Italian Mafia Today: Does The Mafia Still Exist In Italy?

The Mafia continues to exist, persistently engaged in a wide range of illicit endeavors. Despite Mob figures achieving prominence in television and film, there’s a prevailing notion that the actual influence of the actual Mob is diminished compared to earlier times. 

The digital era has ushered in transparency in cash businesses, creating challenges in exerting dominance over competitors. Consequently, Italian Mafias have transformed and adjusted to the contemporary landscape, discovering avenues to flourish in the modern economy while maintaining a low profile.

What is The Mafia?

The Mafia, an intricate network of organized crime factions, extends its influence across Italy and the United States. The term “mafioso,” initially devoid of criminal implications in Sicily, once referred to individuals skeptical of central authority.

 Nevertheless, by the 19th century, select groups within the mafioso transitioned into criminal endeavors, ultimately shaping the Italian Mafia. This syndicate extended its reach, firmly establishing itself in the United States. The American Mafia, ascending to prominence during the 1920s, materialized as an independent entity distinct from its Italian precursor, while upholding shared practices like “omerta,” a code of honor and fidelity.

Originating from specific regions, five foundational Mafia groups are primarily categorized by their operational locales or points of origin. All five groups wield influence in global illicit activities, infiltrating numerous countries with their operatives. 

The Sicilian Mafia emerged on the island of Sicily. The Neapolitan Camorra Mafia began in Naples, while the Calabrian Mafia (also known as ‘Ndrangheta) originated in Italy’s Calabria region. A relatively recent addition, the Sacra Corona Unita (meaning United Sacred Crown) is centered in Puglia. Notably, “La Cosa Nostra” is often linked to the American Mafia, even though its roots can be traced back to Sicilian families and other Italian groups.

Mafia family nomenclature lacks a uniform pattern. Early mafia clans were named after their Italian place of origin, occasionally shifting to the boss’s name, particularly if the leader held significant power. Many families adopt the names of the cities they operate within. The Five Families of the New York Mafia were named after their most powerful mob bosses.

Also Read: Italian Mafia Ranks and Roles: Who is Who in the Mob?

Is The Mafia Still Active in Italy?

In the past, the Mafia wielded brutal unchecked power and killed whoever they wanted, a bloody legacy etched in the memory of many Italians. Yet, the Mafia’s violent tendencies have significantly dwindled over the last three decades. Membership in the Italian Mafia is said to have dropped drastically to 3,000 in Italy and another 3,000 in the U.S. 

They have revamped their operational strategies. The Italian Mafia has drastically curtailed the number of homicides it commits, opting for a more calculated and inconspicuous approach to violence. Presently, they deploy crimes like arson, physical assaults, and threats as intimidation tactics, which are less likely to attract police attention. Murder has now become a last-ditch option.

The peak of the violent clash between the Sicilian Mafia and the Italian state was in the early 1990s, marked by a series of brutal massacres, including the infamous 1992 bombing on Via D’Amelio that claimed six lives. In 1991, a staggering 1,916 homicides were reported, with 718 linked to the Mafia. 

Media extensively covered the events, politicians debated the organized crime menace in parliament, and the Mafia became a central topic in Italy’s public discourse. In response, stringent measures were taken, such as the “41-bis” prison regime, special provisions for municipalities potentially colluding with the Mafia, and the creation of a national anti-mafia directorate.

Data reveals a stark reduction in mafia-related homicides, plummeting from 718 in 1991 to merely 28 in 2019. In 2020, Italy recorded 271 homicides, a stark contrast to the nearly 2,000 in 1991. Remarkably, with 0.5 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants, Italy ranks among Europe’s lowest, trailing only Iceland and Slovenia. 

Modern-Day Mafia Is More Discreet

All of these factors imply that the reduction in homicide rates may be, to some extent, a calculated strategy. Criminal entities have discerned methods to operate discreetly, evading attention and operating freely. However, this doesn’t signify an absence of violence; rather, it’s channeled towards local officials who now bear the brunt of the Mafia’s aggression. 

These administrators receive menacing letters and face in-person hostility. Remarkably, this phenomenon largely eludes media scrutiny, which would certainly react if a national parliament member encountered such intimidation. Local officials’ encounters might occasionally grace local news but rarely make it to the national stage. This allows the Mafia to clandestinely exert influence on local politics while evading widespread media and political attention.

Election periods prove particularly sensitive, with mayors being prime targets for threats, especially in their initial days in office when local criminals perceive an opportunity to gain control. This tactic has facilitated the Mafia’s economic expansion. While the homicide rate has dwindled, the confiscation of assets and businesses from organized crime has surged, underscoring that a reduction in violent crime doesn’t necessarily correlate with other criminal activities. 

In 2019, assets tied to organized crime were seized in 11 Italian provinces, including those previously unaffected by Mafia operations. Simultaneously, the average amount of confiscated money in operations has spiked 20-fold since the 1990s. This suggests that far from retreating, the Mafia is infiltrating new regions across the country and uncovering more profitable avenues as it expands.

How Did Mafia Make Money and What They Do Now

Over its history, the Mafia has been involved in a wide array of illegal activities aimed at making profits. Their endeavors have spanned activities like alcohol distribution during Prohibition, trafficking narcotics, money laundering, counterfeiting, engaging in prostitution, and running illegal gambling operations. 

While smaller crimes such as thefts and muggings might contribute to their income, these activities often fall short of generating significant gains. Therefore, they often turn to more extensive strategies, like seizing entire shipments of stolen goods by hijacking trucks, to maximize their profits.

The Mafia’s influence spans from street-level drug trade to the upper echelons of governmental power. Infiltrating unions, they accessed the construction industry, positioning themselves within the unions’ highest ranks. By ousting legitimate workers and selling projects to the highest bidder, they manipulated construction contracts. 

In certain cases, Mafia groups built their construction firms, marketing products, and services at exorbitant rates. Their control over unions provided leverage over entire sectors, enabling them to halt or impede construction projects unless substantial payoffs were met, often tapping into significant union pension funds.

The Mafia extended its reach into legitimate businesses to serve as both operational bases and money laundering fronts. Unregulated or cash-centric sectors, which polite society often shunned, became their favored domains. Notably, waste management became tightly intertwined with organized crime. 

As conventional criminal activities waned, the Mafia evolved to suit modern circumstances, thriving in today’s economy. Although it might maintain a lower profile, its influence persists within select industries, union halls, and behind the curtains of political arenas.

Let’s take a look at some of the businesses and industries that are allegedly controlled by the Mafia today.

Businesses Controlled By The Mafia

Restaurants and Pizzerias: Some lucky diners have experienced the Mafia’s culinary ties at iconic spots like Rao’s and Umberto’s Clam House. Lesser-known places like PortuCale Restaurant & Bar in Newark, allegedly a money-laundering hub for the Genovese family, also offer delectable dishes. This foodie reputation has a history. In the ’80s, the “pizza connection” transported drugs via mob-run pizzerias using San Marzano tomato cans. Today, Mafia-linked eateries abound. Coldiretti estimates over 5,000 Mafia-run restaurants in Italy alone, warning of the “agro mafia” penetrating the food chain, from farmland to markets.

Waste Management: Organized crime’s grip on the garbage industry stretches back decades. La Cosa Nostra was part of New York’s sanitation system since the ’50s. Mafia members manipulated trash routes and employed strong-arm tactics through the Teamsters Union. Although its hold lessened in New York, Mafia involvement remains in places like Philadelphia and New Jersey. Internationally, Italy’s Camorra has controlled Naples’ garbage system since the ’80s. Their mismanagement led to trash piles and toxic waste dumping, affecting the environment and human health.

Real Estate: While the Mafia may not control real estate outright, mobsters often invest in it, exploiting opportunities for scams. During the pre-2008 housing bubble and its aftermath, Dominick DeVito of the Genovese family orchestrated a scheme in Westchester County, buying and selling houses for substantial profits. The group manipulated mortgages, leading to foreclosures, and even made insurance claims for deliberately damaged properties. Relaxed lending practices pre-bust also inadvertently aided loansharking. In Canada, the Mafia acted as consultants, profiting from real estate transactions. An Italian study highlighted real estate’s appeal, offering bases for activities, limited regulations, and prestige for the family’s reputation.

Summary

The Mafia persists in various illicit activities despite its diminishing public prominence. In the digital age, transparency in cash businesses has forced Italian Mafias to adapt and evolve. Membership in La Cosa Nostra reportedly dropped to 3,000 in both Italy and the U.S. The Mafia’s violent tendencies have waned, resorting to calculated intimidation tactics over outright murder. 

While the 1990s saw brutal clashes between the Sicilian Mafia and Italy’s state, today’s Mafia operates discreetly, targeting local officials. Despite reduced homicides, Mafia engagement in illicit activities remains high, expanding its presence even in new territories. It’s notable in the restaurant, waste management, and real estate sectors.

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