Introduction to the World of Mafia Organizations
A mafia is not just a simple street gang. It's an organization with a hierarchy, initiation rituals, a code of silence, and control over a territory. According to criminologist Jean-François Gayraud (IHEDN), only eight organizations in the world truly deserve this name:
- La Cosa Nostra
- La 'Ndrangheta
- La Camorra
- La Sacra Corona Unita
- The American Mafia
- The Chinese Triads
- The Japanese Yakuza
- The Turkish Mafia
Italy: The Birthplace of Mafia Organizations
No country in the world has as many mafia organizations as Italy. According to global data, in Italy, 24,000 mafiosi and hundreds of thousands of accomplices support four organizations:
- The Sicilian Cosa Nostra, weakened but not dead
- The Calabrian 'Ndrangheta, the largest in terms of members and revenue
- The Neapolitan Camorra
- The Sacra Corona Unita, born in the Puglia region
The staggering figure is that the Eurispes, an Italian social sciences research institute, estimates the annual revenue of all these mafia organizations to be 140 billion euros, or 7.2% of Italy's total wealth.
Russia: The Bratva and the Vory-v-Zakone
The Russian mafia is not a recent phenomenon. It was structured during the Soviet era, in prisons and Gulag camps. According to the United Nations, the four Italian mafia organizations generate a revenue of 116 billion euros. The 'Ndrangheta alone would account for 53 billion euros. The Russian Bratva, on the other hand, is active in at least 32 countries, according to Interpol, with a strong presence in Eastern Europe, North America, and even South Africa.
Japan: The Yakuza
The Yakuza are one of the few mafia organizations that were legally tolerated for a long time in their country. They have offices, business cards, and immense power. The Yamaguchi-Gumi family alone is estimated to have tens of thousands of members. Their activities range from gambling to stock market manipulation, including arms trafficking.
China/Hong Kong: The Triads
Born in the 17th century as patriotic secret societies, the Triads have transformed into global criminal organizations. They operate in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau, as well as in North America, Australia, and South Africa. They maintain alliances with the Yakuza.
