Since the release of the first list richest people world in 1982, Forbes magazine includes drug lords and gangsters - since organized crime is part of the world economy, these incomes need to be counted. For example, according to The Guardian, the Calabrian mafia 'Ndrangheta became richer in 2013 than Deutsche Bank and McDonald's combined - by €53 billion.
Below are the odious figures of the underworld who made millions and billions - Pablo Escobar, "Shorty", Al Capone, Tony Salerno and others.
John Gotti
New York boss of the Gambino clan John Gotti received two nicknames from the press. “Teflon Don” - for being invulnerable to justice for a long time. And also “Don the Dapper” - for expensive custom suits (Brioni for $2000 and hand-painted silk scarves for $400), careful hairstyle, black Mercedes 450 SL and lavish parties.
Growing up in the South Bronx, Gotti joined the Gambino clan in the 1950s, one of the powerful syndicates involved in gambling, extortion, loan sharking and drugs. The US government suspected that on his way to becoming head of the Gambinos, Gotti eliminated his predecessor Paul Castellano in 1985. An FBI agent who worked on the Gotti case said that "he was the first media don, never trying to hide the fact that he was a superboss." And his large lifestyle and external gloss always provided food for articles in the tabloids.
According to the New York Times, Gotti received between $10 and $12 million in annual income, and the Gambino clan earned more than $500 million a year in the 1980s. Justice did not reach Gotti until 1992, and 10 years later he died in prison.
Shinobu Tsukasa
74-year-old Shinobu Tsukasa leads a yakuza clan called the Yamaguchi-gumi. Fortune listed the Yamaguchi-gumi as one of the five most powerful mafia groups in the world, with annual profits of $6.6 billion. Yamaguchi was founded in the port city of Kobe more than 100 years ago and has 23,400 members. Most of the income comes from drug sales, as well as gambling and extortion.
Shinobu Tsukasa is the sixth leader of the clan in history. In the 1970s, he was sentenced to 13 years for murder with a samurai sword. In 2005 he was jailed for 6 years for possession firearms. In 2015, a split occurred in the Yamaguchi-gumi. According to Tokyo Reporter, most of the group remained with Tsukasa, and 3,000 members formed a new clan led by Kunio Inoue.
Michael Franzese
On Fortune's list of the 50 Most Powerful Mafia Bosses, Michael Franzese was ranked 18th. Franzese, nicknamed “Don Yuppie,” is the son of a bank robber who formed a cartel that was involved in the release of B-movies, the illegal sale of gasoline, scams involving the repair and sale of cars, and fraudulent loans.
Michael Franzese received between $1 and $2 million in income per week. In 1985, the US government charged him with fraud, stripped him of $4.8 million in assets and ordered him to repay $10 million for illegally selling gasoline through shell companies. After eight years in prison and a $15 million settlement, Frances moved to California and decided to capitalize on his criminal past. He has written two books - an autobiography, Blood Covenant, and a business advice book, I'll Make You An Offer You Can't Refuse, as well as sold the rights to a miniseries about his life to CBS. Now the former gangster lives in a $2.7 million house, drives a Porsche, gives interviews to Vanity Fair and gives lectures at universities.
Anthony Salerno
In 1986, Fortune magazine published a list of the "50 Most Powerful Mafia Bosses." Chief Editor explained the appearance of the material by the fact that “organized crime is a powerful economic factor" Anthony "Fat Tony" Salerno also made the list. Led by a gangster, the Genovese clan (300 people) was involved in racketeering and drugs in New York. According to The New York Times, the clan's influence extended to Cleveland, Nevada and Miami, and its interests also included construction, loan sharking and casinos. Since the 1960s, the clan has earned $50 million a year. Between 1981 and 1985, Salerno imposed a two percent Mafia tax in New York on all contractors pouring concrete for buildings costing more than $2 million. Salerno's real wealth may have been $1 billion.
In 1988, the gangster was sentenced to 70 years for racketeering and concealing illegal income of $10 million a year (the declaration indicated only $40,000 a year). Four years later, at the age of 80, he died in prison.
Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar
The income of India's most wanted criminal is estimated by Business Insider at $6.7 billion. Forbes included Kaskar in the lists of the most influential people in the world in 2009, 2010 and 2011 (50th, 63rd and 57th place, respectively). His crime syndicate D-Company is accused of terrorist attacks in Mumbai in 1993 and 2008, in addition, he was involved in drug and weapons smuggling. The US government believes that Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar has ties to al-Qaeda and the Taliban. According to one version, Kaskar is hiding in Pakistan.
Al Capone
Capone is the most famous American gangster. A character named Al Capone appears in 77 Mafia films.
At the time of his death in 1947, his fortune was estimated at $1.3 billion. Capone operated in various criminal spheres - bootlegging, racketeering, murder. In 1929, the American government declared him "Enemy No. 1." Prosecutors repeatedly sentenced Capone to prison, but he was released several months later. As a result, in 1931, Capone was only sentenced for tax evasion - for 11 years. He was to spend most of his sentence in Alcatraz.
In 1939, Capone was released, but his health was poor - he suffered from syphilis and dementia.
In 2012, Forbes conducted an analysis of Capone's former properties. The Chicago four-bedroom house he bought with his first earnings was valued at $450,000, and the Miami Beach mansion where he died in 1947 was valued at $9.95 million.
Griselda Blanco
The Western press called Colombian Griselda Blanco the “Godmother of Cocaine.” Blanco was one of key figures in the Miami cocaine trade in the 1970s and 1980s. Even in the male drug business, she had a reputation as a ruthless operator. According to Business Insider, her fortune was approaching $2 billion, however, she was far from the income of Exobar.
A three-time widow whose spouses were rumored to have died at her hands, she named one of her sons Michael Corleone. Its distribution network made tens of millions of dollars and transported about 1,500 kilograms of cocaine a month, according to The Guardian. Before his arrest in 1985 in California, " Godmother" appeared on the list of the most dangerous drug traffickers along with Escobar and the Ochoa brothers. She was charged with 40 to 200 murders in Florida, but the woman managed to avoid the death penalty due to a technical error in court: the officer who testified against her was discredited because he had a sex conversation on the phone with the secretary in the prosecutor’s office, the Guardian wrote. Blanco was imprisoned in federal prison and deported to Colombia in 2004, where she was shot and killed by a motorcycle killer eight years later.
Khun Sa
Khun Sa, the “Opium King,” was estimated by Business Insider to be worth $5 billion. Born Chang Shifu, the son of a Chinese man and a Shan woman, in the 1960s he changed his name to the pseudonym Khun Sa, which means “Prosperous Prince.” During these years, he led the Burmese army engaged in the cultivation of opium in the Golden Triangle South-East Asia, there were 20,000 men there. In the 1970s and 80s, Sa's army controlled the Thai-Burmese border and was responsible for 45% of the pure heroin entering the US, earning it the title of "the best in the business" by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). data The Economist).
The US government placed a $2 million bounty on the head of the “Opium King.” By the 1990s, the DEA was able to destroy Sa’s trading chain, he moved to Yangon and retired. Currently, opium production in the Golden Triangle has fallen to 5% of the global figure (in 1975 it was 70%).
There are reports on whether the drug lord saved billions before his death in 2007. different versions- from “lived in luxury,” but “was content with a modest pension.”
Morris Dalitz
Moritz (Moe) Dalitz was one of such legendary gangsters as Al Capone and Bugzy Siegel. During the Prohibition era, he was involved in bootlegging, and later in the gambling business and real estate. In 1982, Dalitz appeared on the first Forbes list of the richest, along with artist Yoko Ono, actor Bob Hope and mafia accountant Meyer Lansky. Dalitz's fortune was estimated at $110 million, but how much he actually earned remains a question.
Dalitz received a significant share of his wealth from the first Las Vegas casinos. In 1949, he co-founded the Desert Inn and Stardust Hotel casinos. In the 1950s, he took part in the emergence of the Paradise Development Company, which built a university and convention center in Las Vegas. In the 1960s, he invested in the $100 million La Costa Resort complex near San Diego, after which he sued Penthouse magazine for $640 million, which wrote that the construction was financed by the mafia. Unlike many of his colleagues with a criminal past, Dalitz lived to an old age, in last years did charity work.
Rafael Caro Quintero and Amado Carrillo Fuentes
Before the star of the drug lord "Shorty" rose in Mexico, two names thundered there - Rafael Caro Quintero (pictured) and Carrillo Fuentes. The head of the Guadalajara cartel, Rafael Quintero, owned a marijuana plantation called Rancho Bufalo. During a police raid in 1984, about 6,000 tons of marijuana were seized at the ranch, which, according to The Wall Street Journal, cost Quintero between $3.2 and $8 billion. The Guadalajara cartel earned $5 billion a year. There were rumors in the Mexican press that Quintero, following Escobar, offered to pay Mexico's foreign debt in exchange for his freedom. The drug lord was sentenced to 40 years in a Mexican prison in 1989, but was released 28 years later.
Second Mexican drug lord– Carrillo Fuentes, head of the Juarez cartel. The Washington The Post estimated his fortune at $25 billion. It is believed that his wealth allowed him long years avoid justice. Fuentes received the nickname "Lord of the Skies" for his extensive fleet (22 aircraft) for transporting cocaine to the United States. Fuentes died in 1997 during plastic surgery by changes in appearance.
Pablo Escobar
Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar became the first criminal to appear on the Forbes 100 International Billionaires list in 1987 with an income of $3 billion. He dropped out only after his death in 1993. The Medellin cartel, led by Escobar, had revenues of $7 billion from 1981 to 1986, with the drug lord taking 40% for himself. The cartel received its main wealth from smuggling cocaine into the United States (about 15 tons daily); in the late 1980s it owned 80% of the entire cocaine market in the world. According to Business Insider, Escobar earned $420 million a week; according to other sources, his fortune totaled more than $30 billion.
Every year, the king of cocaine lost about $2.1 billion (10% of revenue) as the money was haphazardly stored in warehouses and abandoned farms, destroyed by mold and rodents. Every month he spent $2,500 on rubber bands to hold bills together. Once Escobar burned $2 million to warm his daughter: the family was then hiding in the mountains, and there was nothing to light a fire with. In 1984, the cartel offered to pay Colombia's national debt in exchange for immunity. The Drug Enforcement Administration placed a reward of $11 million on Escobar's head. In 1991, the drug lord made a deal with the Colombian government to build his own La Catedral prison (with a football field and guards chosen by him), which the authorities could not approach closer than 5 km.
The life of the drug lord was so colorful that Netflix released the series “Narcos” dedicated to him in 2015.
Brothers Ochoa and Gonzalo Rodriguez Gacha
In 1987, along with Escobar, the co-founders of the Medellin cartel, Jorge Luis Ochoa-Vazquez (with an income of $2 billion) and his brothers Juan David and Fabio, who received 30% of the cartel's revenue, were included in the Forbes list of the richest. Ochoa Brothers stayed in Forbes list another 6 years until they surrendered to the authorities.
The drug lord Gonzalo Rodriguez Gacha, who lived at the same time, worked both with the Medellin cartel and independently (for example, transporting cocaine from Bogota to the United States disguised as flower deliveries) was also a billionaire. In 1988, Forbes estimated his fortune at $1.3 billion. Gacha remained on the list for two years until he was shot dead by Colombian police.
Joaquin Guzman Loera
In 2009, Mexican drug lord Joaquin Guzman Loera, nicknamed “Shorty,” was included in the Forbes list of the richest people on the planet with a fortune of $1 billion. In 2012 and 2013, he ranked 63rd and 67th among the most influential people in the world. Strategic Forecasting Inc. and estimated his wealth at $12 billion. Sinaloa Cartel under Loehr's leadership, he was responsible for 25% of the illegal drug traffic from Mexico to the United States and received $3 billion in revenue. The New York Times, citing data from the Drug Enforcement Administration, writes that the cartel sold more cocaine than Escobar at the peak of his career.
“Shorty” started his business in the early 1990s, transporting cocaine, including in cans of chili peppers (in 1993, Mexican authorities confiscated such a 7-ton cargo). He was declared "Mexico's most wanted man" with a $7 million reward for his capture: $5 million from the United States and another $2 million from Mexico. He was first arrested in 1993, but escaped from prison in 2001. IN last time Mexican intelligence agencies captured Loera in Sinaloa in January 2016. The drug lord was killed by vanity. He was going to make a biographical film about himself and was conducting a casting. In addition, actor Sean Penn flew to "Shorty" for an interview. It is believed that the authorities were able to track the movements of the criminal due to this.
The modern world has many criminal groups, and each has its own leader, its own boss, its own head. But comparing the current leaders of the mafia and criminal organizations with the bosses of past dashing years is a matter doomed to failure and criticism. Past bosses of the criminal world created entire empires of evil and violence, extortion and drug trafficking. Their so-called families lived according to their own laws, and violation of these laws foreshadowed death and cruel punishment for disobedience. We bring to your attention a list of the most legendary and influential mafiosi in history.
10
(1974 - present time)
Once the leader of one of the largest drug cartels in Mexico, which is called Los Zetas. At the age of 17 he joined the Mexican army, and later worked in a special unit to combat the drug cartel. The transition to the side of the traders occurred after he was recruited into the Golfo cartel. The private mercenary force Los Zetas hired from the organization later grew into the largest drug cartel in Mexico. Heriberto dealt very harshly with his competitors, for which his criminal group was given the nickname “Executioners.”
9
(1928 — 2005)
Since 1981, he led the Genovese family, while everyone considered Antonio Salermo to be the boss of the family. Vincent was nicknamed "Crazy Boss" for his, to put it mildly, inappropriate behavior. But, it was only for the authorities; Gigante’s lawyers spent 7 years bringing certificates indicating that he was crazy, thereby avoiding a sentence. Vincent's people controlled crime throughout New York and other largest cities America.
8
(1902 – 1957)
The boss of one of the five mafia families of criminal America. The head of the Gambino family, Albert Anastasia, had two nicknames - “The Chief Executioner” and “The Mad Hatter”, and the first was given to him because his group “Murder, Inc.” was responsible for about 700 deaths. He was a close friend of Lucky Luciano, whom he considered his teacher. It was Anastasia who helped Lucky take control of the entire criminal world, carrying out contract killings for him of the bosses of other families.
7
(1905 — 2002)
Patriarch of the Bonanno family and the richest mobster in history. The history of the reign of Joseph, who was called “Banana Joe,” goes back 30 years; after this period, Bonanno voluntarily retired and lived in his personal huge mansion. The Castellamarese war, which lasted 3 years, is considered one of the most significant events in the criminal world. Ultimately, Bonanno organized a crime family that still operates in the United States.
6
(1902 – 1983)
Meir was born in Belarus, the city of Grodno. Coming from Russian Empire became the most influential person in the USA and one of the country's crime leaders. He is the creator of the National Crime Syndicate and the parent of the gambling business in the states. He was the largest bootlegger (illegal liquor dealer) during Prohibition.
(1902 – 1976)
It was Gambino who became the founder of one of the most influential families in criminal America. After taking control of a row of high profitable areas, including illegal bootlegging, a government port and an airport, the Gambino family becomes the most powerful of the five families. Carlo forbade his people from selling drugs, considering this type of business dangerous and attracting public attention. At its height, the Gambino family consisted of more than 40 groups and teams, and controlled New York, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, Miami and Los Angeles.
4
(1940 – 2002)
John Gotti was a famous figure, the press loved him, he was always dressed to the nines. Numerous prosecutions by New York law enforcement always failed; Gotti escaped punishment for a long time. For this, the press nicknamed him “Teflon John.” He received the nickname “Elegant Don” when he began to dress only in fashionable and stylish suits with expensive ties. John Gotti has been the leader of the Gambino family since 1985. During the reign, the family was one of the most influential.
3
(1949 – 1993)
The most brutal and daring Colombian drug lord. He went down in the history of the 20th century as the most brutal criminal and the head of the largest drug cartel. He organized the supply of cocaine to different parts of the world, mainly to the USA, on a grand scale, even transporting tens of kilograms on airplanes. During his entire activity as the head of the Medellin cocaine cartel, he was involved in the murders of more than 200 judges and prosecutors, more than 1,000 police officers and journalists, presidential candidates, ministers, and prosecutors general. Escobar's net worth in 1989 was more than $15 billion.
2
(1897 – 1962)
Originally from Sicily, Lucky became, in fact, the founder of the criminal world in America. His real name is Charles, Lucky, which means “Lucky”, they began to call him after he was taken to a deserted highway, tortured, beaten, cut, burned in the face with cigarettes, and he remained alive after that. The people who tortured him were Maranzano gangsters; they wanted to know the location of the drug cache, but Charles remained silent. After unsuccessful torture, they abandoned the bloody body without any signs of life by the road, thinking that Luciano was dead, where he was picked up by a patrol car 8 hours later. He received 60 stitches and survived. After this incident, the nickname “Lucky” remained with him forever. Luckey organized the Big Seven, a group of bootleggers to whom he provided protection from the authorities. He became the boss of Cosa Nostra, which controlled all areas of activity in the criminal world.
1
(1899 – 1947)
A legend of the underworld of those times and the most famous mafia boss in history. He was a prominent representative criminal America. His areas of activity were bootlegging, prostitution, and gambling. Known as the organizer of the most brutal and significant day in the criminal world - the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, when seven were shot dead influential gangsters from Bugs Moran's Irish gang, including the boss's right hand. Al Capone was the first among all gangsters to “launder” money through a huge network of laundries, the prices of which were very low. Capone was the first to introduce the concept of “racketeering” and successfully dealt with it, laying the foundation for a new vector of mafia activity. Alfonso received the nickname “Scarface” at the age of 19, when he worked in a billiards club. He allowed himself to object to the cruel and seasoned criminal Frank Galluccio, moreover, he insulted his wife, after which a fight and a stabbing occurred between the bandits, as a result of which Al Capone received the famous scar on his left cheek. By right, Al Capone was the most influential person and terrifying at everyone, including the government, which was able to put him behind bars just for tax evasion.
Let's start with what the term means mafia. So, the term is from Wikipedia.One day - one truth" url="https://diletant.media/one-day/25917973/">
Mafia(Italian mafia; - a criminal community that formed in Sicily in the second half of the 19th century and subsequently spread its activity to large, economically developed cities in the United States and some other countries. It is an association (“family”) of criminal groups with general organization, structure and code of conduct (“omerta”). Each group “works”, carrying out racketeering, in a certain territory - in the area of a large city, in small town or in an entire region of the country.
Currently, the term “mafia” is often used broadly to refer to any ethnic criminal groups that fully or partially replicate the organization and structure of the Sicilian Mafia (for example, the Camorra, 'Ndrangheta and Sacra Corona Unita also operating in Italy; Georgian mafia, Russian mafia, Cuban mafia and etc.).
Now let's move on to the ranking of the most dangerous mafias in the world.
Russian Mafia- is in first place among the ten most powerful mafias in the world, according to the ranking of the London newspaper Daily News and the Spanish Diario. The criteria for getting into the “top ten” of the strongest mafias in the world were participation in organized crime in many countries, illegal activities - trafficking in weapons, drugs, etc.
However, let's start the ranking from 10th place to make things interesting.In tenth place are Jamaicans in Britain who moved to England in the 50s. This ethnic group controls a good share of the arms and drug trade. This mafia does not try to infiltrate government structures, therefore it is not as strong as the others. British police are hesitant to classify the Yardie gang as organized crime, because they have no real structure or central leadership.
9. Albanian mafia
Albania consists of numerous criminal groups. Their rules have remained unchanged since the 15th century... The Albanian mafia is involved in the trade of white slaves, alcohol and tobacco, controls prostitution, car theft and racketeering. She began her “activities” in the 80s of the last century. Widely represented in the USA and Britain. Distinctive feature is the cruelty used in acts of revenge.8. Serbian mafia
The Serbian mafia has found its place among the leaders, since it operates in dozens of countries around the world and is associated with drug smuggling, contract killings, racketeering, robberies, control of bets and gambling houses. Interpol lists about 350 Serbian citizens, who are often employees and leaders of the largest drug cartels in the world. Serbian gangsters are also known for intellectual heists, often reenacting Hollywood scenarios, as well as quick and clean executions. Currently there are about 30-40 groups operating in Serbia.7. Israeli mafia
These guys work in the field of banditry in many countries, their main activity is drug trafficking and prostitution. Times have changed, and if previously they were once looked upon with awe because of their ability to protect, today they are ruthless killers who do not think twice before pulling the trigger.
The Russian-Israeli mafia has entrenched itself in the US political system so well that even the vaunted American army is unable to knock them out.6. Mexican Mafia
The Mexican Mafia is a powerful criminal structure in the United States, with roots in the prison world. Originated in the 50s, it was positioned as the protection of Mexicans in US prisons from other criminals and prison guards. Main activities: extortion and drug trafficking. They are prone to quick reprisals against those they dislike and those who do not pay them the tax they set.5. Japanese Yakuza
The Japanese mafia proudly traces its origins to impoverished samurai nobles, or ronin, as they were called in Japan. Heirs of noble fathers with many children, who sometimes had nothing but a sword, they inherited only the right to carry a sword and even comb their hair like a samurai: shave their forehead and crown, long hair from the back of the head, braid it into a tight braid and stick it on the bluish scalp.
Although the Japanese mafia is known throughout the world, Everyday life In these cities it is difficult to spot it right away. Meanwhile, the Japanese mafia numbers one hundred and ten thousand people, while the noisy and violent American mafia numbers only twenty thousand. Considering that the population of the United States is approximately twice that of the Japanese, it is not difficult to calculate that for every Japanese there are eleven times as many professional rapists, robbers and murderers as there are Americans.
Areas of activity: racketeering, distribution of prohibited pornography from Europe and America, prostitution and illegal emigration.4. Chinese triads
That rapidly growing China is rapidly becoming a leader global development, they say today all over the world. But there are also negative sides to this process. As China strengthens its leading position in global economy Chinese organized crime will rapidly expand its presence in transnational criminal relations. The “Triads” have already started a “third world war” for their competitors!
"Riding" migration processes, mafia structures of China and Chinese mafia in other countries they have taken leading positions in organizing human trafficking and organizing illegal migration flows. A Europol report (June 2006) noted that Chinese mafia groups were named leaders in human trafficking in countries European Union. Chinese "triads" have supplanted the home-grown mafia in Japan - the yakuza: the Chinese account for about half of all crimes committed by foreigners.3. Colombian drug cartels
The Colombian mafia is one of the world's largest suppliers of cocaine. All efforts government authorities still remain in vain, since the bandits’ business is more than successful. The Colombian drug mafia has existed since the mid-60s of the last century. The Medellin and Cali cartels quickly became the world's leading cocaine producers.2. Sicilian and American Cosa Nostra
Members Sicilian mafia(from left to right), Salvatore Lo Bue, Salvatore Lo Cicero, Gaetano Lo Presti, Giuseppe Scaduto, Antonino Spera, Gregorio Agrigento, Luigi Caravello, Mariano Troia, Giovanni Adelfio and Francesco Bonomo
In the 13th century. Sicily was constantly plundered not only by Algerian pirates, but also by detachments of French mercenaries who served the Northern Italian dukes and princes. The organized armed struggle of the islanders against the French began in 1282 under the slogan “Morete alla Francia, Italia anela” (“Die, France - sigh, Italy”); From the first letters of the call, the Sicilians composed a battle cry: “Mafia!” Soon, self-defense units turned into units of professional fighters who began to take tribute from peasants for protection from external enemies. In the 19th century mafia that became unified system, even tried to achieve the separation of the island from Italy and proposed an alliance with Giuseppe Garibaldi, but the troops of the Principality of Piedmont defeated her.
IN late XIX V. thousands of Sicilians, fleeing poverty and clan wars, moved to America. IN major cities The United States arose Cosa Nostra (“Our Business”) - a network of Sicilian “families” that controlled casinos, smuggling, prostitution, illegal trafficking in alcohol, tobacco and weapons, and also engaged in racketeering.
All the "consorteries" of Sicily form a "venerable community", headed by the Capo di tutti Capi, the head of all chapters. Important figures in the mafia structure are also picciotti di ficatu ( hired assassins), stopalieri (bodyguards), gabellotti (judges) and consiglieri (advisers).1. Russian mafia
The Russian mafia numbers 500,000 people. Its godfathers control 70% of the Russian economy, as well as prostitution in Macau and China, drug trafficking in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, money laundering in Cyprus, Israel, Belgium and England, car theft, nuclear material trafficking and prostitution in Germany.
With the disappearance of the Iron Curtain, the expansion of Russian crime ceased to be controlled and directed, as it was before the collapse of the USSR. The first wave of “export” of crime from the territory of what was then the USSR took place in the early 70s, when Soviet Jews were allowed to leave for Israel. This wave was not comparable to the second - when the collapse of the USSR collapsed " iron curtain" Then the world really appreciated the size of Russian crime, which it called the “Russian mafia.”
Russian criminal communities sometimes expressed very specific interests in different countries peace. Thus, in December 1993, the Western press first mentioned that groups were “shaking” Russian hockey players playing in foreign clubs, the so-called “legionnaires”. The mass of materials on this topic in the press in subsequent years indicated that the “sports racket” had acquired truly industrial proportions. According to some reports, the Russian criminal community now operates in 50 countries around the world. According to American professor Louise Shelley, the ROP has taken $150 billion out of the Russian Federation since 1991. According to other sources – 50 billion dollars, but also a lot.
Mafia groups are everywhere. There are hundreds, if not thousands of them. In some countries and cities, bandits have been driven underground, but continue to work, even if their leaders are in prison or killed. In others, criminals acquire influential patrons among security forces and politicians, so they do not need to hide. In any case, each such criminal structure has its own unique style. The “Amateur” found out where the most dangerous mafiosi in the world are based and what they do.
Yamaguchi-gumi
Favorite tattoos of Yakuza members: dragons, flowers, landscapes
The Japanese mafia Yakuza is as memorable a symbol as, for example, sushi or anime. This “brand” unites dozens of groups, the most influential and largest of which is considered to be the Yamaguchi-gumi syndicate. Its leaders are well known outside the country rising sun. The United States is imposing personal sanctions against the gang leaders and prohibiting its companies from conducting any transactions with them.
By buying shares in companies, the Yakuza learn ugly facts about management
Although the Yakuza clans compete with each other, they largely work on similar principles. There are special initiation rites for newcomers. The same Yamaguchi-gumi even conducts something like an entrance exam. Bandits cover their bodies with bright tattoos, and if they are guilty of something, they punish themselves by cutting off their fingers. Japanese criminals have come up with a very effective and time-tested method of taking money - sokaiya. By purchasing shares in companies and becoming one of its main shareholders, Yakuza members learn the most unsavory facts about management or find out trade secrets, and then demand tidy sums for their non-disclosure.
Bamboo Union
Taiwanese mafia escorts in last way your boss
One of the most influential groups in Taiwan operates both on the island itself and on the Chinese mainland. Has influence in Asia, Europe and America. There are suggestions that there are representatives of this criminal clan even in the DPRK, where their patron is personally the head of the republic. Members of the “Bamboo Union” trade in contract killings and debt collection. They also run the gambling business.
In general, mafia communities in China are usually called “triads.” Once upon a time, these were secret criminal organizations that emperors and communists fought unsuccessfully against.
Mara Salvatrucha
Members of Mara Salvatrucha have their own sign language
"Ants" practice gang rape
The group of “stray ants” or MS-13 appeared in Los Angeles in the 1980s, quickly gained enormous influence and is considered one of the most violent in North and South America. Initially, it included people from El Salvador, but now they are increasingly being joined by Mexicans, Guatemalans, and any Latin Americans in general. The FBI believes it includes up to 80,000 people around the world. In addition to the usual activities for mafia structures (murders, robberies, pimping, racketeering), Mara Salvatrucha collaborates with drug cartels, sells weapons and “helps” illegal immigrants move to the United States. Rumors of their cruelty help keep entire neighborhoods in fear. “Ants” practice gang rape, mass shootings, and cutting off heads and limbs.
Camorra
Camorra in New York
The Camorra is one of the first bandit communities in Italy. Mentioned for the first time in the 18th century. A group appeared in Naples, and, oddly enough, for several centuries it never changed its registration, although its representatives had long since dispersed throughout the world. Unlike the Sicilian mafia, Cosa Nostra, which is always “interested” in politics, is much more important for the Camorra financial well-being. They make money by selling cocaine and... taking out garbage! In Italy, it is impossible to deal with bandits, despite investigations, raids and other measures. But in the USA they almost managed to get rid of the Italian mafiosi.
Camorra - one of the first bandit communities in Italy
Solntsevskaya organized crime group
The main mafia series in Russia is “Brigade”
Bandits, especially those coming from Russia - required characters good American action movie. It may seem that the mafia clans in our country are, in general, the most ferocious in the world. It is impossible to verify this statement.
Relations with the Italian mafia "Solntsevsky" to establish drug supplies
In the dashing 90s, there were organized criminal groups in probably every Russian city. One of the most famous and “successful” is often called the Solntsevskaya organized crime group, which at the beginning controlled only the thimbles, and only then developed vigorous activity: kidnappings, murders, pimping, racketeering. Friendly relations with the Italian mafia and Latin American drug cartels allowed the Solntsevskys to organize the supply and transit of drugs.
There were and still are gangster groups in the world, which, due to their high organization and the number of loyal followers, began to be called the mafia. Some have become so famous for their power and cruelty that it is impossible not to include them in the TOP.
1. Sicilian Mafia
It appeared in Sicily at the beginning of the century before last, and after a hundred years of existence it turned into an organization of international scale. Initially, the mafia protected planters and nobles from their own attacks, something very similar happened in Russia in the 90s. But then the Sicilians expanded their activities to other aspects.
2. Russian mafia
The group recognized as the most terrible. Even FBI agents call representatives of the Russian mafia the most dangerous people on the planet. Westerners consider not only Russian mafia, but also mafia structures of neighboring states to be the “Russian mafia”.
3. Mexican Mafia (La eMe)
This criminal organization became famous for its active work in the drug business. Members of the Mexican Mafia are distinguished by a special tattoo on their chest depicting a black hand. This organization was created in the 50s by representatives of a street gang serving time in a California prison. There were only thirteen organizers, some of them were members of another gang. La eMe was originally called Mexicananemi.
4. Yakuza
This largest and most dangerous crime syndicate originated in Japan. It contrasts greatly with other similar criminal organizations, for example, the Yakuza has its own office buildings, and their activities are widely covered in the press. The Yakuza love to make tattoos that are complex and multi-colored over the entire surface of the skin. Moreover, tattoos are made by manually injecting ink under the skin (irezumi). To decorate yourself in this way, you need to have a certain courage, as it causes severe pain.
5. Chinese Triad
The Triad is an association of secret criminal groups in China. This criminal society is distinguished by a common conviction and beliefs, for example, representatives firmly believe in the secret meaning of the number “3” (the name comes from it). Today, triads have spread to Taiwan, America and other places of the Chinese diaspora. As a rule, the Triad specializes in drug trafficking. By the way, representatives of the Triad are very patriotic; for example, when the outbreak of atypical mycoplasma pneumonia began, the organization offered a prize of one million US dollars to anyone who would find a cure for this disease.
6. Hells Angels or Hell's Angels (United States)
This is the largest motorcycle club with branches scattered throughout the planet. It belongs to the “Big Four” outlaw clubs, and is considered the most sensational among them. IN law enforcement agencies In many countries they are known as the "motorcycle gang". They are involved in drug trafficking, banditry, resale of stolen goods, violence and murder. As the legend posted on the Hell's Angels website says, during the Second World War in the American air force There was a bomber squadron called the Hells Angels. After the war ended and the units were disbanded, the pilots were left without a livelihood. The offended bombers considered that their homeland had committed a betrayal, and decided to switch to bikes, unite in motorcycle clubs, with the goal of causing a rebellion across the entire system.
7. “Brigade of Salvadoran Stray Ants” (Mara Salvatrucha)
This mafia structure is involved in a variety of criminal activities: it sells drugs, weapons and even people, robs, kills, engages in racketeering, kidnapping, pimping, steals cars, launders money, etc. To be able to operate in the territory occupied by the Mara Salvatrucha, street vendors and shop owners have to give almost 50 percent of their proceeds to the mafia. Salvadorans living in the United States are also forced to pay a kind of rent; if they do not pay, their relatives face imminent death or injury.
8. Rizzuto (Montreal)
This criminal organization expanded its operations not only in Montreal, but also in Quebec and Ontario. One day, the Rizzutos merged with New York crime families, which eventually resulted in real wars in Montreal in the 70s. Rizzuto's representatives own real estate in all countries, with a total value of hundreds of millions of dollars. They also own hotels, restaurants, bars, discos, construction, food, trade organizations, furniture factories and much more.
9. Mungiki (Kenya)
This criminal group is a political-religious organization and has been banned for more than ten years. The Mungiki want to revive the traditional religion of Africa, but so far they have only advanced massacres and conflicts with government officials.
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