Secrets From A Mafia Boss

1. Messages are sent through threats or violence

Image Source/ skynewsThe Mafia is a totally ruthless crime organization that functions all over the globe. And the way they send messages to people who are threats in one way or another - is through brutal violence. This does not only include other crime organization enemies but innocent people who may have been caught in the crossfire.

2. They killed a 13-year-old boy to send a threat

Image Source/ gangsterismoutAn example of the previous point would be the incident in Sicily when Mafia boss Riina, kidnapped and held hostage a 13-year-old boy who was the son of a government official that posed a threat. They kept him for weeks in various houses of the Mafia members before murdering him and dissolving his body in acid.

3. There were trials against mafia in Sicily

Image Source/ sicilliangodmotherThe history of the Mafia is bloody and turbulent and it all started in Sicily before progressing all over the world. However, during the period when the influence in Sicily was at its peak, some people fought back against it, in particular two judges who were putting Mafia members on trial. But Riina ordered the murders of these judges by blowing them up on the highway.

4. The mafia still runs from inside prison

Image Source/ drdeklenHalf of the battle is finding and proving who is a part of the Mafia. Because the organisation is so powerful and secretive, and today so obscured within society, it is very hard. The next battle is the fact that many Mafia bosses who have been caught have still operated from inside prison and they have continued their power despite being inside.

5. They used secret tunnels

Image Source/ abandonedBack when the Mafia were at their most powerful across Italy, they built an extremely sophisticated tunnel system right through Calabria for secret communication. It was so sophisticated that even some of the entrances were pizza ovens in order to avoid detection.

6. Semion Mogilevich is one of the biggest Mafia bosses in the world

Image Source/ allthat'sinterestingSemoin Mogilevich is the boss of the Ukranian Mafia who is sometimes referred to as 'brainy don' due to his degree in economics. He has become a global boss of the Mafia with power all over the world. He was arrested and released the year later because he has such strong power and influence even over authorities.

7. Hidden bunkers

Image Source/ WeltNot only were there a huge system of connected secret tunnels, but there was also (and still is) secret bunkers. The bunkers were quite comfortable and would be equipped for top Mafia members who may have to hide there for a period of time. These are still used in some countries to this day.

8. Competition is killed

Image Source/ italymagazineThe competition to the Mafia is seen as an enemy - unless they can help them. But if they pose as competition to their power/ territory/ or wealth...they are an enemy. And so, enemies of the Mafia are killed in some way so that they can eradicate the threat.

9. Modern Mafia has changed

Image Source/ Daily MailThe original Mafia that we see on films or on TV from the past is very different to the way it looks now. It is not so much that it is less powerful now, as it is still operating all over. However, there is less of a trail of bloody destruction, it operates at a higher level more discreetly, for example, through corruption.

10. The mafia structure

Image Source/ gangsternewsThis is the structure of the Mafia. The Mafia runs in different groups which are called a unit, and each unit is called and referred to as a Mafia family. The Consigliere has been elected by members of the family rather than directly from the boss. It is an extremely hierarchical structure.

11. The Mafia now works with other organised crime groups

Image Source/ TimeThe Mafia initially ran very much separate to any other criminal organisation. But, due to globalisation organised crime operates on a global scale. So, there is inevitably some crossover. The Mafia now works with some of these other groups such as the Mexican drug cartel in order for them both to have more power and money.

12. Omertà is the Mafia's code

Image Source/ normaaidThe Omertà is the name of the Mafia's code of silence. This refers to the idea that if you are in trouble, you are silent and by no means whatsoever do you drag anybody else down with you. You do not reveal any information and are killed before this happen.

13. The blood Oath

Image Source/ acidcowThere is also an initiation in the Mafia which is known as the blood oath. The members will prick their fingers and pass around a picture such as the Archangel Michael and wipe their blood on the picture before burning it. It is a kind of symbolic ritual to join the Mafia.

14. The poison oath

Image Source/ NewsThe poison oath is a kind of agreement between the members of the Mafia, that they will kill themselves before snitching on the organisation or any other member in it. The oath says that they will use poison or a gun to kill themselves before they release any information.

15. Protection racketeering is a massive mafia crime

Image Source/ PinterestProtection racketeering is one of the biggest and most common Mafia crimes. It happens over the entire globe. For example, a high-status powerful person (for example a politician or businessperson) may make links with the Mafia and enter into an agreement that they will help keep their business running and offer them no repercussions, if the Mafia ensures their safety - including getting rid of their competition for them.

16. They have links with governments and officials

Image Source/ staradvertiserThe Mafia have string links with the government and government officials. This is not something that used to be the case and has now died out. It still happens in many countries around the world. This enables the Mafia to run without scrutiny from the law because they are protected by their political links.

17. Prosecution was difficult

Image Source/ Daily ExpressProsecution has always been difficult because of how undercover the Mafia is. In the past, it was more likely that names would be known due to the fact that there was often a more violent trail to follow. Now, because a lot of things are done very high up the discretion makes it much harder to trace and find people.

18. Tommaso Buscetta was a Mafia member turned informer

Image Source/ syracuseTommaso Buscetta was a member of the Mafia. But eventually he became disillusioned with what the Mafia were doing and so he instead turned into an informer to try and help bring them down as an insider. He identified and testified to certain Italian government members who were working with the Mafia.

19. Sicily became linked to Italy through corruptions

Image Source/ wikiOne of the reasons that Sicily became a part of Italy was due to the Mafia and the corruption within the government. The two worked together, the Mafia in exchange for their power and to be able to have links with the government to go about their business unstopped, and the government to extend their power in Sicily.

20. A Mafia boss is still on the run

Image Source/ The SunMatteo Messina Denaro is the name of the Mafia capo di tutto capi in Sicily - meaning boss of all bosses. He is the very top Mafia boss in Sicily, and he is still on the run. It is assumed by many that he is still hidden somewhere in Sicily. However, he has not been found for many years.

21. The American Mafia started through bootlegging

Image Source/ cinemaforallThe American Mafia actually first began in the US through bootlegging during the prohibition period. The Mafia set up speakeasies and a huge illegal alcohol selling trade. From this point on, the American Mafia grew bigger and more and more powerful.

22. Powerful Mafia families

Image Source/ QuartzThere are some families which are known to be the most powerful and highly ranked of all of the Mafia, including some names that you might be familiar with. These include the Bonanno, Colombo, Gambino, Genovese, and the Lucchese crime Families.

23. There is massive corruption and police on payroll

Image Source/ The New York Daily NewsIt is shocking to think that there are instances where the Mafia have worked closely with police, and the Mafia have paid the police to keep them quiet. For example, Al Capone's income equalled 1.3 billion. Some of this would be then given to police, judges, reporters and other gangsters.

24. They franchised the selling of drugs

Image Source/ al-lainThe drug trade became one of the biggest illegal global trades - and the Mafia had a lot to play in this. The Mafia would base their selling of drugs on models such as fast-food chains to be able to franchise their trade globally. This included setting some standardisation processes for the drugs.

25. They also have legitimate companies

Image Source/ ABC7The Mafia do not only run illegal businesses. Because they have money and power it means they have the means to set up huge money-making business in the legal world too. Some of these may be acquired through illegal means for example setting up with the links of corruption or even money laundering through their business. They have huge links to Las Vegas, gambling and prostitution.

26. You can't join if you have family working in law enforcement

Image Source/ supertargetsystemsYou cannot join the Mafia if one of your family members work in law enforcement because they would not be able to be a trusted member of the group. In the past, in the traditional Sicilian Mafia you could only join the Mafia if you were 100% Sicilian, however, this has now changed.

27. The Mafia brought about law changes

Image Source/ International Business InsiderIn order to act against them, the law had to make some changes. For example, the RICO Act was introduced - the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. This meant that the people working under the main Mafia boss of that group/ unit, could be tried for their crimes. In the past the Mafia bosses relied on the fact that the workers would take the fall.

28. The modern-day crimes of the Mafia have changed

Image Source/ The Christian Science MonitorModern day Mafia and traditional Mafia as we know has changed a lot. But so have the crimes that they commit. In the past there were lots of murders. Now, the main crimes are now extortion, loansharking, racketeering, and gambling. These things are harder to detect.

29. Prison has become a recruitment centre for organised crime

Image Source/ thelawadvisoryYou may think that once a Mafia member is in prison then it weakens the Mafia. But instead, prison has become a kind of recruitment centre in some places where they can reorganise themselves with new members. Mafia prison gangs still provide protection for inmates as well as prison guards who they corrupt through protection racketeering.

30. The Mafia accounts for HUGE masses of money

Image Source/ wikiThe Mafia are powerful - they deal with huge amounts of money because the illegal trades create huge illegal profits. In fact, it accounts for around 1.5 percent of global GDP - which is around one trillion dollars. So, the money that is being dealt with is massive.