What is Mafia?
Definition and History
Mafia is a secret criminal organization believed to have emerged in Sicily in the mid 19th century. It is an association of criminal groups known for its intimidation of and retribution against authorities. Each group, known as a clan, holds power over a territory which it operates its illegal doings. Their main activities include weapon and arms trafficking, cigarette and cocaine smuggling, fraud, money laundering, drug trafficking and other various illegal acts.
Members often show a respectable way of living, with legitimate businesses as a front for their illegal activities. They mainly believed that legal authorities were useless and that justice must be obtained directly. Attempts to bring them down had fail and resulted to more corruption and assassinations.
In the late 19th century, the organization was brought by Italian immigrants to the United States extending to Canada and Australia. They were also called the Syndicate, the Mob and Cosa Nostra (means ‘our thing’).
The term ‘Mafia’ is also being called to other organizations and crime groups with similar structures as ‘the Mafia’.
First and Second Mafia War
The First Mafia War was the first conflict between Mafia Clans that occurred in 1962. The La Barberas, a Mafia clan, murdered two of their bosses because of misunderstanding. This triggered a war that killed and wounded innocent people. The war even spread out of Sicily claiming more innocent lives. 2000 suspects were arrested and 117 were put on trial, mostly freed and others received light sentences.
In the early 1970s, a Mafia boss, Luciano Leggio, planned in taking over the organization. He created a group of mafia clans called the ‘Corleonesi’ with him as the leader. He initiated campaigns in dominating other clans but was imprisoned in 1974. His deputy, Salvatore Riina, took charge from then on. In 1981, the clan murdered Stefano Bontate that triggered the Second Mafia War. Clans betrayed each other and hundreds of them and their relatives were killed. The Corleonesi succeeded in taking over making Riina as the most powerful boss of Mafia during that time.
