15 Sensational Facts about the Sicilian Mafia

Flag of Italy. Photo by Francesco La Corte. Unsplash

15 Sensational Facts about the Sicilian Mafia

The Sicilian Mafia, also known simply as the Mafia and often referred to as Cosa nostra (Sicilian for “our thing”) by its members, is an Italian Mafia-terrorist-type organized crime syndicate and criminal society that originated in the region of Sicily and dates back to at least the nineteenth century.

It is a loose confederation of criminal organizations that share a common organizational structure and code of conduct, as well as honor and present themselves to the public under a common brand. A “family,” “clan,” or “cosca” is the basic group.

Each family claims sovereignty over a territory, usually a town or village or a borgata (neighborhood) of a larger city, in which it runs its rackets. Its members refer to themselves as “men of honor,” but the general public refers to them as mafiosi.

Following widespread emigration from Sicily in the twentieth century, mafiosi established gangs in North and South America that replicated the traditions and methods of their Sicilian ancestors.

The Mafia’s primary activities are protection racketeering, criminal dispute arbitration, and the organization and oversight of illegal agreements and transactions.

1. They are known as Costra Nostra

Cosa Nostra initiation ritual (re-enacted). Photo by Schreibwerkzeug. Wikimedia

Members of the organization often refer to it as Cosa Nostra (“our thing” or “this thing of ours”), while the American government refers to it as La Cosa Nostra (LCN).

The name of the organization is derived from the original Mafia or Cosa nostra, the Sicilian Mafia, with “American Mafia” originally referring simply to Mafia (or Cosa nostra) groups from Sicily operating in the United States, as the organization first emerged as an offshoot of the Sicilian Mafia (also known as Cosa nostra by its members) formed by Italian immigrants in the United States.

2. It was founded in the mid 19^th Century in Sicily

Sicily. Photo by Flo P. Unsplash

Following Sicily’s reunification with Italy in 1860, the Mafia emerged as a loose collection of groups known as cosche, each centered on a powerful figure who served as a power broker in a specific territory. Kinship, instrumental friendship, and violence were the ties that held these groups together.

The Mafia arose from traditional Sicilian culture, which encourages the use of violence to achieve economic goals, as well as from the schism between landowners and peasants. Land reform created tensions that, in the absence of a state-monopoly of violence, led landowners to turn to the mafia as a social and land control institution. This was especially true in the Palermo area, where land distribution inequality was most visible.

3.The Mafia has a code known as “Omerta”

Omertà is a Southern Italian code of silence as well as a code of honor and conduct. It emphasizes silence in the face of questioning by authorities or outsiders; non-cooperation with authorities, the government, or outsiders, particularly during criminal investigations; and willfully ignoring and generally avoiding interference with others’ illegal activities (i.e., not contacting law enforcement or the authorities when one is aware of, witness to, or even the victim of certain crimes).

It originated in and is still prevalent in Southern Italy, where banditry or brigandage and Mafia-style criminal organizations have long existed. Similar codes can be found in other parts of the Mediterranean, such as Malta, Crete in Greece, and Corsica.

4. The Mafia controlled political and economical power in the Sicilian Region

After the liberation of Sicily in 1943, the Mafia groups gradually reclaimed power. The Allied administration appointed Mafiosi to public offices, and they later played an important role in the Sicilian separatist movement. They resumed their role as mediators between the state, large landowners, and peasents during the agrarian reform period, which lasted from 1943 to 1950.

Finally, Mafia involvement in the suppression of banditry “created an inextricable nexus” between the state and the Mafia. During the 1950s, politicians, specifically from the Christian Democratic party, and mafiosi formed an alliance to control the distribution of public benefits.

Simultaneously, a new generation of mafiosi emerged, distinguished by an intense involvement in drug trafficking, a greater willingness to use violence, including violent acts against state representatives, and a lavish lifestyle. Unlike traditional mafiosi, who rose through the ranks of their community after a period of illegality, the new mafiosi spent the majority of their lives as fugitives from justice.

5. They collaborated with government and law enforcement agencies for protection

They were inextricably linked to local political and law enforcement structures. In exchange for political favors, they frequently funded politicians who were under their protection. Mafia bosses were able to manipulate elections and violently overthrow any opposition. The Mafia also used voter intimidation tactics such as threats and physical attacks.

6. The Sicilian Mafia has origin in medieval secret societies

The Guard of the Rock (Italian: Guardia di Rocca) is a military unit of the Republic of San Marino. Due to amalgamations, its precise origin is difficult to determine. Its role was last redefined by statute in 1987, and it most likely began as a military branch in 1754; however, the unit also goes by the name “Fortress Guards,” which can be traced back to much earlier Sammarinese military units. The Guard of the Rock is the state border patrol, responsible for patrolling and defending borders.

7. Its operations was crippled in 1992 after a massive crackdown

A ceramic plaque with the name of a piazza dedicated to victims of the Mafia. Photo by JannHuizenga. Pixabay

Between 1981 and 1992, the RICO law was used to convict 23 mafia bosses from across the country. By 1990, over 1000 crime family figures had been convicted. While this severely harmed many Mafia families across the country, the most powerful families continued to dominate crime in their respective territories.

8. The most famous boss was Salvatore “Toto” Riina

Salvatore Riina ,was an Italian mobster and chief of the Sicilian Mafia, known for a ruthless murder campaign that reached a peak in the early 1990s with the assassinations of Antimafia Commission prosecutors Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino. It resulted to a widespread public outcry and a major crackdown by the authorities. He was also known as il capo dei capi (“the boss of bosses”) and la belva (“the beast”).

Riina was sentenced to life in prison in absentia for Mafia involvement and multiple murders as part of the 1986 Maxi Trial. After living as a fugitive for 23 years, he was apprehended in 1993, sparking a series of indiscriminate bombings of art galleries and churches by his organization. His lack of repentance landed him in the harsh Article 41-bis prison regime until his death on November 17, 2017.

9. Membership is only open to Sicilian men

Only Sicilian men are eligible to join Cosa Nostra. A candidate cannot be a relative of, or have any close ties to, a law enforcement officer or a judge. There are no age restrictions; men as young as sixteen have been initiated.

A potential mafioso is rigorously tested for obedience, discretion, courage, ruthlessness, and espionage skill. Even if he does not intend to be a career assassin, he is almost always required to commit murder as his ultimate trial.

The act of murder is intended to demonstrate his sincerity (that he is not an undercover cop) and to bind him into silence (that he cannot break omertà without facing murder charges himself). 

10. The organization’s notoriety has inspired movies and TV shows 

A  number of best selling books, television series and award winning films were borne from the fascination with the Sicilian mafia’s organization. Most notably, The Godfather Trilogy and The Sopranos.

11. The Sicilian Mafia generates billions of dollars in illegal profits annually

1 USA dollar banknotes. Photo by Alexander Grey. Unsplash

Italy’s four organized-crime syndicates — Sicily’s Cosa Nostra, Naples’ Camorra, Calabria’s ‘Ndrangheta, and Puglia’s Sacra Corona Unita — form a huge holding company with a total [sales] turnover of about 130 billion euros [about $165 billion] and profits approaching 70 billion euros [about $90 billion] after investments and expenses.

They are, in effect, the largest company in Italy. Every day, organized crime steals about 250 million euros (about $317.5 million) from retailers and business owners, according to the study. 10 million euros [about $12.7 million] per hour, or 160,000 euros [about $203,000] per minute.

Drug trafficking is still the main source of income for organized crime, bringing in 59 billion euros ($75 billion) per year. Following that is what is known in Italy as “ecomafia,” or illegal waste disposal, which contributed to the recent garbage crisis in Naples.

Third is loan sharking. It is a more recent activity for organized crime, but it has quickly become its largest source of income from the business sector and continues to grow.

The number of businessmen who have fallen victim to this crime has risen to approximately 180,000, and the provision of high-interest loans has generated a [sales] turnover of approximately 15 billion euros [about $19 billion] for organized crime.

12. They have a strict hierarchy and chain of command

A clan is led by a “boss” (capofamiglia or rappresentante), who is supported by an underboss (capo bastone or sotto capo) and overseen by one or more advisers (consigliere). He commands groups (decina) of about ten “soldiers” (soldati, operai, or picciotti). A capodecina leads each decina.

The exact structure of any given clan can differ. Despite the name, they do not always have ten soldiers, but can range from five to thirty. Some clans have no decinas or capodecinas at all, and even in large clans, certain soldiers may report directly to the boss or underboss.

The leader of a clan is usually chosen by the rank-and-file soldiers (though violent successions do happen). Because most Sicilian clans are small, the boss has close contact with all members and does not receive as many privileges or rewards as he would in larger organizations (such as the larger Five Families of New York). His tenure is also frequently brief: elections are held once a year, and he may be removed sooner for misconduct or incompetence.

13. They follow a certain set of rituals, codes and symbols

A person preparing for some sort of ritual. Photo by Content Pixie. Unsplash

To become a full member of the Mafia or Cosa Nostra an aspiring member must participate in an initiation ritual or ceremony. The ceremony includes significant ritual, oaths, and blood, as well as an agreement to follow the Mafia’s rules as presented to the inductee. The first account of the ceremony is from 1877 in Sicily.

Several distinct descriptions of the ceremony’s typical sequence share characteristics. First, the new recruit is introduced to the other members and presented by one of them.

The officiating member explains the association, including its basic rules, before pricking his finger with a needle. A few drops of blood are spilled on a card depicting a saint, the card is set on fire, and the novice takes an oath of loyalty to the Mafia family while the card is passed quickly from hand to hand to avoid burns. This could have been inspired by the oral legends of initiation rituals of the Sicilian sect Beati Paoli, which were popularized in 1909 by the serialized novel by William Galt.

14. The Mafia has their own set of Ten Commandments

In November 2007, Sicilian police reported finding a list of the “Ten Commandments” in the hideout of mafia boss Salvatore Lo Piccolo, which were thought to be guidelines for good, respectful, and honorable mafioso behavior.

• No one can present himself directly to another of our friends. There must be a third person to do it.
• Never look at the wives of friends.
• Never be seen with cops.
• Don’t go to pubs and clubs.
• Always being available for Cosa Nostra is a duty – even if your wife is about to give birth.
• Appointments must absolutely be respected. 
• Wives must be treated with respect.
• When asked for any information, the answer must be the truth.
• Money cannot be appropriated if it belongs to others or to other families.
• People who can’t be part of Cosa Nostra: anyone who has a close relative in the police, anyone with a two-timing relative in the family, anyone who behaves badly and doesn’t hold to moral values.

15. The Mafia does not document any of its activities

Writing incriminating things down on paper is strictly forbidden in the Mafia, lest such evidence fall into the hands of the police.

Michele Cavataio was murdered in 1969 because he drew a map on which he wrote the names and marked the territories of all the Palermo mafiosi he knew. He used this map to explain to other senior mafiosi how he thought the Palermo families should be reorganized as part of a peace settlement following a Mafia war. When Cavataio was murdered, his assassins searched his body for the map in order to destroy it, but they were unsuccessful.

The prohibition on documenting anything explains why the Mafia employs an unusual ritual to initiate new members. Because new members cannot sign membership contracts, initiation is done in a ceremony with witnesses. The initiate performs a specific series of bizarre actions to ensure that there is no ambiguity as to what is being granted.

Similarly, because mafiosi cannot introduce themselves to each other by presenting membership cards, they must ask a third mafioso who knows them both to introduce them and vouch for their membership.