Assessing the Presence of the Italian Mafias in the World

• In Event: Organized Crime and Criminal Mobility

Abstract

This paper presents the first systematic assessment of the worldwide activities of the four main types of Italian mafias (Cosa Nostra, Camorra, ’Ndrangheta and Apulian mafias) from 2000 to 2012. Drawing from publicly available reports, a specific multiple correspondence analysis identifies the most important associations among mafias, activities, and countries. The results show that the mafias concentrate in a few countries; drug trafficking is the most frequent activity, whereas money laundering appears less important than expected; a stable mafia presence is reported in a few developed countries (mainly Germany, Canada, Australia, and the United States). The mafias show significant differences: the ’Ndrangheta tends to establish structured groups abroad, whereas the other mafias mainly participate in illicit trades.

Authors

• Francesco Calderoni, Università Cattolica - Transcrime

• Giulia Berlusconi, Università Cattolica

• Lorella Garofalo, Università Cattolica - Transcrime

• Luca Giommoni, Cardiff University

• Federica Sarno, Università Cattolica - Transcrime