Mafia in Italy over the last few years had implemented a strategy of relative quietness and limited violence because of growing police pressure and prosecutions. The various organized crime factions went back into the shadows to regroup and reorganize as their over all power was being challenged by more effective law enforcement efforts. But a new report from Italy’s Anti-Mafia Directorate to the Parliament this week says that seems to be coming to an end now and the country should be prepared for an increase in Mafia violence.
The report indicated that signs of a coming rise in violence had been found between mafia clans. It singled out the Naples based Camorra or Neopolitan Mafia as being the most aggressive in this new surge in violence. It noted that over half the mafia linked murders last year were committed by waring clans with in the Camorra. The inner working of the Camorra were out lined in a book by author Robert Saviano named Gomorrah who now lived under constant police protection after death threats were issued by the Casalesi Camorra clan.
The agency also noted that Mafia organization like the Ndrangheta or Calabrian Mafia and Cosa Nostra the Sicilian Mafia are gaining a stronger foothold in the countries economy. It is this economic influence that is now powering the mafia and helps them to contaiminate communities. The Ndrangheta is said to have become very adept now at gaining influence into local governments and has become more and more organized bringing in millions from its control of the drug trade worldwide.
Some believe the new and younger leaders of the Italian Mafia groups are looking to establish themselves and gain back some of the power their mafia families once held and this is leading to more violence and could inevitably lead to more mafia wars.
