The Mafia, also known as the Cosa Nostra, is a secret criminal society that originated in Sicily, Italy in the late 19th century. The group gained notoriety for their ruthless tactics, including extortion, racketeering, and murder. Over the years, the Mafia expanded its reach to other countries, including the United States, where they established a strong presence in major cities such as New York, Chicago, and Las Vegas.
Despite law enforcement efforts to dismantle the Mafia over the years, the organization still exists today, albeit in a much more subdued form than in its heyday. While traditional Mafia activities such as loan sharking, gambling, and drug trafficking still occur, the group has largely shifted its focus to white-collar crimes such as fraud and money laundering.
One of the reasons for the Mafia’s decline is increased law enforcement efforts, including the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, which allos for the prosecution of entire criminal organizations. Additionally, the rise of other criminal organizations, such as street gangs and drug cartels, has cut into the Mafia’s profits and influence.
However, the Mafia still maintains a significant presence in certain industries, particularly in the restaurant and bar industry. In some areas, the Mafia is still involved in labor unions and construction, using their influence to secure contracts and keep out competition.
In terms of geography, the Mafia is still active in the United States, with a strong presence in New York, New Jersey, and other major cities. The five major Mafia families in New York City (Bonanno, Colombo, Gambino, Genovese, and Lucchese) are still operating today, albeit with a lower profile and smaller membership than in the past.
While the Mafia’s power and influence have certainly diminished over the years, the organization still exists today in a more subdued form. While they may not be as visible as they once were, the Mafia’s influence can still be felt in certain industries and regions of the United States.
Current Head of the Mafia
It is important to note that the Mafia, or Cosa Nostra, is an organized crime group that operates primarily in Italy and has a decentralized structure with various bosses leading different factions. With that said, currently, one of the most notorious and powerful Mafia bosses is Matteo Messina Denaro. He is also known as Diabolik or The Skinny, and he has been at large sice 1993, making him one of Italy’s most wanted fugitives. Born on April 26, 1962, in Castelvetrano, Sicily, Messina Denaro is believed to have risen to the top of the Mafia hierarchy and has been linked to several high-profile crimes. However, it is worth noting that due to the secretive nature of the Mafia, it is challenging to determine who is the definitive head of the organization at any given time.
Source: washingtonpost.com
Are the Mafia Still Active?
The Mafia still exists today, but its presence and activities have significantly declined since the late 90s. The Mafia, also known as La Cosa Nostra, is a criminal organization that originated in Italy and spread to the United States and other countries. It operates throuh a hierarchical structure, with powerful bosses at the top and lower-level members carrying out their orders.
While the Mafia is no longer as visible as it once was, it still has a significant influence in certain industries, such as gambling, drugs, restaurants, and bars. They use their criminal activities to generate income and maintain power, often through extortion, racketeering, and other illegal means.
However, law enforcement agencies have been successful in cracking down on the Mafia, arresting and convicting many of its members. As a result, the Mafia has become more secretive and less visible, operating behind the scenes to avoid detection.
While the Mafia still exists today, its activities have been significantly reduced, and it generally keeps a low profile. However, it still has a presence in certain industries, and law enforcement agencies continue to monitor and pursue its members.
Do the Five Mafia Families Still Exist?
The Five Mafia Families sill exist, although their power and influence have diminished over the years due to law enforcement efforts and internal conflicts. The families are the Bonanno, Colombo, Gambino, Genovese, and Lucchese. They are organized crime syndicates that originated in Italy and migrated to the United States in the early 20th century. Each family has its hierarchy and operates independently of the others but occasionally collaborates on illegal activities. The Five Families are still active in New York City, particularly in the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens, and maintain a presence in other states such as New Jersey, South Florida, Connecticut, Las Vegas, and Massachusetts. Despite attempts to dismantle them, the Five Families continue to engage in illegal activities such as extortion, racketeering, and drug trafficking, making them one of the most notorious organized crime groups in the world.
The Current Activities of the Mafia
In modern times, the activities of the Mafia have evolved to encompass a wide range of illegal enterprises. These include violent crimes such as murder and extortion, as well as corruption of public officials and manipulation of legitimate businesses. The Mafia has also been known to engage in illegal gambling, labor racketeering, loan sharking, tax fraud schemes, and stock manipulation schemes. This criminal organization has been able to adapt to changing times and technologies, and continues to pose a serious threat to society. Despite law enforcement efforts, the Mafia remains a powerful and influential criminal enterprise, and its activities continue to negatively impact communities around the world.
The Five Families of Today
The five families that have historically run New York’s Italian-American Mafia are still in operation today. They are the Bonanno, Colombo, Gambino, Genovese, and Lucchese families. Despite various law enforcement efforts to dismantle them, these families have managed to survive and continue their criminal activities. Each family has its own hierarchy and leadership structure, with bosses or “godfathers” at the top, followed by underbosses, consigliere, and various other members. Although the power and influence of these families have declined in recent years, they still remain a significant force in organized crime in the United States.
Source: nypost.com
The Largest Crime Family in the World
The biggest crime family in the world is difficult to determine as many criminal organizations operate covertly and their exact size and influence is ofen unknown. However, one of the most well-known and notorious crime families is the Italian-American mafia, also known as La Cosa Nostra. Within the Italian-American mafia, there are five major families: the Genovese, Gambino, Lucchese, Bonanno, and Colombo families. Of these five, the Genovese family is considered the largest and oldest, with a history dating back to the early 1900s. The Genovese family is known for its involvement in various criminal activities, including extortion, racketeering, money laundering, and drug trafficking. Despite efforts by law enforcement agencies to bring them to justice, the Genovese family and other organized crime groups continue to operate in various parts of the world, posing a significant threat to public safety and security.
Top 10 Gangsters in the World
The world has seen many notorious gangsters throughout history, and it can be challenging to narrow down the top ten. However, based on their impact and influence, here is a list of the top ten gangsters in the world:
1. Semion Mogilevich: Known as the “Boss of Bosses,” he is a Ukrainian-born mobster who is considered one of the most dangerous and powerful criminals in the world.
2. Al Capone: A notorious American gangster and bootlegger durig the Prohibition era, Capone was known for his violent tactics and control of Chicago’s organized crime scene.
3. Charles “Lucky” Luciano: Considered the father of modern organized crime, Luciano was a key figure in the creation of the American Mafia and helped establish the National Crime Syndicate.
4. Pablo Escobar: A Colombian drug lord and head of the Medellin Cartel, Escobar was one of the most powerful and ruthless drug traffickers in history.
5. John Gotti: Also known as “The Teflon Don,” Gotti was the boss of the Gambino crime family and one of the most famous American gangsters of the 20th century.
6. Hisayuki Machii: A Japanese yakuza boss who was known for his extreme violence and control of the Japanese underworld.
7. Tony “Big Tuna” Accardo: A longtime leader of the Chicago Outfit, Accardo was known for his intelligence and shrewd business sense.
8. Salvatore Riina: A Sicilian Mafia boss who was responsible for the murders of hundreds of people during his reign of terror in the 1980s and 1990s.
9. Dawood Ibrahim: An Indian crime lord who is believed to be the head of the D-Company, a powerful organized crime syndicate that operates in India and around the world.
10. Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman: A Mexican drug lord and head of the Sinaloa Cartel, El Chapo was considered one of the most powerful and dangerous drug traffickers in the world before his arrest and extradition to the United States.
The Number of Mafias Worldwide
It is difficult to provide an exact number of mafias in the world, as these criminal organizations are often secretive and elusive in their operations. However, there are several well-known and established Mafia groups that operate globally. In particular, there are five original Mafia groups that are defined by the regions they operate in or originated in. These groups are recognized for their significant influence on criminal operations worldwide and have established operatives in many different countries.
The Persistence of the Mafia in Italy
Mafias still exist in Italy, and they remain a significant problem for law enforcement agencies. The thee main Italian mafia-style groups, namely the Cosa Nostra, Camorra and Ndrangheta, are still active and powerful, particularly in the southern regions of the country. These organized crime groups are involved in a range of illegal activities, including drug trafficking, money laundering, extortion, and prostitution. Despite efforts by the Italian government to combat these criminal organizations, they continue to operate and have expanded their activities to other countries as well. The mafias maintain a low profile outside of Italy, making it challenging for law enforcement agencies to detect their activities. It is essential to continue to monitor and combat these mafia groups to protect the people and the economy of Italy.
Source: people.howstuffworks.com
The Mafia’s Enemies
The Mafia, also known as La Cosa Nostra, has had sveral enemies over the years. However, one of the most significant and long-standing enemies of the American Mafia is the Irish mob. The Irish mob is a criminal organization that originated from Irish-American neighborhoods in major cities across the United States, including Boston, New York, and Chicago.
The rivalry between the Irish mob and the American Mafia dates back to the early 20th century when both groups were engaged in illegal activities such as bootlegging, gambling, and extortion. The competition between the two groups intensified during the Prohibition era when they fought for control of the lucrative bootlegging trade.
The Irish mob and the American Mafia have engaged in numerous violent conflicts over the years, including turf wars and assassinations. The most notable of these conflicts was the Irish mob’s attempt to take over the Boston crime scene in the 1960s and 1970s, which led to a bloody war between the two groups.
Despite occasional alliances and collaborations, the Irish mob and the American Mafia remain bitter rivals to this day. Both groups continue to operate in various criminal enterprises, including drug trafficking, money laundering, and extortion, and their rivalry shows no signs of ending anytime soon.
The Presence of Mafias in the United States
There are still mafias operating in the United States. While the heyday of the Italian-American Mafia may be over, experts suggest that the “five families” still exist and are active in various forms of organized crime. These activities include extortion, loan-sharking, racketeering, and gambling. Additionally, there are other organized crime groups operating in the US, such as Russian, Chinese, and Mexican cartels. Despite efforts by law enforcement to dismantle these groups, they continue to operate and pose a threat to society.
Conclusion
The Mafia, also known as La Cosa Nostra, is a criminal organization that originated in Italy and has spread througout the world. While its traditional activities have decreased in recent decades, it still exists and maintains a strong presence in some industries and locations. The Mafia has a reputation for violence, extortion, and corruption, and its activities have had a significant impact on the communities where it operates. Despite efforts by law enforcement agencies to combat organized crime, the Mafia remains a powerful and elusive presence in many parts of the world. It is important for individuals and communities to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the authorities in order to prevent the spread of organized crime.
