'Ndrangheta

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The Calabrian 'Ndrangheta (from the Greek word andragathía for heroism and virtue), IPA: /n̩.dɾaŋ.ˈe.ta/, is one of the most powerful and ruthless mafia organisations in Italy. It is not as famous as the Sicilian Cosa Nostra and has remained more rural compared to the Neapolitan Camorra and the Apulian Sacra corona unita. Though commonly lumped together with the Sicilian Mafia, the 'Ndrangheta operate completely independently from the Sicilians, though there is contact between the two due to the geographical closeness of Calabria and Sicily. One group of 'ndranghetistas to have been discovered outside of Italy was in Ontario, Canada several decades ago. They were dubbed the Siderno Group[1] by Canadian judges as most of its members hailed from Siderno.

Italian anti-organized crime agencies estimate that the 'Ndrangheta rakes in about $30 billion annually, mostly from illegal narcotics, but also from ostensibly legal businesses such as construction, restaurants and supermarkets. There are believed to be about 100 'Ndrangheta families in Calabria, who have become more successful than their Sicilian counterparts because their family ties are closer, their vows of silence are more strictly observed, and unlike the Sicilian Mafia in the early 1990s, they have scrupulously avoided a head-on confrontation with the Italian state.

Though members of Italian organized crime are loosely referred to as mafiosi, a member of any 'ndrangheta clan is more specifically known as an 'ndrinu, and the clan itself an 'ndrina. In addition to having the advantage of blood ties, 'ndranghetistas blend well into their surroundings as they maintain humble outward appearances by not flaunting their wealth.

1 Power structure
2 Economy
3 Origins
4 External links

[edit] Power structure

Unlike most other mafia organisations, which have a pyramidal system of bosses, 'Ndrangheta groups are based on blood families (called 'Ndrine). There are anywhere from 50 to 200 of these families, totalling about 6,000 members.

[edit] Economy

According to Italian DIA (Direzione Investigativa Antimafia) and Guardia di Finanza (Italian Financial Police and Customs Police) 'Ndrangheta is now one of the most powerful criminal organizations in the world'. Economic activities of 'Ndrangheta include international cocaine and weapons smuggling, with Italian investigators estimating that 80% of Europe's cocaine passing through the Calabrian port of Gioia Tauro [2]. Further activities include money laundering and traditional crimes such as usury and extortion. 'Ndrangheta invests illegal profits in legal real estate and financial activities. Italian authorities estimate a total 2002 turnover of €16 billion. Outside Italy 'Ndrangheta operates in different countries like Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Canada, United States, Colombia, Argentina and Australia.

[edit] Origins

In the folk culture sourrounding 'Ndrangheta in Calabria references to the Garduna often appear. Aside from these references, however, there is nothing to substantiate a link between the two organisations. A connection is possible, though if only through contact to the Camorra whose possible origins in the Garduna carry more substance. At any rate, the view of the 'Ndrangheta as an heir to the Garduna (which is in turn blown up to a kind of global pirate organisation) has certainly existed at times in Calabrian history.

During the 17th century there was a secret society in Calabria that resembled but was not called 'Ndrangheta. Whether this was the seeds of 'Ndrangheta is speculation, however.

First certain evidence of 'Ndrangheta derives from shortly after Italian unification (1861). Thus it is common to give its date of origin as being around this point. Italian unity was not immediately a positive development for southern Italy: The local populace was impoverished while squires from the north took over large southern estates and heavy taxation was imposed. In this situation 'Ndrangheta was either formed or heavily reinforced (if it already existed) by Calabrians who wanted to get even by blackmailing and robbing the rich.