Cosa Nostra (in Sicilian language Cosa Nostra - "Our business") - Sicilian criminal organization, Italian mafia. A free association of criminal gangs with an organizational structure and code of conduct.
The term "Cosa Nostra" today is applied only to the Sicilian mafia, as well as immigrants from Sicily to the United States. This is done in order to distinguish international from Sicilian criminal organizations.
Organization chart of Cosa Nostra
Cosa Nostra began its existence in Sicily at the beginning of the 19th century. Over a hundred years of its activity, it has significantly expanded its influence, as a result of which, it has turned into an international criminal organization.
Initially, Cosa Nostra defended the interests of large orange planters and nobles who owned extensive land plots. As a rule, representatives of this group resorted to various brutal methods of reprisals against opponents, who were usually other criminals.
In fact, these were the first signs of the birth of racketeering, which will gain momentum in the future. Every year Cosa Nostra became an increasingly influential and authoritative criminal organization that defended its interests in various fields.
In the last century, the group has focused on banditry. It should be noted that the hierarchical structure of Cosa Nostra consists of groups - "families". In turn, each family has a clear hierarchical system, subordinate to the so-called "godfather" - padrino.
A separate “family” has influence on a certain territory (district), which can consist of several streets or entire provinces. As a rule, 1 district is under the control of three families with their own leader. At the same time, the leader has his own deputy and close people.
Some clans
Cosa Nostra includes some of the largest clans and families. The most influential clans are: dei Catanesi, Fidanzati, Motizi, Vladiavelli Cosevelli, dei Corleonesi, Rincivillo, Rincivillo, Cuntrera Caruana and Flativanza di Favara. Against this background, the 3 largest families should be distinguished: Inzerillo, Graviano and Denaro.
The origins of Cosa Nostra are very difficult to trace, as mobsters are always secretive and do not keep their own historical records.
An interesting fact is that mafiosi deliberately spread lies about their past and sometimes believe in their own myths.
Cosa Nostra's relationship with other criminal organizations
Cosa Nostra actively cooperates with all major criminal groups on the planet. Thus, the mafia reached international proportions, engaging in criminal activities in various fields.
Mafiosi make huge profits from illegal involvement in the following areas:
- drug trade;
- gambling business;
- pimping;
- racket;
- arms trade;
- murder;
- prostitution;
- usury, etc.
All of humanity suffers from the criminal acts of Cosa Nostra that violate civil order in society. In the mid-90s, it became known about the influence of the Russian mafia in America and Italy and their cooperation with the Sicilians.
At the beginning of the new millennium, cooperation began between the Russian mafia and Cosa Nostra, Ndrangheta and Camorra. Thus, Russian bandits took control of Italian farms and freight transport, both in the country and abroad.
An interesting fact is that the number of representatives of the Russian mafia has reached 300,000 people. As of today, it is the largest criminal group, after the Italian and Chinese.
Ten Commandments
Cosa Nostra has its own unwritten code of laws that every member of the mafia must strictly adhere to. According to some sources, there are the so-called "Ten Commandments", sounding something like this:
- No one has the right to introduce himself to another of our friends. There must be a 3rd person for this.
- It is unacceptable to have relationships with the wives of friends.
- You must not be allowed to be seen in the circle of police.
- You are not allowed to visit bars and clubs.
- It is a duty to always be available to Cosa Nostra, even if your spouse is about to give birth.
- All appointments must be strictly observed (obviously refers to the hierarchical ladder of Cosa Nostra).
- Husbands have a duty to respect their wives.
- Always answer honestly to any question.
- It is forbidden to misappropriate money if it belongs to other members of Cosa Nostra or their relatives.
- The following categories of people cannot be in the ranks of Cosa Nostra: who has a close relative in the police, who is cheating on his wife (husband), who behaves badly and does not adhere to moral values.
Cosa Nostra's activities were well reflected in the cult trilogy The Godfather. Curiously, this film is considered the greatest gangster film according to the American Film Institute and one of the best films in the history of cinema.
