Mafia History
Synopsis
- Introduction
- Mafia Term
- Castellammarese War
- Five Families
- Atlantic City Conference
- New Orleans Crime Family
- Havana Conference
- Apalachin Meeting
- Palermo Meeting
- Operation Underworld
- Medellin Cartel
- Indian Mafia
- Conclusion
- Reference
Introduction
Globally, the Mafia functions as a clandestine entity, operating independently regardless of the type of government in a state, be it a dictatorship or a democracy. In essence, Mafia organizations operate autonomously and do not submit to external jurisdictions. Widely regarded as one of the world's most significant evils, the Mafia boasts an international network engaged in various criminal activities such as panchayat, brokering, enforcement, gambling, smuggling, cyber fraud, robbery, murder, extortion, racketeering, and smuggling.
Mafia Term
The term 'Mafia' typically refers to the Sicilian Mafia and its related Italian-American counterpart. The word 'Mafia' is believed to have originated in Sicily during the period of Muslim rule (Emirate of Sicily, 831-1091). While the broader meaning of the word 'mafia' suggests fearlessness, this term may have found its way to Sicily through Arabic, given the historical Muslim influence on the region. It is theorised that 'Mafia' could be derived from Arabic words such as "Mafi", meaning exclusion, and "Mafya", meaning secret shelter.
Cosa Nostra in Italy, Yakuza in Japan, and Bratva in Russia are notorious criminal organizations that have significantly impacted the countries where they operate. Now, let's delve into the details of the American Mafia, also known interchangeably as the Italian-American Mafia or simply the Mafia.
Castellammarese War
From February 1930 to April 1931, negotiations unfolded between the members Joe Masseria and Salvatore Maranzano to determine the leader of the Italian-American Mafia. Subsequently, a pivotal meeting occurred on April 15, 1931, at Nuova Villa Dammarro, an Italian restaurant located in Coney Island, New York. This power struggle for leadership came to be known as the Battle of Castellammare del Golfo, named after Salvatore Maranzano's birthplace in Sicily. Salvatore Maranzano's faction fragmented the Italian-American Mafia crime organization into five families, and he declared himself supreme over all the leaders, ultimately emerging victorious in the conflict.
Meanwhile, Salvatore Maranzano was assassinated on September 10, 1931, on the orders of Charles Luciano, who believed that Maranzano was plotting to kill him and his associates. Additionally, Charles Luciano established a commission, known as 'The Commission,' to prevent future conflicts between different Mafia families. According to the FBI, the Battle of Castellammarese, in 1931, played a pivotal role in the transformation of the breakaway Italian Mafia group in New York into an organized, powerful, corporate crime syndicate.
Five Families
After the conclusion of the Castellammarese War in 1931, the five families established by Salvatore Maranzano operated Italian-American Mafia activities as an organized crime organization. These five families were the Bonanno, Colombo, Gambino, Genovese, and Lucchese. The Commission oversaw American Mafia operations, which also included five other families: the Buffalo family and the Chicago family.
New Orleans Crime Family
The New Orleans crime family, founded in Louisiana in the 19th century, operated much like the five families. Carlos Marcello, the head of the New Orleans Mafia, is believed to have wielded significant influence over local politics. Speculation surrounds the idea that John F. Kennedy may have been in contact with the Carlos Marcello mob during his early political career.
President John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas. Conspiracy theories linking the Mafia, particularly Carlos Marcello, to the assassination of John F. Kennedy gained prominence. While John F. Kennedy's association with the New Orleans Mafia is debatable due to the absence of solid evidence, it remains an important chapter in the history of his assassination.
Atlantic City Conference
The Atlantic City Conference, held from May 13 to May 16, 1929, was not exclusively attended by the Italian-American Mafia. Instead, the conference brought together leaders of mafia organizations from various ethnic backgrounds, including Italian, Jewish, and Irish.
Although the details of the Atlantic City Conference, believed to have had a significant impact on Mafia history, are shrouded in secrecy, it is widely speculated that the conference discussed resolving regional conflicts, fostering cooperation, preventing unnecessary violence, expanding gambling markets, coordinating illegal activities, and establishing a peaceful approach to organized crime.
Havana Conference
Havana Conference was a Mafia meeting held in December 1946 at the Hotel Nacional in Havana, the capital of Cuba. Although some of its details are shrouded in secrecy, it is widely speculated that the principles, rules, and regulations of Mafia crime were discussed at the meeting organized by Charles Luciano.
Take note that beginning in the 1920s, the Havana Mob, also known as the Cuban mafia, dominated illegal activities in Havana, including drugs and gambling. In 1930s, it transformed into a fearsome criminal empire orchestrating a variety of illegal activities. However, the mafia's power in the region diminished with the rise of the Cuban Revolution during the 1950s.
Apalachin Meeting
The true purpose and participant list of the Appalachian meeting on November 14, 1957, on McPaul Road in Appalachian, New York City, remain a hidden event in American Mafia history. The meeting, organized by Joseph Barbara, is widely believed to have included discussions regarding the division of shares of the Mafia operations run by the assassinated Albert Anastasia and the expansion of markets for usurious loans, drugs, and gambling.
Palermo Meeting
A Sicilian-American Mafia meeting was held from October 12 to October 16, 1957, at the Grand Hotel et des Palmes in Palermo, the capital of Sicily. Although the details of this meeting are shrouded in secrecy, it is widely believed that the terms of the illegal heroin trade were discussed.
Operation Underworld
During World War II, U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt supported British Prime Minister Winston Churchill's request to invade Sicily in 1943. The arrangement, known as Operation Husky, was designed to weaken the Axis powers and eventually lead to an invasion of Italy. In turn, the U.S. government worked with the Italian-American Mafia in a covert deal called the Shadow World Operation.
Against this background, in 1942, the U.S. government approached imprisoned Mafia boss Charles Luciano to help maintain peace on the New York waterfront and gather intelligence on German-Italian agents and Sicilian mafias. In exchange for cooperation, Charles Luciano's prison sentence was reduced, and he was released in 1946.
Medellin Cartel
To this day, the primary business of the Mafia worldwide is drug trafficking. The most famous mafia organization is the Medellín Cartel in Colombia, led by its founder, Pablo Escobar, who is considered the world's most powerful drug lord. In 1989, Forbes magazine named Pablo Escobar the seventh richest man in the world, with a net worth of US$25 billion.
Pablo Escobar surrendered to Colombian authorities in 1991 and was sentenced to five years in prison for his crimes. As part of a deal with the Colombian government, he chose to serve his sentence at a new prison called La Catedral, as per his request. The Colombian government promised not to extradite him to the United States.
However, in 1992, Pablo Escobar escaped and went into hiding. Subsequently, the nationwide manhunt for Pablo Escobar concluded in 1993, one day after his 44th birthday, when he was gunned down in Medellin. Meanwhile, there is disagreement over how Pablo Escobar died. Colombian authorities say he was killed in a shooting, but Pablo Escobar's brothers argue that he committed suicide.
Indian Mafia
The Indian mafia was not as organized as the Italian-American Mafia. The Indian mafia mostly operates from Mumbai, the financial capital of India. Until the 1980s, figures like Haji Mastan, Varadarajan Mudaliar, and Karim Lala controlled the Mumbai underworld.
The Pathan mafia, led by Karim Lala, was involved in activities such as shipping cargo, financial fraud, gambling, kidnapping, and murder. Haji Mastan, a native of Tamil Nadu's Ramanathapuram district, worked as a stevedore at the Mumbai port. Subsequently, he became involved in illegal activities, including smuggling gold and electronics. He invested his money in the Bollywood industry and was known to be closely associated with film celebrities. Varadarajan Mudaliar (Varda Bhai), a native of Tuticorin district, initially worked as a loader in the Mumbai Railway. Later, he transitioned to selling illegal liquor and engaged in various other illicit activities. Varda Bhai was highly respected among the Tamil people living in Dharavi and Matunga
Karim Lala, Haji Mastan, and Varadarajan Mudaliar reduced their criminal activities after the 1980s due to intensive action by the Mumbai Police. Following their decline, and after the stepping aside of Karim Lala, Haji Mastan, and Varadarajan Mudaliar, figures like Manya Surve and Maya Dolas were eliminated. Subsequently, Dawood Ibrahim began to dominate the Mumbai mafia world under the name of D Company, seemingly without any visible enemies.
Dawood Ibrahim's activities were more dangerous compared to the earlier Mumbai mafia, as he extended beyond regular organized crime to engage in terrorist activities. For instance, Dawood Ibrahim masterminded the 1993 Mumbai train blasts, recognized as India's first coordinated terrorist attack. In this attack, 257 people were killed and 1,400 were injured in the first use of RDX explosives in such an incident in India.
Rajendra Nikalje, popularly known as Chhota Rajan, started his mafia career in the gang of Rajan Nair, alias Bada Rajan, from Kerala. After Bada Rajan was killed by the Pathan group, Chhota Rajan assumed control of his activities. Dawood initially worked for Ibrahim but eventually emerged as Dawood Ibrahim's professional enemy. Chhota Rajan was arrested in Bali in 2015 and is currently serving a prison sentence in India.
Arun Gawli, who once worked in a textile mill in Mumbai, was involved in criminal activities such as matka gambling, extortion, and liquor smuggling. He was convicted by a court in 2012 for the murder of Shiv Sena party member Kamalakar Jamsandekar in 2007 and is currently serving a jail term. In 1997, Arun Gawli founded the Akhil Bharatiya Sena and also served as a legislator in Maharashtra for a single term. Today, Arun Gawli is known as a former mafia figure.
Abu Salem worked as a driver for arms smuggling in the Dawood Ibrahim gang and was once considered a threat to the Bollywood industry. In 2002, he was caught in a fake passport case in Portugal. Currently, he is serving a jail term after being convicted by a Mumbai court in connection with the Mumbai blasts and a murder case.
Conclusion
Although some members of the Mafia try to justify their actions based on what their society deems acceptable, the general effect is horrific. The pursuit of power and wealth through illegal means leads to bloodshed, corruption, and a disregard for the law. Therefore, everyone has a responsibility to work together to create an international framework for a society that ensures justice and financial freedom through legal means only, without the interference of mafia groups on a global scale.
Reference
History Of American Mafia
Origins of Sicilian Mafia
Prohibition Created Mafia
Top 10 Most Notorious Gangsters
Top 10 Richest Criminal Organisations
Rise and Fall Of Organised Crime In United States
Carlos Marcello History - In Tamil
American Crime Family - In Tamil
Mumbai Mafia History - In Tamil
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