Paul Carbone
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Paul Carbone (Paul Bonnaventure Carbone) was a Corsican criminal involved in the Marseille underground from the 1920s till his death in 1943. Associated to François Spirito, who would become one of the leader of the French Connection, Carbone inspired the film Borsalino (film) which featured Alain Delon and Jean-Paul Belmondo.
[edit] Life
Paul Carbone and François Spirito met in Egypt, where they created a small empire based on prostitution. Carbone then became the most powerful Godfather of Marseille during 20 years, maintaining close contact with politicians. He owned many brothels (maisons closes), engaged in racketting on the Riviera and also in smuggling of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese [sic] between Italy and France. The couple also possessed interests in Paris. They were the first to import opium from Indochina and transform it to heroin near Marseille, before sending it to the United States.
During the inter-war period, Carbone and Spirito allied themselves with the mayor of Marseille, Simon Sabiani. After the February 6, 1934 riots in Paris, Carbone's men cracked down on the dockers of Marseille on strike.
During World War II, both men would engage in Collaboration with Nazi Germany in exchange for a blind eye to their affairs.
Carbone died in 1943, his car being percuted by a train which the Resistance had put off-tracks.
Paul was known as "Cbone" in some texts.
