Camorra
Criminal organization in Italy / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Camorra (Italian: [kaˈmɔrra]; Neapolitan: [kaˈmorrə]) is an Italian Mafia-type[4] criminal organization and criminal society originating in the region of Campania. It is one of the oldest and largest criminal organizations in Italy, dating to the 17th century. The Camorra's organizational structure is divided into individual groups also called "clans". Every capo or "boss" is the head of a clan, in which there may be tens or hundreds of affiliates, depending on the clan's power and structure. The Camorra is considered by the Italian Government to be the most violent and murderous criminal organization in Italy. The Camorra's main businesses are drug trafficking, racketeering, counterfeiting, and money laundering. It is also not unusual for Camorra clans to infiltrate the politics of their respective areas.
| Founding location | Campania, Italy |
|---|---|
| Years active | Since the 17th century |
| Territory | Most active in the Campania region, but also active throughout Italy. Presence also in: Europe: Spain, Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Romania, United Kingdom Africa: Morocco, Ivory Coast South America: Peru North America: United States Caribbean: Dominican Republic |
| Ethnicity | Campanians |
| Membership | 10,000[1][2][3] full members, unknown number of associates |
| Criminal activities | Racketeering, drug trafficking, counterfeiting, waste management, murder, bid rigging, extortion, assault, smuggling, illegal gambling, terrorism, loan sharking, prostitution, money laundering, robbery, kidnapping, art theft, political corruption |
| Allies |
Since the early 1980s and its involvement in the drug trafficking business, the Camorra has acquired a strong presence in other European countries, particularly Spain. Usually, Camorra clans maintain close contact with South American drug cartels, which facilitates the arrival of drugs in Europe.
According to Naples public prosecutor Giovanni Melillo, during a 2023 speech of the Antimafia Commission, the most powerful groups of the Camorra in the present day are the Mazzarella clan and the Secondigliano Alliance. The latter is an alliance of the Licciardi, Contini and Mallardo clans.[5]