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.
I would not be surprised by this because the mafia in Italy always goes through stages where it goes quiet and then after a few years again theres a lot of violence.The Camorra is by far the most violent mafia but I think they have become weaker since the early 200s recent arrests have hurt them.The Ndrangheta seems to be the strongest probably due to there hold of the drug trade.Many people say the Costra Nostra is a lot weaker than the camorra and Ndrangheta but I don’t think that’s true you don’t here about them as much as you did in the 1980s and 1990s because they are less violent too be honest I think they are as strong as ever.
The Ndrangheta seems to have clearly become the most powerful of the mafia organizations now in Italy and yes i think your right their control over the drug trade esp in Europe had put them in that position making millions upon millions. The Camorra really seems far more violent but they have been really hit hard of late by law enforcement so you assessment of them being weakest of the main three is probably correct. WIth Cosa Nostra falling somewhere in between these two. All three have taken their share of hits lately in form of prosecutions etc but they are def far from done and new blood may have them regrouping some.
Too be honest I cant see the mafia ever dying out in Italy.They just have too much of a strong hold over politicans and the ordinary people.The italien mafia value of money is around 42billion a year this includes the Ndrangheta,Camorrra and la Costra Nostra and that’s not even including the drug trade which is worth around 35billion.It is 10.5 percent of itlays GDP.Police seem to put them all in prison but there is always hundreds of people who just take there place.All the police can do is keep monitoring it and try to stop it getting stronger