NCJ Number
150078
Journal
Cahiers de la Securite Interieure Issue: 14 Dated: (August-October 1993) Pages: 167-178
Date Published
1993
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This article explains the structure of organized crime in Italy, the international activities of the Mafia, and necessary improvements in the Italian fight against organized crime.
Abstract
Aside from numerous minor groups, four large crime families work in Italy: the Mafia (186 families, about 5,000 members), the N'drangheta (144 families, about 5,300 members), the Camorra (126 groups, about 6,200 members), and the most recent organization, the Sacra Corona Unita. While the Mafia appears to be structured hierarchically, the N'drangheta and the Camorra give more power to the individual families. After spreading to international markets in the early 20th Century, the Mafia has recently attempted to gain the monopoly on the cocaine market for Italy and perhaps all of Europe. However, they appear to have failed. Nevertheless, they remain heavily involved in international drug trafficking, money laundering, arms trade, counterfeiting, and currency speculations. The article suggests three improvements in the Italian fight against organized crime: (1) making the complex existing organized crime legislation more effective, (2) keeping this legislation flexible and responsive to the ever-changing shapes of the organizations, and (3) improving regulations and crime prevention measures to curb the opportunities of organized crime and make existing legal markets less vulnerable to mob penetration.