Sicilian Mafia
Island crime organization
The Sicilian Mafia is an organized crime network originating in Sicily, Italy, characterized by hierarchical structure, codes of silence (omertà), and control over territory through intimidation and violence.
Members are sometimes called mafiosi.
The organization has historically dominated extortion, drug trafficking, and political corruption in Sicily, with influence extending internationally.
The Sicilian Mafia controlled much of the heroin trade into the United States during the 1970s.
- omertàCriminal vow of silence
- code of silenceTacit agreement against disclosure
- bossWorkplace superior
- organized crimeStructured illegal enterprise
- vendettaProlonged retaliatory conflict
consigliere · family · racketeering · mobster · protection racket · gangster · hitmen · honor codes · Palermo · old country · don · extortion · capo · syndicate · underboss · henchman · kiss of death · sleeping with the fishes
- Mafiamafia, Five Families, Colombo, Gambino, Genovese
- Crime SyndicatesFive Families, Medellin Cartel, Irish Mob, Murder Inc, Sinaloa
- organized crimemafia, mob, the mob, syndicate, crime syndicate
Sicilian Mafiarule of law
Supremacy of established laws
constitutional authority · democratic institutions · law enforcement · state government · civil society
Sicilian MafiaFBI
U.S. domestic intelligence agency
Interpol · law enforcement · prosecutors · judiciary · state authority
Sicilian Mafiahumanitarian organization
Group helping those in need
charity organization · Red Cross · Doctors Without Borders · charity · NGO