Comparing the Organization, Operation, and Success of Ecomafias in Italy and India

• In Event: Organized Crime and Other Forms of International Crimes: International Experience

Abstract

Sand, when mixed with gravel and concrete produce cement, is an essential commodity for construction. Given the booming construction sectors in India, legal means of mining sand are not enough to meet demand. Illegal sand mining operations have thus surfaced and are heavily operated by organized crime groups. These operations are highly lucrative, generating about USD 17 million a month. Similarly in Italy illegal mining is severely used in the construction and infrastructure industry, which traditionally suffer from the infiltration of mafias; this activity is closely related to illegal waste disposal in order to maximize profits, for a turnover of almost USD 2 billion per month. This paper offers a comparative analysis of India’s Sand Mafia and Italian “ecomafias”, focusing on their organizational dynamics, modus operandi, and survival and threat management strategies. It conducts document analysis of Indian and Italian newspaper articles, documents published by environmental activist agencies and magazine, and government reports published between 2010 and 2013. While India’s Sand Mafia operates as numerous, fragmented structures with transient memberships, the Italian mafias considered are more structured both vertically and horizontally, and rely on kinship ties. Both mafia groups use violence, political affiliation, and regenerative properties to ensure continued operation.

Authors

• Anita Lavorgna, University of Trento

• Aunshul Rege, Temple University