On one condition. If he doesn't betray the consigliori. That Sunday, Don Corleone gave detailed instructions in the morning on what to do with the two youths who had maimed Amerigo Bonasera’s daughter. But he gave these orders to Tom Higen, face to face. During the day, Hagen, also alone, without witnesses, conveyed these instructions to Clemenza. Clemenza, in turn, ordered Paulie Gatto to carry out the order. Paulie Gatto was left to pick up the right people and do exactly what he was told. Neither Paulie Gateau nor his people will know what caused this order, or from whom it originally came.

To establish that the Don was involved in it, every link in this chain must turn out to be unreliable - this has never happened before, but where is the guarantee that this will not happen? However, a remedy was provided for this case too. One link, the key one, must disappear.

Besides, consigliori was really what the word means. That is, the Don’s adviser, his first assistant, his second head. And also - the most faithful comrade and closest friend. It was he who drove the Don’s car during important business trips; he left the meeting to buy fresh cigars for the Don, coffee and sandwiches. He knew everything, or almost everything, that the don knew, everything down to the last cell in the power structure. Only he, the only one in the world, had the opportunity to crush the Don if he wanted.

But there has never been a case of a consigliori betraying his don, at least in the memory of one of the influential Sicilian clans settled in America. It would be an option without a future.

On the other hand, every consigliori knew that serving faithfully would bring him wealth, power and honor. And if trouble strikes, they will care about the well-being of his wife and children no worse than if he himself were alive and well and free. But this is when serving faithfully.

“In this ancient garden, the roots that gave birth to people like his father were exposed to Michael. He learned that the word "mafia" originally meant "haven."

Then it became the name of a secret organization that arose to confront the rulers who had suppressed this country and its people for hundreds of years. History does not know a region that has been subjected to such brutal violence. Like a tornado, the Inquisition walked around the island, not distinguishing who was poor and who was rich. The noble landowners and princes of the Catholic Church subjugated the peasants and shepherds with an iron hand.

The instrument of this power was the police, so identified by the people with the rulers that...

Looking for ways to survive under the merciless heel of autocracy, tormented people learned to never show resentment or anger. Never utter words of threat, since in response to a threat, ahead of its execution, punishment will immediately follow. Do not forget that society is your enemy and if you want to get even with it for injustice, you need to go to the secret rebels, to the mafia.

It was the mafia, gaining strength, that introduced omerta in Sicily - mutual responsibility, a law commanding silence. IN rural areas a passerby or traveler who asks for directions to the nearest town will simply not be honored with an answer.

For a Mafia member, the greatest crime is to tell the police, for example, who shot him. Or hurt him. Omerta became a religion for people. The woman whose husband was killed will not tell the police the name of the killer, the name of the one who tortured her child and raped her daughter. People knew that they couldn’t get justice from the authorities, and they followed it to the mafia as their intercessor. »

The Godfather, Mario Puzo

5 best books about the Italian mafia

↘️🇮🇹 USEFUL ARTICLES AND SITES 🇮🇹↙️ SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS

The modern world has many criminal groups, and each has its own leader, its own boss, its own head. But comparing the current leaders of the mafia and criminal organizations with the bosses of past dashing years is a matter doomed to failure and criticism. Past bosses of the criminal world created entire empires of evil and violence, extortion and drug trafficking. Their so-called families lived according to their own laws, and violation of these laws foreshadowed death and cruel punishment for disobedience. We bring to your attention a list of the most legendary and influential mafiosi in history.

10
(1974 - present time)

Once the leader of one of the largest drug cartels in Mexico, which is called Los Zetas. At the age of 17 he entered the Mexican army, and later worked in special squad to fight the drug cartel. The transition to the side of the traders occurred after he was recruited into the Golfo cartel. The private mercenary force Los Zetas hired from the organization later grew into the largest drug cartel in Mexico. Heriberto dealt very harshly with his competitors, for which his criminal group was given the nickname “Executioners.”

9
(1928 — 2005)

Since 1981, he led the Genovese family, while everyone considered Antonio Salermo to be the boss of the family. Vincent was nicknamed "Crazy Boss" for his, to put it mildly, inappropriate behavior. But, it was only for the authorities; Gigante’s lawyers spent 7 years bringing certificates indicating that he was crazy, thereby avoiding a sentence. Vincent's people controlled crime throughout New York and other major American cities.

8
(1902 – 1957)

The boss of one of the five mafia families of criminal America. The head of the Gambino family, Albert Anastasia, had two nicknames - “The Chief Executioner” and “The Mad Hatter”, and the first was given to him because his group “Murder, Inc.” was responsible for about 700 deaths. He was a close friend of Lucky Luciano, whom he considered his teacher. It was Anastasia who helped Lucky take control of the entire criminal world, carrying out contract killings for him of the bosses of other families.

7
(1905 — 2002)

Patriarch of the Bonanno family and the richest mobster in history. The history of the reign of Joseph, who was called “Banana Joe,” goes back 30 years; after this period, Bonanno voluntarily retired and lived in his personal huge mansion. The Castellamarese War, which lasted 3 years, is considered one of the most significant events in criminal world. Ultimately, Bonanno organized a crime family that still operates in the United States.

6
(1902 – 1983)

Meir was born in Belarus, the city of Grodno. A native of the Russian Empire became the most influential person in the United States and one of the country's crime leaders. He is the creator of the National Crime Syndicate and the parent of the gambling business in the states. He was the largest bootlegger (illegal liquor dealer) during Prohibition.

5
(1902 – 1976)

It was Gambino who became the founder of one of the most influential families in criminal America. After seizing control of a number of highly profitable areas, including illegal bootlegging, a government port and an airport, the Gambino family becomes the most powerful of the five families. Carlo forbade his people from selling drugs, considering this type of business dangerous and attracting public attention. At its height, the Gambino family consisted of more than 40 groups and teams, and controlled New York, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, Miami and Los Angeles.

4
(1940 – 2002)

John Gotti was a famous figure, the press loved him, he was always dressed to the nines. Numerous charges law enforcement agencies New Yorkers always failed, Gotti got away with it for a long time. For this, the press nicknamed him “Teflon John.” He received the nickname “Elegant Don” when he began to dress only in fashionable and stylish suits with expensive ties. John Gotti has been the leader of the Gambino family since 1985. During the reign, the family was one of the most influential.

3
(1949 – 1993)

The most cruel and daring Colombian drug lord. He went down in the history of the 20th century as the most brutal criminal and the head of the largest drug cartel. He organized the supply of cocaine to different parts of the world, mainly to the USA, on a grand scale, even transporting tens of kilograms on airplanes. During his entire activity as the head of the Medellin cocaine cartel, he was involved in the murders of more than 200 judges and prosecutors, more than 1,000 police officers and journalists, presidential candidates, ministers, and prosecutors general. Escobar's net worth in 1989 was more than $15 billion.

2
(1897 – 1962)

Originally from Sicily, Lucky became, in fact, the founder of the criminal world in America. His real name is Charles, Lucky, which means “Lucky”, they began to call him after he was taken to a deserted highway, tortured, beaten, cut, burned in the face with cigarettes, and he remained alive after that. The people who tortured him were Maranzano gangsters; they wanted to know the location of the drug cache, but Charles remained silent. After unsuccessful torture, they abandoned the bloody body without any signs of life by the road, thinking that Luciano was dead, where he was picked up by a patrol car 8 hours later. He received 60 stitches and survived. After this incident, the nickname “Lucky” remained with him forever. Luckey organized the Big Seven, a group of bootleggers to whom he provided protection from the authorities. He became the boss of Cosa Nostra, which controlled all areas of activity in the criminal world.

1
(1899 – 1947)

A legend of the underworld of those times and the most famous mafia boss in history. He was a prominent representative of criminal America. His areas of activity were bootlegging, prostitution, and gambling. Known as the organizer of the most brutal and significant day in the criminal world - the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, when seven influential gangsters from Bugs Moran's Irish gang were shot dead, including the boss's right hand. Al Capone was the first among all gangsters to “launder” money through a huge network of laundries, the prices of which were very low. Capone was the first to introduce the concept of “racketeering” and successfully dealt with it, laying the foundation for a new vector of mafia activity. Alfonso received the nickname “Scarface” at the age of 19, when he worked in a billiards club. He allowed himself to object to the cruel and seasoned criminal Frank Galluccio, moreover, he insulted his wife, after which a fight and a stabbing occurred between the bandits, as a result of which Al Capone received the famous scar on his left cheek. By right, Al Capone was the most influential person and terrifying at everyone, including the government, which was able to put him behind bars just for tax evasion.

If you ask the first person you meet which country is the birthplace of the mafia, even the least knowledgeable person will give the correct answer without much thought: Italy. This country can actually be called the “flower garden” of the mafia, which has become one of the favorite topics in history and cinema textbooks.

It cannot be said that the mafiosi did something positive and outstanding, but many still admire the unsurpassed talent of the most famous criminals, most of which, of course, have Italian roots.

Al Capone, of course, this name is well known not only in the sunniest country located on the Apennine Peninsula, but throughout the world. The name is scandalous famous gangster is probably the most recognizable. And no wonder: several films were made about Capone, the most popular of which was the 1987 film “The Untouchables” with Robert De Niro in the title role.

The story of the notorious Mafia figure, who was born in Brooklyn in 1889 after his family migrated to the United States, begins in 1919 when he entered the employ of Johnny Torii. In 1925, he headed the Torii family and since then his “criminal” career has grown rapidly. Soon Capone was no longer afraid of anyone or anything: his people were engaged in gambling, selling drugs and prostitution. He earned a reputation as an honest, intelligent, but endlessly cruel person.

One need only remember the famous St. Valentine's Day massacre, when a group led by a gangster killed many mafia leaders.

When the police were lucky enough to apprehend the great criminal, they simply could not charge him with anything other than tax evasion. However, in the end, Al Capone still ended up behind bars: he was in famous prison Alcatraz, from where he left seven years later fatal disease and soon died.

• We recommend reading about:

Bernardo Provenzano

Bernardo Provenzano, a native of a small village located on, was simply destined to become one of the members of the group of the same name. Already in his youth he fell into the Corleone clan, and after a couple of years he had already killed several people and carried out a lot of illegal transactions. For 10 years, the name Provenzano hung in police stations on the “Wanted” stand, but the local carabinieri did not even try to find this dangerous criminal. Meanwhile he continued to move along career ladder and gain authority. It was rumored that Provenzano for some time controlled all the illegal business in Palermo, from drug sales to prostitution. He was known for his intransigence and stubbornness, for which he received the nickname Bulldozer.

Many years later, the police managed to detain the criminal: they saw a thin old man in ordinary jeans and a T-shirt. Provenzano will spend the rest of his days in prison.

• We recommend a tour in Sicily:

Albert Anastasia

Like many of his colleagues, Albert Anastasia was born in sunny Italy (the city of Tropea), but soon after his birth he migrated with his parents to America. The first time he went to prison was in his youth, when he killed a longshoreman in Brooklyn. He was sentenced to several years, but after some time the main witness in the Anastasia case died in mysterious circumstances, and the criminal himself was released.

Albert Anastasia gained fame as one of the most ruthless killers America.

He was a member of the Masseria gang, but over time he went over to the side of his boss’s competitors, and a couple of years later he was even present at the murder former boss. After this, Anastasia became the head of the gang of highly professional killers “Murder Inc.”, the Gambino clan. Police say the group has been involved in at least 400 deaths. The killer himself was killed on the order of one of the American mafiosi.

↘️🇮🇹 USEFUL ARTICLES AND SITES 🇮🇹↙️ SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS

Therefore, initially, when the mafia appeared in the USA in particular, in the local underworld the Italians were perceived with a degree of irony, because They were engaged in petty robbery and racketeering, which was usual for them in Italy, without any special aspirations to control large business structures. At the time, major American cities were largely dominated by Jewish and Irish criminal gangs.

However, almost unquestioning loyalty to the code of honor - omerta, immediate vendetta (blood feud) against family offenders, discipline and loyalty to the family and incredible cruelty allowed Italian groups to quickly take leading roles in the American underworld.

Seize and control almost all areas of business, bribe most of the largest judges and officials in the country. To kill competition in many industries, for example, the “twin towers” ​​were forced to pay a waste removal company controlled by the Italians 1 million 100 thousand dollars a year (in those years this was a huge amount). Moreover, the mafiosi did not do any intimidation, they simply did not allow other companies to enter this market, this company was the only such company in the New York market!

Gambino mafia family

Loyalty to tradition in the Italian mafia

Loyalty to tradition left its bright imprint on the criminal code of honor, since for the most part all family members were exemplary family men and cases of betrayal were quite rare, even despite the fact that the mafia controlled almost all entertainment businesses: prostitution, gambling, alcohol and cigarettes. Cheating on one's wife was perceived by the family as a slap in the face and was brutally suppressed. Of course, in the modern age everything has changed a lot, but this tradition lasted for quite a long time. Showing attention to the wives of friends and family members was strictly taboo.

Due to the fact that the profession of mafia members was accompanied by a certain risk to life, each family member knew perfectly well that in the event of his death, his family would be taken care of financially no worse than when he was alive.

Long years of oppression of the Sicilians by an aggressive government have led to the fact that the word “policeman” can still get you a slap in the face in Sicily. One of the most important points Omerta is a complete lack of contact with the police, much less cooperation with them. A person will never be accepted into a family if his close relative serves in the police; even appearing on the street in the company of police officers was punishable, sometimes at the highest standard - death.

This tradition allowed the mafia to exist for a very long time without any problems with the US government. The US government did not recognize the existence of the Italian mafia until the mid-20th century, due to insufficient information about the structure and extent of penetration of organized crime into business and politics.

Mafia clans in the USA

Alcoholism and drug addiction were considered a vice, but despite the ban, many family members were addicted to both, one of the least observed laws of omerta, but family members who drank and stabbed themselves, as a rule, did not live long and died at the hands of their own comrades.

No person can enter the family by introducing himself as a capo or mafia don; the only way to get into the family is the recommendation of a family member and his willingness to introduce you to the family. There are no other ways.

Strict punctuality; you must not be late for any meeting; this is considered bad manners. The same rule includes showing respect for any meetings, including meetings with enemies. There should be no killings during them. One of the reasons that numerous wars between various families and clans of the Italian mafia quickly subsided, at meetings a truce was declared and often the dons of the families found common language and solved the accumulated problems.

When talking with any family member, even the smallest lie is considered a betrayal, the duty of each family member in response to asked question to tell the truth, whatever it may be, naturally the rule applies only to members of one criminal group. The strictness of execution was, in fact, monitored at the lower levels of the hierarchical structure; naturally, in the upper layers of the hierarchy, lies and betrayal existed right up to murder right hand head of the family.

Do not lead an idle lifestyle, full compliance with moral principles

No family member had the right to engage in looting and robbery without the approval of the boss or capo. Visiting places of entertainment unless necessary or directly ordered was strictly prohibited. The law also allowed the mafia to remain in the shadows, because an intoxicated family member could blurt out a lot of things, where this information could cause significant damage to the family.

Appropriating other people's money without any instructions from the head of the family was a strict taboo. From childhood, young men were brought up within the framework of the laws of devotion to the family, that it is a great shame to be an outcast, that without a family a person’s life has no meaning. In this regard, in the circles of the Italian mafia, “lone wolves” were very, very rarely encountered, and if they were encountered, they did not live long; such behavior was punishable by immediate death.

Vendetta - blood feud

As justice for failure to comply with the laws of omerta, a vendetta awaited the violator, which in different clans could be accompanied by various rituals. By the way, blood feud against both a family member and any other offender or enemy of the family had to be quick and without unnecessary torment for the victim, such as: a shot in the head or heart, a wound with a knife in the heart, etc. Those. the victim did not have to suffer all according to the “Christian” canons, however, after death, the victim’s body could already be treated barbarously and with considerable cruelty to intimidate the enemy or educate other family members.

There were also different traditions in different clans: for excessive talkativeness, a cobblestone was inserted into the corpse's mouth; for adultery, a rose was placed on the body; placing a wallet with a thorn on the body of the victim meant that the murdered person had embezzled other people's money. You can hear a lot of different fables about this; now it’s difficult to discern where the truth is and where the lie is.

An interesting fact is that the laws of omerta fell into the hands of the police and journalists only in 2007, during the arrest of Salvatore La Piccola, one of the bosses of Cosa Nostra; they were found among the documents found during the search and poetically called in the press “10 Commandments of Cosa Nostra”. Until this moment, no documentary evidence of the rules of the code of honor of the Italian mafiosi existed, so secretly was the criminal network organized.

It is not surprising that such an organizational structure has taken root throughout all countries of Europe, Northern and South America, but oddly enough the only one European country Where Italian mafia does not have any serious influence is Russia and countries former USSR. It is difficult to imagine what this is connected with, including the absence of emigrants of Italian origin, language barrier and slightly different moral standards of the local population and a fairly strong local criminal network.

Illustration copyright EPA Image caption The alleged leader of the group, Carmine Spada (center), was detained in Rome in January.

Italian police raided and arrested dozens of people in the Naples area, Rome and Agrigento in Sicily as part of an anti-mafia campaign.

The detainees are accused of smuggling, extortion, contract killings, bribes to politicians, organizing prostitution, and theft of art objects. The list of crimes is extensive.

What is the Italian mafia like today?

"GoatNacute" - Sicilian mafia

Sicilian gangs created a model that was then adopted by mafia groups around the world. They emerged as a formidable force in Sicily in the 1800s, and subsequently grew steadily in power and sophistication.

"Cosa Nostra" is translated from Sicilian as "our business." This was the name of the first mafia, the foundation of which was laid by family clans.

She is known for her code of honor, omerta, which requires absolute loyalty. The informers faced torture and death, and their families faced punishment.

Even today, members of the mafia in Sicily are used to resolve commercial disputes and recover stolen goods, preferring their services to the slow-moving legal machine. However, many people hate the “protection protection” practiced by the mafia, when entrepreneurs are forced to pay for the “protection” of their business.

Cosa Nostra gained fame in the United States by engaging in racketeering and feuding with other gangs in Chicago, New York and other cities. The group was able to significantly strengthen itself thanks to the trade in counterfeit alcohol during the Prohibition period in the 1920s.

The FBI says the American crime syndicate as a whole has no ties to the Italian clans. Cosa Nostra's main source of income is the heroin trade.

If you say the word “mafia” these days, many will immediately remember the film “The Godfather” with Marlon Brando. In Sicilian, the word "mafia" is related to the word "courageous". The term is often used incorrectly and inappropriately in relation to all organized criminal groups.

Some Italian mafia organizations operate in other countries, competing with other equally brutal mafia gangs from Russia, China, Albania and other countries. In some cases, gangs coordinate their actions and then divide the loot.

"Cosa Nostra" made its way into the local and public policy not only in Italy, but also in the USA.

But even in Italy high-profile scandals ties associated with corruption do not always imply the participation of the mafia. Loud trial in Rome revealed a grandiose corruption scheme, but the mafia was not involved in it.

According to the FBI, there are now 25 thousand members in the ranks of Cosa Nostra and three other major mafia groups - Camorra, 'Ndrangheta and Sacra Corona Unite. In total, 250 thousand people are associated with them in the world.

When Cosa Nostra was headed godfather Salvatore Riina, the group was essentially at war with the Italian state.

Illustration copyright AFP Image caption A memorial has been erected at the site where prosecutor Falcone died at the hands of Cosa Nostra.

In May 1992, Riina's people blew up the car of prosecutor Giovanni Falcone near Palermo. As a result, the prosecutor himself, his wife and three bodyguards died.

• "The Beast" of Corleone Toto Riina dies in prison
• How businessmen in Sicily fight the rural mafia

Two months later, the new prosecutor, Paolo Borsellino, was also killed. His car was blown up in Palermo.

Riina died in prison in November 2017 at the age of 87. He was serving a life sentence.

Illustration copyright AFP Image caption This mafia-owned villa near Corleone in Palermo was confiscated and turned into a hotel

Cosa Nostra also reached out to some EU economic projects in Sicily through local contractors. In 2010, a BBC investigation revealed that, among other business projects, the mafia structure received funds from wind farms.

Sicilian society does not intend to give up. The anti-mafia group Libera Terra is engaged in business projects, including the hotel business, using funds seized from the mafia.

Federico Varese, an employee of the University of Oxford who specializes in the study of the mafia, said that Cosa Nostra is now engaged in providing protection for overnight stays for migrants, which are funded by the state.

But some migrant gangs are trying to compete with the mafia in areas such as prostitution, Varese told the BBC. He added that Italian police in Sicily were putting "huge pressure" on the mafia.

"Camorra" - Neapolitan mafia

The Camorra clans in Naples and Caserta consist of approximately 4,500 people.

Their main area of ​​activity is drugs. Gang members are extremely violent. They also extort money from construction firms, toxic waste disposal companies and clothing manufacturers. These include workshops staffed primarily by Chinese who counterfeit popular clothing brands.

Illustration copyright AFP Image caption These dilapidated houses in the Scampia district of Naples are a famous Camorra hangout.

In 2006, the book "Gomorrah" was published, in which Italian journalist Roberto Saviano documented daily life and principles of the group's work.

Shortly after the book was published, Saviano began receiving threats. Today he lives under the protection of the authorities: bodyguards are always near Saviano, and his place of residence is not disclosed.

In an interview with American CBS radio, Saviano said that the Camorra and the 'Ndrangheta differ from Cosa Nostra in having a less strict hierarchy and younger leaders, and in their activities there is "much more blood." According to Saviano, today these two groups are stronger than Cosa Nostra and less involved in politics than it.

The Camorra's extensive network of drug traffickers operates even in Spain, but the center of the syndicate has always been in poor areas of Naples, such as Scampia and Secondigliano.

Illustration copyright Getty Images Image caption Roberto Saviano with bodyguards at the 2013 film festival

Gang clashes in Ostia, one of the poor suburbs of Rome, are also associated with the Camorra. A few months ago, a scandal erupted in Italy after a member of the Spada mafia clan head-butted a television journalist while the camera was on.

As Professor Varese notes, women traditionally play an important role in the structure of the Camorra clans - they usually work as couriers and “accountants” who issue money to clan members.

Calabrian mafia - "Ndrangheta"

Calabria - the "toe" of the Italian "boot" on the world map - is one of the poorest regions of Italy. The province is located near Sicily, and the 'Ndrangheta began its existence as an offshoot of Cosa Nostra.

The name of this group comes from the Greek "andragathia", which means "valor".

According to the FBI, the 'Ndrangheta today consists of about six thousand people.

Illustration copyright AFP Image caption In 2008, one of the leaders of the 'Ndrangheta, Pasquale Condello, was arrested

The 'Ndrangheta's specialty is cocaine smuggling. Professor Varese says the group is directly linked to Mexican and Colombian gangs. By some estimates, the 'Ndrangheta controls up to 80% of the cocaine trade in Europe.

The 'Ndrangheta also has influence in northern Italy - the group controls part of the criminal business in the vicinity of Turin. In Calabria, the 'Ndrangheta is accused of stealing much of the aid for the poor.

In 2007, in Duisburg, Germany, the 'Ndrangheta showed its cruelty. Six Italians associated with the syndicate were killed in the city. The criminals left their bodies in two cars near an Italian restaurant.

Apulian Mafia - "Sacra Corona Unita"

The smallest of the Italian mafia clans, Sacra Corona Unita (United Sacred Crown), is based in Puglia, in southeastern Italy.

According to FBI estimates, the group has about two thousand members, and its specialization is the smuggling of cigarettes, weapons, drugs and people.

Puglia's geographic location makes the region an ideal port for smuggling from the Balkans. It is believed that the Apulian clans are closely connected with Eastern European organized crime groups.