SESSION 6.

SESSION 6. A GLOBAL PHENOMENON.

Globalization and the mafia. As previously seen, with this new economic system and the ever changing geopolitics and international relations, there has been a change also in the way the mafia works, and eventually spreads (Costanzo 7). The mafia has been affected by the phenomenon of globalization as it is the “greater interconnectedness and interdependence of people and places around the world” (MacPhail), and hence the mafia’s expansion. Globalization has however not only changed the way the mafia operates, but in larger terms, the way organized crime is carried out, and often becomes transnational (Costanzo 7, Andriani 27-29). We must not however confuse mafia and organized criminality as the mafia is a form of organized crime but not all organized crime is mafia (Costanzo 5). 

Figure 1. Costanzo, Pietro. “Le mafie nel mondo”. Il Caffè Geopolitico, 2 may 2016, pg. 9.

Powerful mafie around the world. There are a number of organized crimes that are considered mafie and that have reached extremely powerful prospects. 

The Yakuza or Japanese mafia. We have the Yakuza in Japan which have been estimated to emerge between 1603 and 1868 into two categories; the Tekiya trafficking weapons and the Bakuto controlling gambling. In 2015 it was estimated to have 110,000 active members and accumulated a patrimony of around 80 billion USD (Costanzo 21, “Mafie in Italia”). A first law was passed in 1991 against criminal organizations and in 2009 there are further legal measures that are taken, but like in Italy, the affiliates remain powerful, especially within the society (Costanzo 22). 

The Triads or Chinese mafia. Originally in the 17th century and later in Hong Kong under the British authority, it soon spread to Taiwan, Europe, North America, and the Pacific. This expansion is thought to have been provoked by the difficulties the organization found under the comunist regime. And just like in Italy, they have greatly infiltrated various economic markets and have a rigid structure, as shown in the figure below (Costanzo 23-24, “Mafie in Italia”). 

Figure 2. Costanzo, Pietro. “Le mafie nel mondo”. Il Caffè Geopolitico, 2 may 2016, pg. 24.

The Organizacija or Russian mafia. Founded during the Soviet Union and expanded in the 80s to the US, Israel, UK, Switzerland, Austria, Cezk Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Germany, Northern Ireland, Finland, France and Italy (Costanzo 25). Like in Italy, they are rigidly structured, in three levels of which the highest one is made up of people holding important positions in society, such as lawyers, doctors, engineers and politicians (Costanzo 26, “Mafie in Italia”). 

The Narcos. Found in Mexico, it is the center of all the illegal trafficking between South and North America. In the 30s the trafficking of drugs and alcohol to the USA In the 6os and 70s it became the point of transition and mediation between Colombia with Pablo Escobar and the USA (Costanzo 28). There is constant fighting between the cartels and it is estimated that between 2006 and 2021 the official number of victims was of 60,000 with around 27,000 missing (Costanzo 29). 

Italy: a melting pot of mafie. In Italy, as well as having cosa nostra, the ‘ndrangheta, the camorra and the sacra corona unita dictating the illegal trades, there is the coexistence and the collaboration with the Albanian, Russian, Chinese and Nigerian mafie (Costanzo 30, Musci 1-4, Becucci 14-18, Russo 7). This is partly due to the immigration that has brought other criminal organizations into the Italian territory (Musci 1). 

Figure 3. Costanzo, Pietro. “Le mafie nel mondo”. Il Caffè Geopolitico, 2 may 2016, pg. 30.SPECIAL FOCUS ON 

THE MEDITERRANEAN.

The most affected areas. These are the ones that have a significant amount of instability as many studies find a strong relation between instability and organized crime. In situations of conflict, especially, illicit trafficking finds a great deal of business (Costanzo 33). 

ALBANIA.

Definition. According to the DIA - Direzione Investigativa Antimafia - it is a mafia based on ethnicity and has a similar structure to that of the ‘ndrangheta, with extremely violent tactics and very rigid codes that follow the moral and legal rules of the Albanian society set out in the written Kanun of Lek Dukagjeni (Russo 7, Farcy 5, Raufer et Quéré 33, 119-120). 

How it came about. To understand its formation we must understand the complex historical conditions in which Albania and its surroundings evolved. It is believed that the Albanian mafia formed in three stages; 1) first prehistoric delinquency until the 80s, 2) then the constitutionalization of historic families mafiose in the 90s, and 3) lastly its extension and professionalisation throughout the 90s, expanding throughout the west (Raufer et Quéré 40). This is linked precisely to 1985 when Enver Hoxha died and his repressive communist regime fell, which was supported by fascist Italy. As private property became allowed many criminal groups took advantage of the precarious and unstable conditions of Albania at the time leading to, in 1997, to anarchy with the destruction of tribunals, 2000 deaths and a decrease of 8% in the GDP (Raufer et Quéré 123). This leads to further instability, which is not helped by the situation in neighboring Kosovo. Since 1878, Albania had in mind the annexation of Kosovo (Raufer et Quéré 122). However, in 1989 the Serbian constitution recognized Kosovo’s autonomy and in 1991 there were the first attacks in Kosovo (Raufer et Quéré 125-26). These escalated until 1999 where there were the  78 days of war between NATO and Yugoslavia which had taken over Kosovo. This leads to Yygoslavia’s retreat and the establishment of NATO and a UN Mission in Kosovo (Raufer et Quéré 60, 129, 134-5). It is precisely from the anarchy in Albania in 1997 to the war in Kosovo in 1999 that the Albanian population reaches an all-high emigration rate and that the Albanian mafia strengthens, becomes a State within the State, and establishes roots at an international level as well (Farcy 2, Russo 9). 

What it does. One of the main markets that the Albanian mafia manages is the one of narcotrafficking and human trafficking and smuggling. Not only do they traffic drugs coming from the East, in particular heroine, but they also produce their own drugs, in particular marijuana (Russo 8, Quéré 15, “Mafie in Italia”).  

Figure 4. Raufer, Xavier and Quéré, Stéphane. “Une menace pour l'Europe La mafia albanaise”. Favre, pgs. 12. 

Figure 5. Raufer, Xavier and Quéré, Stéphane. “Une menace pour l'Europe La mafia albanaise”. Favre, pgs. 15.

CORSICA.

A mafia? It is since the 1980s that particular criminal organizations have penetrated the island and have become stronger in the 1990s, infiltrating the nationalist political parties. While their structures are not based on blood and are not hierarchical, they kill for vengeance and one of their main business is money laundering (Follorou 12). Especially since 2008, there has been a series of murders that have been affiliated to acts of vengeance (Rossi). Today, it also deals with narcotrafficking, being a destination for drug consumption (Follorou 14). Because of the lack of common basis that this criminal organization has with the mafia, pointed out by Rossi and Sanguinetti, they conclude that the link with the mafia is only done, or at large, it is done, for purely geographical reasons (Rossi). In fact, according to the senate, these actors are terrorists and not mafia (“Rapport du sénat”). 

Figure 6. “Collectivité territoriale de Corse”. 

ISRAEL.

The Mafia Khazar : a superstition. There is this idea, that from my research and lack of evidence and information that I have found, I am concluding to be a superstition. It is the story of the Khazarian Mafia that is, according to leDue the cause of all evil on Earth. It is the belief that it is a mafia that originated back in the 1st and 8th century, by radical Jesuits and Jewish people, that are plotting to control the whole economic system (leDue 100, 104). It is the belief that because the affiliates strongly support the capitalist system, they brought about the various wars and revolutions in the USSR as a vengeance to their communist system (leDue 102). It's the idea that in the 17th century, the affiliates infiltrate the UK, murder the king Charles I and take over the wholeworld bank system with it black babylon magic (leDue 109). The Rothschild family, presumably representing the khazarian mafia, are the people that will take over various banks in Europe and the US (leDue 112). In 1947, with the declaration of independence of Israel, the Khazarian mafia presumably decided to put down its roots in Israel, and these conspiracy believers think that this mafia is today being controlled by Benjamin Netanyahu (leDue 130,135-6). What is important to understand is that conspiracy theories such as these can be very harmful as it not only scapegoats a whole nation, creating this evil attribute to them, but also takes away the attention from the actual problem which is the mafia around the world, that should not be delegitimized and neglected. 

Figure 7. “Khazarian Mafia’s System of Cartels to Subjugate Entire Planet”.  Covert geopolitics,11 may 2016.

USSR leftovers in Israel. What we do know is that Organizacija is present in Israel and has been increasing, especially with the vast number of immigrants coming from Russia into Israel (Connolly). Other criminal organizations have evolved from then and it is only in recent years, since an attack in Tel Aviv carried out in 2002/2003 that the fight against organized crime in Israel has been reinforced (Fontaine). Since around 1997 ecstasy has been introduced in the countries and Israel becomes both a consumer and producer of drugs: “cannabis from Egypt, heroin from Lebanon and Europe, [...] homegrown mariuana, home produced designer drugs, and a strong type of heroin” (Amir 19). 

FRANCE. 

France untouched. While it may seem like France is untouched and unaffected by the mafia, it is not so. We might believe so only because the news barely discusses such issues, that in France you cannot study it and that there is no law against the mafia in France (“La mafia s’invite”, Rizzoli 7, Giannini 12). 

Figure 8. Osservatorio legalità Rimini. 

PACA, la Côte d’Azur. While there isn’t a mafia local to the French territory, various mafie, in particular, the ‘ndrangheta and the Russian mafia have infiltrated France, especially the PACA region. Here, the mafie find a lot of work, as they are able to work with gambling, in infrastructure, money laundering and various illicit trafficking. Since the 1960s and 70s the real estate sector has seen a boom and the mafie have taken the perfect opportunity for enriching themselves. In addition, the PACA region finds itself in a strategic location, bordering both Italy and Monaco. Monaco, with its various banks and different legal systems has made it easier for the mafia to infiltrate the economy and launder their money using all three countries, for example, by using the Industrial Bank of Monaco (“La mafia s’invite”, Giannini 12). The latest scandal is very recent, dating to a few months back, in 2020, when 46 people got arrested, being suspected to have ties with the ‘ndrangheta, and 1 million euros got confiscated, as France and Italy collaborated to break down drug trafficking (Maksymowycz, Milliet). 

• As a major issue and infiltration of the mafia comes with narcotrafficking, do you think drugs, in particular cannabis, should be legalized? Could that reduce the mafia’s infiltration? What are some potential consequences of such legalizations? 

Menton. Menton, then is a perfect little town for mafia infiltration. In a study carried out by Fabrice Rizzoli in 2013, he goes to Menton, to investigate the situation on the field and finds out that not only the mafia has infiltrated the real estate sector and construction, but that the mayor might not be so clean after all. Here is the link to the investigation: http://flarenetworkfrance.blogspot.com/2011/10/confiscopolis-menton.html

Latest news from Menton. From an investigation that was concluded on the 17 of november 2020, Menton seemed to be the center of an affair involving the mafia and politicians, of which Olivier Bettati, the city counselor of Menton and president of the opposition group ‘Divers droite’ (D, Marie). 

TURKEY.

Structure. Since 2006, the Turkish mafia has tried to structure itself like cosa nostra, with a cupola, even though it has always had a similar structure to cosa nostra with very strict hierarchical structure and blood-based affiliation. It closely works with various sectors and bureaucracy to corrupt and intimidate (Raufer 93-4). While the various clans could once be of Turkish, Kurdish, Amerian, or Greek origins today they are either Turkish or Kurdhish and must be ethnically homogenous within the clan (Raufer 96).

Drugs and people. It is a key actor that collaborates with various mafie, in particular the camorra, and other criminal organizations to bring about drugs into Europe, since the 1907s, in particular heroin, in exchange for cocaine, and help with the smuggling and trafficking of people (Borghezio, Raufer 91, 96). It has also modernizes its economy to expand its cybercrimes (Raufer 96)

MAROCCO.

‘Mocro Maffia’. While I am putting this group under Morocco, it is actually a group based in Europe. The Deutch have coined the term ‘Mocro Maffia’ in 2010 to categorize a violent criminal organization of mainly moroccan origins that works as a bridge between Morocco and Eruope, providing Europe with drugs and weapons, and providing migrants with pathways into Europe (Rhoul, “Aux Pays-Bas”, Stroobants). They are not homogenous and since 2012 have been carrying out what the Deutch law enforcement refers to as ‘Mocro War’ (Stroobants). It has been especially thriving now, in times of the ongoing pandemic (“Aux Pays-Bas”). They do share some characteristics as the mafia, such as the principle of omertà, but to call it a mafia, seems quite inaccurate. 

WORKS CITED.

Amir, Menachem. “Ecstasy in Israel and Abroad” in Global Organized Crime.  SIEGEL, 2003, pgs.19-23. 

Andriani, Roraima A. “La tecnologia e la nuova geografia del crimine organizzato”. Mafie e globalizzazione, pgs. 27-29. 

“Aux Pays-Bas, la mafia marocaine se réveille après plusieurs mois d’inactivité”. Baldi.net, 27 june 2020. 

Becucci, Stefano. “Focus: la criminalità organizzata cinese in Italia: attori e attività”. Mafie e globalizzazione, pgs. 14-18.

Borghezio, Mario. “Interrogazione con richiesta di risposta scritta E-001729/2014 alla Commissione”. Parlamento europeo, 17 february 2014. 

Connolly, Kevin. “How Russia's mafia is taking over Israel's underworld”. BBC, 21 november 1998. 

Costanzo, Pietro. “Le mafie nel mondo”. Il Caffè Geopolitico, 2 may 2016, pgs 1-35. 

D., Marie. “De Menton à l'Espagne,10 personnes mise en examen après un coup de filet dans le monde politique et du grand”. France 3, 19 november 2020. 

Farcy, François. “I - Comment s’implante la mafia albanaise ; à l’échelle locale, nationale puis européenne”. Département de recherche sur les Menaces Criminelles Contemporaines, D.R.M.C.C.,  2003. pgs. 1-12. 

Follorou, Jacques. “La guerre des parrains corses”. Flammarion, 2013, pgs. 11-36, ISBN 978-2-0812-9627-5. 

Fontaine, Daniel. “Le phénomène mafieux a pris, en Israël, une dimension particulièrement importante”. Rtbf.be, 23 february 2017.

Giannini, Fabio. “La mafia e gli aspetti criminologici”. Centro Ricerca Sicurezza e Terrorismo, Pacini Editore Srl 2019, pgs. 4-49. 

“La mafia s’invite dans le sud. Le Ravi, 1, july 2013. 

LeDue, Jean. “La Mafia Khazarian” in Les Khazars et Israël, february 2018, pgs. 100-170. 

MacPhail, Abby. “What is Globalization?”. 

“Mafie in Italia e nel mondo: nomi e attività”. Studia Rapido.

Maksymowycz, Romain. “Ce que l'on sait de la vaste opération franco-italienne contre la mafia calabraise entre la Côte d'Azur et la Riviera dei Fiori”. Nice matin, 16 septembre 2020. 

Milliet, Ghislaine. “Marseille : arrestation de 34 trafiquants français liés à la mafia calabraise”. France 3, 16 septembre 2020. 

Musci, Aldo. “Tutte le mafie del mondo”. Edizioni Stampa Alternativa, Viterbo, 2011, pgs. 1-4. 

Quéré, Stéphane. “III - Mafia albanaise en Europe : chronique d’une implantation réussie, 2000 - 2002”. Département de recherche sur les Menaces Criminelles Contemporaines, D.R.M.C.C. 2003, pgs. 15-30. 

“Rapport du sénat”. 69, 1999-2000. 

Raufer, Xavier and Quéré, Stéphane. “Une menace pour l'Europe La mafia albanaise”. Favre, 2016 pgs. 4-141. 

Raufer Xavier. “Une maffya symbiotique : traditions et évolutions du crime organisé en Turquie”. Sécurité globale, 2009-2010, pgs. 91-119. 

Rhoul, Faiza, “La police néerlandaise dépassée par la mafia marocaine”. Yabiladi, 3 mars 2018, 

Rizzoli, Fabrcie. “La Mafia de A à Z”. Tim Buctu éditions, 2015. 

Rossi, Madeleine. “Corse : éclairage, canal inhabituel. Mafia or not mafia ?” Dilpoweb.com, 24 septembre 2013. 

Russo, Gaetana. “La mafia albanese. Editoriale 2, 19 june 2010, pgs. 7-10. 

Stroobants, Jean-Pierre. “Meurtres, attentats et décapitation : la sanglante guerre entre trafiquants de coke aux Pays-Bas”. Le monde, 3 october 2019, 

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