Drug cartel

A drug cartel is any criminal organization with the intention of supplying drug trafficking operations. They range from loosely managed agreements among various drug traffickers to formalized commercial enterprises. The term was applied when the largest trafficking organizations reached an agreement to coordinate the production and distribution of cocaine. Since that agreement was broken up, drug cartels are no longer actually cartels, but the term stuck and it is now popularly used to refer to any criminal narcotics related organization.

The basic structure of a drug cartel is as follows:

• Falcons (Spanish: Halcones): Considered the "eyes and ears" of the streets, the "falcons" are the lowest rank in any drug cartel. They are responsible for supervising and reporting the activities of the police, the military, and rival groups.^[1]
• Hitmen (Spanish: Sicarios): The armed group within the drug cartel, responsible for carrying out assassinations, kidnappings, thefts, extortions, operating protection rackets, and defending their plaza (turf) from rival groups and the military.^[2][3]
• Lieutenants (Spanish: Lugartenientes): The second highest position in the drug cartel organization, responsible for supervising the hitmen and falcons within their own territory. They are allowed to carry out low-profile executions without permission from their bosses.^[4]
• Drug lords (Spanish: Capos): The highest position in any drug cartel, responsible for supervising the entire drug industry, appointing territorial leaders, making alliances, and planning high-profile executions.^[5]

It is worth noting that there are other operating groups within the drug cartels. For example, the drug producers and suppliers,^[6] although not considered in the basic structure, are critical operators of any drug cartel, along with the financiers and money launderers.^[7][8][9] In addition, the arms suppliers operate in a completely different circle,^[10] and are technically not considered part of the cartel’s logistics.

Africa

• Cape Verdean organized crime
• Mungiki^[11]
• Nigerian organized crime^{[12][13][14][15][16][17]}
  • Confraternities in Nigeria
    • Black Axe Confraternity
  • Anini gang
• Mai-Mai militia gangs
• Moroccan hashish smugglers
  • Ahmed organization

Americas

North America

Canada

• Rivard organization
• Red Scorpions
• Bacon Brothers
• Montreal
  • West End Gang^[18][19]
  • Blass gang
  • Dubois Brothers
• Indo-Canadian organized crime
  • Punjabi Mafia जोहल गिरोह (Canada)^[19]
• Canadian mafia families
  • Rizzuto crime family^[19][20]
  • Cuntrera-Caruana Mafia clan^[19][20]
  • Cotroni crime family^[19][20]
  • Musitano crime family^[19][20]
  • Papalia crime family^[19][20]
  • Perri crime family^[19][20]
  • Siderno Group^[19][20]
  • Commisso 'ndrina^[19][20]

United States

The United States of America is the world's largest consumer of cocaine^[21] and other illegal drugs.^{[22][23][24][25]} This is a list of American criminal organizations involved in illegal drug traffic, drug trade and other related crimes in the United States:

• National Crime Syndicate^[18][26]
  • Seven Group^[18][26]
  • Murder, Inc.^[18][27]
• Polish Mob
  • Saltis-McErlane Gang^[26]
  • Kielbasa Posse^[28]
  • The Greenpoint Crew^[29]
  • Flats Mob
  • The Flathead gang^[30]
• Prohibition-era gangs
  • Galveston
    • Downtown Gang
    • Beach Gang
    • The Maceo syndicate
  • Shelton Brothers Gang^[26][31]
  • Sheldon Gang^[26]
  • Broadway Mob^[26]
  • The Lanzetta Brothers
  • Circus Cafe Gang^[26]
  • Wandering Family
  • Remus organization
• Hispanic-American
  • Marielitos
    • The Corporation^[18]
  • Puerto Rican mafia
    • Agosto organization
    • La ONU
    • Solano organization
    • Negri organization
    • Márquez gambling ring
  • Polanco-Rodriguez organization^[14]
• Los Angeles (See also Rampart scandal)
  • Nash gang^[32]
  • Wonderland Gang^[32]
• Dixie Mafia^[26]
  • Cornbread Mafia^[33]
• Greek-American organized crime
  • Philadelphia Greek Mob^[34]
  • Velentzas Family^[35]
• Assyrian/Chaldean mafia^[36]
• Hawaii
  • The Company
  • Leota mob
• Wall gang
• Elkins mob
• The Chickens and the Bulls
• Binion mob
• Johnson gang

American Mafia

Italian immigrants to the United States in the early 19th century formed various small-time gangs which gradually evolved into sophisticated crime syndicates which dominated organized crime in America for several decades. Although government crackdowns and a less-tightly knit Italian-American community have largely reduced their power, they remain an active force in the underworld.

Active crime families

• The Commission^[20]
• The Five Families of New York City^[12][18][20]
  • Bonanno^{[12][18][19][20][15][37]}
    • Indelicato crew
    • The Motion Lounge Crew
  • Colombo^{[12][18][19][20][15]}
    • Scarpa crew
  • Genovese^{[12][18][19][20][15][37][38]}
    • 116th Street Crew^[20]
    • Greenwich Village Crew^[18]
    • New Jersey Crew^[15]
  • Gambino^{[12][18][19][20][15][37]}
    • Ozone Park Boys^[39]
    • DeMeo crew^[20]
    • Baltimore Crew
    • South Florida faction
    • New Jersey faction
    • The Bergin Crew
    • Cherry Hill Gambinos
  • Lucchese^{[12][19][20][15][38]}
    • The Jersey Crew^[15]
    • The Vario Crew^[18]
    • 107th Street gang
• Magaddino crime family^[18][20]
• DeCavalcante crime family^[18][20][15]
• The Chicago Outfit^{[12][18][36][20][30]} (see also Unione Siciliane)
  • Las Vegas crew (defunct)
• Philadelphia crime family^{[18][19][20][15]}
• Pittsburgh crime family^[20][26]
• Patriarca crime family^[20]
  • Angiulo Brothers crew^[20]
• Cleveland crime family^[20][30]
• Los Angeles crime family^[20]
• Kansas City crime family^[20]
• Trafficante crime family^[20]
• Detroit Partnership^[20][26][30]
• Milwaukee crime family^[20]
• New Orleans crime family^[18][20][26]

Defunct mafia families

• Morello crime family^[18][20]
• Genna crime family^[20]
• Porrello crime family^[20]
• St. Louis crime family^[20]
• Rochester Crime Family^[20]
• Bufalino crime family^[20]
• Dallas crime family^[20]
• Denver crime family^[20]
• San Francisco crime family^[20]
• San Jose crime family^[20]
• Seattle crime family
• Omaha crime family
• Licavoli Mob^[18][20]
• Cardinelli gang
• New York Camorra
• East Harlem Purple Gang^[38]

Jewish mafia

• New York City
  • Schultz gang
  • The Bugs and Meyer Mob^[27]
  • Shapiro Brothers^[27]
  • Yiddish Black Hand^[27]
  • Rothstein organization
  • Kaplan gang
  • Rosenzweig gang
• Boston
  • 69th Street Gang^[27]
  • Sagansky organization
  • Solomon organization^[27]
• Los Angeles
  • Cohen crime family (mix between Jewish and Italian members)^[20][26][27]
• The Purple Gang^[18][27][30]
• Zwillman gang^[27]
• Kid Cann's gang^[27]
• Birger mob^[31]
• Cleveland Syndicate

African-American organized crime

Certain members of the Black Panther Party, particularly the Oakland chapter, also engaged in criminal activities such as drug dealing and extortion.

• New York City
  • The Council^[40][14][37]
  • Harlem numbers racket^[37]
  • Bumpy Johnson gang^[37]
  • Supreme Team^[41]
  • The Bebos
  • The Country Boys^[37][41]
  • Matthews Organization^[37]
• The Family
• Detroit
  • Black Mafia Family^[42]
  • Young Boys, Inc.^[14]
  • Chambers Brothers^[14]
• Philadelphia
  • Black Mafia^[18][37][41]
  • Junior Black Mafia^[16]
• Oakland, California
  • 69 Mob^[41]
• Baltimore
  • Williams organization (drug trafficking)^[41]
• Washington, D.C.
  • Rayful Edmond organization^[41]
• Chicago
  • Theodore Roe's gambling ring
  • Stokes organization
• Atlantic City
  • Aso Posse
• Miami
  • Miami Boys
• Rosemond Organization

Irish Mob

• Prohibition-era Chicago gangs
  • North Side Gang^[18][26][43]
  • James Patrick O'Leary organization
  • John Patrick Looney gang
  • Valley Gang^[26]
  • Ragen's Colts^[26]
  • Touhy gang
• Boston
  • Mullen Gang^[43]
  • Winter Hill Gang^[18][43]
  • Gustin Gang^[43]
  • Charlestown Mob
  • Killeen gang^[43]
• Danny Hogan's gang
• Danny Walsh gang
• Tom Dennison empire
• Danny Greene's Celtic Club^[18][43]
• Nucky Johnson's Organization
• K&A Gang
• Enright gang
• New York
  • Dwyer gang
  • The Westies^[18][43]
  • White Hand Gang^[18]
  • Higgins gang
• St Louis
  • Hogan Gang
  • Egan's Rats^[26][43]

Mexico

• Not to be confused with the Mexican Mafia U.S. street gang.

Mexican cartels (also known in Mexico as: La Mafia (the mafia or the mob), La Maña (the skill / the bad manners),^[44] Narcotraficantes (Narco-Traffickers), or simply as Narcos) is a generic term that usually refers to several, usually rival, criminal organizations that are combated by the Mexican government in the Mexican War on Drugs (List sorted by branches and heritage):^[45]

• Gulf Cartel (The oldest Mexican Criminal syndicate, started as prohibition-era bootlegging gang)
  • Los Zetas (Formerly part of the Gulf cartel, now independent)
  • La Familia Michoacana (Formerly a branch of the Gulf Cartel, then went independent)^[46][47] (Disbanded)
  • Los Caballeros Templarios (Splintered from La Familia Cartel)^[48]
• Guadalajara Cartel (The first full-fledged Mexican Drug cartel, from which most of the big cartels spawned) (Disbanded in 1989)
• Sinaloa Cartel (Spawned from the Guadalajara Cartel)
  • Colima Cartel (Disbanded, former members are now a branch of the Sinaloa Cartel)^[49]
  • Sonora Cartel (Disbanded in 1989, its remnants joined the Sinaloa Cartel)^[49]
  • Artistas Asesinos (hitman squad)^[50] (Disbanded)
  • Gente Nueva (Sinaloa cell in Chihuahua)^[51] (Disbanded)
  • Los Ántrax (enforcer squad)
    

    Drug trafficking tunnel under the U.S.-Mexico border used by the Sinaloa Cartel
• Milenio Cartel (First loyal to the Sinaloa Cartel federation, later independent) (Disbanded)
  • La Resistencia^[52] (Splintered from the milenio cartel) (Disbanded)
  • Jalisco New Generation Cartel^[53] (Independent remnants of the Milenio cartel)
• Beltrán-Leyva Cartel (Formerly part of the Sinaloa Cartel federation, later independent) (Disbanded)
  • Los Negros (Beltran-Leyva enforcement squad) (Disbanded)
  • South Pacific Cartel (branch of the Beltran Leyva Cartel in Morelos)^[54][55][56]
  • Cártel del Centro^[57] (cell of the Beltran-Leyva Cartel in Mexico City) (Disbanded)
  • Cártel Independiente de Acapulco^[58] (Splinter from the Beltran-Leyva Cartel)
  • La Barredora (gang)^[59]
  • El Comando Del Diablo (gang)^[60] (Hitman squad of la Barredora)^[61] (Disbanded)
  • La Mano Con Ojos (gang)^[62] (small cell of Beltran-Leyva members in the State of Mexico) (Disbanded)
    

    Sinaloa Cartel Plaza Bosses as of May 2013
  • La Nueva Administración^[63] (Splintered from the Beltran-Leyva Cartel) (Disbanded)
  • La Oficina (gang)^[64] (cell of the Beltran-Leyva Cartel in Aguascalientes) (Disbanded)
  • Cártel de la Sierra (cell in Guerrero)^[65][66]
  • Cártel de La Calle (cell in Chiapas)^[67][68]
  • Los Chachos (gang in Tamaulipas) (Disbanded)^[69][70]
• Tijuana Cartel (Spawned from the Guadalajara Cartel)
  • Oaxaca Cartel (Was a branch of the disbanded Tijuana Cartel, its regional leader was captured in 2007)
• Juárez Cartel(Spawned from the Guadalajara Cartel)
  • La Línea (Juárez Cartel enforcer squad)
  • Barrio Azteca (U.S. Street Gang)^[71][71] (Allied with La Linea)
    

    El Azul is a Mexican drug lord. He is a former Mexican secret police (DFS) agent.
• Lesser-known small-criminal organizations:
  • Los Mexicles (U.S. Street Gang)^[72]
  • Los Texas (street gang) (Disbanded)^[73]
• Government officials: Other organizations that have been involved in drug trade or traffic in Mexico. (however this does not necessarily apply for the whole institutions):
  • Mexican officials:
    • Municipal, State, and Federal police forces in Mexico^[74][75][76]
    • Mexican Armed Forces (Army and Navy^{[77][78][79][80][81][82]})
    • Mexico City International Airport^[83]
    • Club Xoloitzcuintles (football)^[84][85]
  • United States officials:
    • Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)^[86]
    • Texas National Guard^[86]
    • U.S. Customs and Border Protection^[87][88]
    • United States Immigration and Naturalization Service^[86]

Caribbean

• Chadee gang (Trinidad & Tobago) (see also Jamaat al Muslimeen)
• Jamaican Yardies & Posses^{[18][14][16][89]}
  • Shower Posse^[16][89]
  • POW Posse
  • Tottenham Mandem^[90]
    • Star Gang
  • Klans Massive^[91]
• No Limit Soldiers
• Phantom death squad (Guyana)
• Zoe Pound (Haitian, see also Tonton Macoute)
• Dominican drug cartels^[92]
  • Paulino organization^[93]
  • Féliz organization

South America

Brazil

• Comando Vermelho
• Primeiro Comando da Capital
• Terceiro Comando Puro

Bolivia

• Bolivian drug cartels (See also García Meza regime drug trafficking)
  • La Corporación
  • Santa Cruz cartel

Colombia

Until 2011 Colombia remained the world's largest cocaine producer,^[94] however with a strong anti-narcotic strategy in 2012 the country achieved a great decrease in cocaine production and fell to the third position, behind Peru and Bolivia.^[95]

The current main actors in the drug trade are:

• Neo-paramilitary criminal gangs, also called BACRIM^[96]
  • Black Eagles (Aguilas Negras)
  • Los Rastrojos
  • Los Urabeños
  • Oficina de Envigado
  • Bloque Meta
• ELN (Weakened by a US-backed counter-insurgency plan)
• EPL (Partially demobilized)

Historical actors in the drug trade were:

• Cali Cartel (dissolved)
• Medellín Cartel (dismantled)
• North Coast Cartel (dismantled)
• Norte del Valle Cartel (dissolved)
• AUC (demobilized)
• FARC (demobilized)

Peru

• Peruvian drug cartels (see also Shining Path and Vladimiro Montesinos)
  • Zevallos organisation

Venezuela

Historically Venezuela has been a path to the United States for illegal drugs originating in Colombia, through Central America and Mexico and Caribbean countries such as Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico.

According to the United Nations, there was an increase of cocaine trafficking through Venezuela since 2002.^[97] In 2005 Venezuela severed ties with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), accusing its representatives of spying.^[98] Following the departure of the DEA from Venezuela and the expansion of DEA's partnership with Colombia in 2005, Venezuela became more attractive to drug traffickers.^[99] Between 2008 and 2012, Venezuela's cocaine seizure ranking among other countries declined, going from being ranked fourth in the world for cocaine seizures in 2008^[100] to sixth in the world in 2012.^[101] The cartel groups involved include:

• The Cuntrera-Caruana Mafia clan moved to Venezuela,^[102] which became an important hideout as the clan bought hotels and founded various businesses in Caracas and Valencia, as well as an extended ranch in Barinas, near the Colombian border. "Venezuela has its own Cosa Nostra family as if it is Sicilian territory," according to the Italian police. "The structure and hierarchy of the Mafia has been entirely reproduced in Venezuela." The Cuntrera-Caruana clan had direct links with the ruling Commission of the Sicilian Mafia, and are acknowledged by the American Cosa Nostra.^[102]

Pasquale, Paolo and Gaspare Cuntrera were expelled from Venezuela in 1992, "almost secretly smuggled out of the country, as if it concerned one of their own drug transports. It was imperative they could not contact people on the outside who could have used their political connections to stop the expulsion." Their expulsion was ordered by a commission of the Venezuelan Senate headed by Senator Cristobal Fernandez Dalo and his money laundering investigator, Thor Halvorssen Hellum. They were arrested in September 1992 at Fiumicino airport (Rome),^[103][104] and in 1996 were sentence to 13–20 years.^[102]

• Norte del Valle Cartel : In 2008 the leader of the Colombian Norte del Valle Cartel, Wilber Varela, was found murdered in a hotel in Mérida in Venezuela.^[105] In 2010 Venezuela arrested and deported to the United States Jaime Alberto "Beto" Marin, then head of the Norte del Valle Cartel.^[106]
• The Cartel of the Suns According to Jackson Diehl. Deputy Editorial Page Editor of The Washington Post, the Bolivarian government of Venezuela shelters "one of the world’s biggest drug cartels". There have also been allegations that former president Hugo Chávez and Diosdado Cabello being involved with drug trafficking.^[107]

In May 2015, The Wall Street Journal reported from United States officials that drug trafficking in Venezuela increased significantly with Colombian drug traffickers moving from Colombia to Venezuela due to pressure from law enforcement.^[108] On United States Department of Justice official described the higher ranks of the Venezuelan government and military as "a criminal organization", with high ranking Venezuelan officials, such as National Assembly President Diosdado Cabello, being accused of drug trafficking.^[108] Those involved with investigations stated that Venezuelan government defectors and former traffickers had given information to investigators and that details of those involved in government drug trafficking were increasing.^[108]

Central America

Honduras

• Honduran drug cartels
  • Matta organization
  • Cachiros

El Salvador

• Mara Salvatrucha
• 18th Street Gang

Nicaragua

• Nicaraguan drug cartels (see also Contras)
  • Oscar Danilo Blandón

Asia

East Asia

Korea

• Korean criminal organizations (see also North Korea's illicit activities)
  • Jongro street gang

Japan

Japanese criminal organizations

See also Kenji Doihara's criminal activities

The yakuza of Japan are similar to the Italian mafias in that they originated centuries ago and follow a rigid set of traditions, but have several aspects that make them unique, such as their full-body tattoos and their fairly open place in Japanese society. Many yakuza groups are umbrella organizations, smaller gangs reporting to a larger crime syndicate.

Active yakuza groups

• Roku-daime Yamaguchi-gumi 六代目山口組^{[12][13][18][109]}
  • Yoshitomi Group
  • Yon-daime Yamaken-gumi　四代目山健組^[18][109]
  • Ni-daime Kodo-kai 二代目弘道会^[18]
  • Ni-daime Takumi-gumi 二代目宅見組^[109]
  • Go-daime Kokusui-kai 五代目國粹会^[109]
• Inagawa-kai 稲川会^{[12][18][109]}
• Sumiyoshi-kai 住吉会^{[13][18][109]}
  • Sumiyoshi-ikka Shinwa-kai 住吉一家親和会
    • Kansuke Juni-daime 勘助十二代目
• Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi
• Matsuba-kai 松葉会^[109]
• Kyokuto-kai 極東会^[109]
• Dojin-kai^[109] 道仁会
  • Kitamura-gumi
• Yon-daime Kudo-kai^[109] 四代目工藤會
• Roku-daime Aizu-Kotetsu-kai 六代目会津小鉄会^[109]
• Okinawa Kyokuryu-kai 沖縄旭琉会^[109]
• Kyushu Seido-kai 九州誠道会
• Go-daime Kyosei-kai 五代目共政会^[109]
• San-daime Fukuhaku-kai 三代目福博会
• Soai-kai 双愛会^[109]
• Yon-daime Kyokuryu-kai 四代目旭琉会^[109]
• San-daime Kyodo-kai 三代目俠道会^[109]
• Taishu-kai 太州会^[109]
• Shichi-daime Goda-ikka 七代目合田一家^[109]
• Toa-kai 東亜会^[18]
• Ni-daime Azuma-gumi 二代目東組^[109]
• Yon-daime Asano-gumi 四代目浅野組^[109]
• Hachi-daime Sakaume-gumi 八代目酒梅組
• Yon-daime Kozakura-ikka 四代目小桜一家^[109]
• Ni-daime Shinwa-kai 二代目親和会^[109]

Defunct yakuza groups

• Kantō-kai 関東会^[109]
• Ni-daime Honda-kai 二代目本多会^[109]
• Yamaguchi-gumi
  • Goto-gumi 後藤組^[109]
  • Suishin-kai 水心会^[110]
• Ichiwa-kai 一和会^[13][109]
• San-daime Yamano-kai 三代目山野会^[109]
• Nakano-kai 中野会^[18][109]
• Kyokuto Sakurai-soke-rengokai 極東桜井總家連合会^[109]

China

The Triads is a popular name for a number of Chinese criminal secret societies, which have existed in various forms over the centuries (see for example Tiandihui). However, not all Chinese gangs fall into line with these traditional groups, as many non-traditional criminal organizations have formed, both in China and the Chinese diaspora.

• Hong Kong-based Triads
  • 14K Group 十四K
  • Wo Group 和字頭
    • Wo Shing Wo 和勝和
    • Wo On Lok (Shui Fong) 和安樂(水房)
    • Wo Hop To 和合圖(老和)^[111]
  • Sun Yee On 新義安(老新)
  • Luen Group 聯字頭
  • Big Circle Gang 大圈
• Sio Sam Ong (小三王)
• Chinese-American gangs (See also Tongs)
  • Wah Ching 華青^[112]
  • Ping On
  • Black Dragons 黑龍^[113]
  • Jackson Street Boys 積臣街小子^[114]
• Secret societies in Singapore
  • Ang Soon Tong昂很快塘
  • Ghee Hin Kongsi 酥油軒懸空寺
  • Hai San 海新
  • Wah Kee華記
  • Ah Kong 新加坡黑手黨
• Taiwan-based Triads
  • United Bamboo Gang 竹聯幫^[115]
  • Four Seas Gang 四海幫^[115]
  • Celestial Alliance
• Mainland Chinese crime groups (see also Hanlong Group)
  • Chongqing group 重慶組
  • Defunct
    • Honghuzi gangs
    • Green Gang 青帮
• Triads in Cholon
  • Wu Bang

Southeast Asia

• Golden Triangle^{[12][18][40][14][116]}
  • Burmese drug cartels(see also Myanmar Nationalities Democratic Alliance Army)
    • Khun Sa cartel^[18][14] (see also Mong Tai Army)
    • Red Wa Cartel (see also United Wa State Army and National Democratic Alliance Army)
    • Hawngleuk Militia
    • Han cartel
  • Laotian drug cartels (see also Ouane Rattikone)

• Chao pho
  • Red Wa
• Filipino crime gangs (See also Abu Sayyaf and New People's Army)
  • • Salonga Group
    • Kuratong Baleleng^[12]
    • Changco gang
    • Putik gang
• Cambodian crime gangs
  • Teng Bunma organization
• Indonesia
• Preman (See also Pancasila Youth and insurgency in Aceh)
  • Medan gang
• Malaysian crime gangs
  • Mamak Gang^[117]

Vietnamese Xã Hội Đen

• Bình Xuyên^[118]
• Đại Cathay's mafia during the 60s
• Năm Cam's mafia of the 90s^[12][18]
• Khánh Trắng's "Đồng Xuân Labor Union", a crime syndicate under the guise of a legal entity
• Dung Hà's gang
• Vũ Xuân Trường's gang: a crime syndicate leaded by Vũ Xuân Trường, a government official and also a drug-lord.

South Asia

• Indian mafia (See also Insurgency in Northeast India)
  • Mumbai
    • D-Company डी कंपनी^[13][18]
    • Rajan gang राजन गिरोह^[13]
    • Gawli gang गवली गिरोह^[13]
    • Rajan gang
    • Surve gang
    • Mudaliar gang
    • Mastan gang
    • Budesh gang
    • Kalani gang
  • Pathan mafia
    • Lala gang
  • Uttar Pradesh
    • Ansari gang
    • Yadav gang
  • Bangalore
    • Rai gang
    • Ramachandra gang
    • Jayaraj gang
  • Kala Kaccha Gang
  • Chaddi Baniyan Gang
• Sri Lankan criminal groups (See also Tamil Tigers, Eelam People's Democratic Party and Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal)
• Pakistani Mafia (See also Peoples' Aman Committee, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, Muttahida Qaumi Movement and ISI involvement with drugs)
  • Chotu gang
  • Lyari Gang
• Mafia Raj
• Dacoit gangs
  • Singh gang
  • Veerappan gang
  • Devi gang

Middle East

^[119][120]

• Israeli mafia^{[12][36][121]} (see also Stern Gang)
  • Abergil Crime Family משפחת אברג'יל^[12][13]
  • Alperon crime family אלפרון משפחת פשע^[12]
  • Zeev Rosenstein organization זאב רוזנשטיין הארגון^[12]
  • Palestinian organized crime ( See also Abu Nidal Organization)
    • Doghmush clan
• Turkish mafia^{[12][13][122]}
  • Crime groups in Turkey (see also Deep state and Yüksekova Gang)
    • Kilic gang^[18]
    • Cakici gang^[18][122]
    • Peker gang
    • Yaprak gang
    • Topal organisation
    • Söylemez Gang
  • Kurdish mafia (see also Kurdistan Workers' Party)
    • Baybasin drug organization^[122]
    • Cantürk organization
  • Turkish organised crime in Great Britain
    • Arifs^[89][123]
  • Turkish organised crime in Germany
    • Arabaci clan^[124]
  • Imac clan (Netherlands)
• Iranian organized crime (see also Jundallah and illegal activities of the IRGC)
  • Tahvili crime family^[125]
• Lebanese mafia (See also Lebanese Civil War militias)
  • Mhallami-Lebanese crime clans
    • Miri-Clan
    • Al-Zein Clan
  • Juomaa drug trafficking organisation (See also Hezbollah)
  • Ibrahim clan

Afghanistan

• Golden Crescent^[12][14]
  • Afridi Network
  • Afghan drug cartels^[13][36] (see also Taliban)
    • Noorzai Organization^[126]
    • Khan organization
    • Karzai organization (alleged)
    • Bagcho organization

Central Asia

• Uzbek mafia (See also Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan)
  • Rakhimov organization
• Kyrgyz mafia
  • Erkinbayev group
  • Akmatbayev group
  • Kolbayev group

Eurasia

Russia

Although organized crime existed in the Soviet era, the gangs really gained in power and international reach during the transition to capitalism. The term Russian Mafia, 'mafiya' or mob is a blanket (and somewhat inaccurate) term for the various organized crime groups that emerged in this period from the 15 former republics of the USSR and unlike their Italian counterparts does not mean members are necessarily of Russian ethnicity or uphold any ancient criminal traditions, although this is the case for some members.

• Russian-Jewish mafia
  • Brighton Beach
    • Agron gang^[18][127]
    • Nayfeld gang^[127]
    • Balagula gang^[127]
  • Mogilevich organization^[13][128]
• Brothers' Circle (Existence is debatable)
• Russian mafia (See also Lubyanka Criminal Group, Three Whales Corruption Scandal and Sergei Magnitsky)
  • Moscow
    • Izmaylovskaya gang^[13][128]
    • Solntsevskaya bratva^{[12][13][18][128]}
      • New York branch^[128]
    • Orekhovskaya gang^[128]
  • St Petersburg (See also Baltik-Eskort)
    • Tambov Gang^[128]
  • Togliatti mafia
  • Uralmash gang
  • Lazovsky gang
  • Vladivostok gang
  • Kurganskaya group
  • Tsapok gang
  • 'Elephants' group
  • Kazan gang

Caucasus

See also Caucasus Emirate

• Georgian mafia^[128] (See also Mkhedrioni and Forest Brothers)
  • Kutaisi clan^[128][129]
  • Tbilisi clan^[129]
  • 21st Century Association
• Armenian mafia^[130]
  • Mirzoyan-Terdjanian organization^[130]
  • Armenian Power^[130]
• Azeri mafia
  • Janiev organization^[131]
• Chechen mafia^{[12][13][128]} (See also Special Purpose Islamic Regiment and Kadyrovtsy)
  • Obschina^[128]
  • Labazanov gang^[18]

Europe

Sweden

• • Original Gangsters^[132]
  • Fucked For Life^[132]
  • Uppsala mafia
  • Chosen Ones
  • Werewolf Legion
  • Asir
  • Vårvädersligan

Netherlands

• Dutch 'Penose'
  • Bruinsma drug gang^[18]
  • Holleeder gang^[18]
  • Mieremet gang
  • Hopi Boys

France

• French Milieu (See also Service d'Action Civique)
  • Corsican mafia^{[18][116][133]} (see also National Liberation Front of Corsica)
    • Unione Corse^[40][14]
    • Brise de Mer gang^[133]
  • Les Caïds Des Cités
    • Faïd gang
    • The Barbarians^[134]
  • Wigs gang
  • North African Brigade (see also Carlingue)
  • Tractions Avant gang^[135]
  • Bande des Trois Canards

Greece

• • Greek mafia

Ireland

• Ireland (See also Irish Republican Army)
  • Dublin
    • Cahill gang^[18][89]
    • Gilligan gang^[18][89]
    • Foley gang
    • Hyland gang
    • Dunne gang
    • The Westies
  • Limerick
    • McCarthy-Dundon
    • Keane-Collopy
  • Rathkeale Rovers
  • Kinahan gang

Spain

• Spain (see also ETA)
  • Galician mafia

Poland

• Poland (See also Group 13)
  • Pruszków Mafia

Slovakia

• Slovak mafia
• Romani clans
  • El Clan De La Paca
  • Raffael clan
  • Sztojka clan
  • Rashkov clan
  • French gypsy gangs
    • Hornec gang^[133]

Czech Republic

• • Mrázek organization
  • Krejčíř organization

Belgium

• The Belgian Milieu
  • 'Hormone mafia'
  • Milieu Liègeois

Italy

• Sicilian Mafia^{[12][13][18][20][17][121]}
  • Cuntrera-Caruana clan
  • Sicilian Mafia Commission
    • Inzerillo Mafia clan
    • Mandamenti
      • Mazara mandamento
      • Castelvetrano clan
      • Trapani mandamento
      • Pagliarelli mandamento
      • Resuttana mandamento
      • Ciaculli mandamento
      • Cosca
        • Corleonesi^[12][18]
        • Bontade Mafia clan
• 'Ndrangheta^[12][18][17]
  • See also List of 'ndrine
  • La Provincia
  • Honoured Society (Melbourne)^[136]
  • Mammoliti 'ndrina
  • Bellocco 'ndrina
  • Cataldo 'ndrina
  • Commisso 'ndrina
  • Cordì 'ndrina
  • De Stefano 'ndrina
  • Pesce 'ndrina
  • Barbaro 'ndrina
  • Piromalli 'ndrina
  • Serraino 'ndrina
  • Siderno Group^[19]
• Camorra^{[12][18][36][17]}
  • Secondigliano Alliance
    • Licciardi clan^[17]
    • Contini clan^[17]
    • Lo Russo clan^[17]
    • Mallardo clan^[17]
  • Nuova Camorra Organizzata^[12][18][17]
  • Di Lauro Clan^[17]
  • Nuova Famiglia^[12][17]
  • Casalesi clan^[17]
  • Fabbrocino clan^[17]
  • Giuliano clan^[17]
  • Nuvoletta clan^[17]
  • Vollaro clan^[17]
  • Scissionisti di Secondigliano^[17]
  • La Torre clan^[17]
  • Alfieri clan^[17]
  • Russo clan^[137]
• Sacra Corona Unita^{[12][13][18][17]}
• Stidda^[18]
• Mala del Brenta^[17]
• Rome
  • Banda della Magliana^[138]
  • Mafia Capitale
• Milanese gangs
  • Banda della Comasina^[139]
  • Turatello crew

Balkans

Balkan organized crime gained prominence in the chaos following the communist era, notably the transition to capitalism and the wars in former Yugoslavia.

• Albanian mafia^[12][13][17]
  • Kosovan mafia(see also Kosovo Liberation Army)
    • Drenica Group
  • Albania
    • Gang of Çole
    • Gang of Gaxhai
    • Gang of Pusi i Mezinit
    • Lazarat marijuana growers
  • Rudaj Organization^[140] (New York City)
  • Gang of Ismail Lika
  • Dobroshi gang^[141] (International)
  • Naserligan^[132] (Sweden)
  • K-Falangen (Sweden)
• Bosnian mafia^[12]
  • Prazina gang^[121]
  • Bajramović gang
  • Delalić gang
  • M-Falangen (Sweden)
• Bulgarian mafia^[13][18] (see also Multigroup)
  • VIS^[13][18]
  • SIC
  • Karamanski gang
  • TIM
  • Naglite
• Serbian mafia^[12][13]
  • Arkan clan^[13][121]
  • Zemun Clan^[13]
  • Joca Amsterdam gang
  • Magaš clan
  • Giška gang
  • Pink Panthers^[142]
  • Serb mafia in Scandinavia
    • Kotur mob
    • Yugoslav Brotherhood
• Montenegrin Mafia^[12][13] (see also allegations of Milo Đukanović's involvement in cigarette smuggling)
• Macedonian Mafia
  • Frankfurt mafia
  • Bajrush klan
  • Nezim klan'
• Romanian Mafia
  • Băhăian organisation
• Croatian organized crime (see also Croatian National Resistance, involved in racketeering in the United States during the Cold War)

Great Britain

• London
  • Adams crime family^[18][123]
  • The Richardson Gang^{[18][89][143]}
  • The Firm^{[18][89][143]}
  • The Syndicate
  • Comer gang
  • Buttmarsh Boys
  • Interwar era mobs
    • Messina Brothers^{[18][89][143]}
    • Sabini syndicate^{[18][89][143]}
    • Hoxton Gang^[89][143]
    • Elephant and Castle Mob^[89][143]
    • Birmingham Boys^[18][143]
• Essex Boys
• Manchester
  • Quality Street Gang^[89]
  • Noonan firm^[89]
  • Cheetham Hillbillies
  • The Gooch Close Gang
• Liverpool
  • Curtis Warren's drug empire^[18]
  • Whitney gang
• Aggi Crew^[123]
• Glasgow
  • McGraw firm^[18]
  • Thompson firm^[18][89]
  • Delta Crime Syndicate
• Brighton razor gangs
• Bestwood Cartel

Ukraine

• Ukrainian mafia (See also Ukrainian oligarchs and Oleksandr Muzychko)
  • Donetsk Clan
  • Salem gang
  • Mukacheve cigarette smuggling syndicate

Lithuania

• Lithuanian mafia
  • Vilnius Brigade^[144]

Estonia

• Estonian mafia
  • Linnuvabriku group

Transnistria

• Transnistrian mafia

Other organized crime groups based in Europe

• Kurdish mafia "Aşiret"(Tribe)
• Turkish mafia

Australia

• Sydney
  • Razor gangs^[145]
  • 5T gang^[146]
  • Freeman gang
  • The Team
  • Mr Sin gang
• Melbourne
  • Carlton Crew^[18][136]
  • Moran family^[136]
  • Williams family^[136]
  • Pettingill family
  • Richmond gang

Other parts of the world

• Cartel del Az
• History of Jardine, Matheson & Co.

References

Further reading

• Aire, Jose Gutierrez (2012). Blood, Death, Drugs and Sex in Old Mexico. Createspace Independent Pub. ISBN 147759227X. 
• PBS. 2006. Frontline: Drug Wars.

External links

• Worldpress.org. 2006. "Mexico: Drug Cartels a Growing Threat." Worldpress.org.