Rising mafia emerges from Italy's shadows

[bijou]

REGGIO CALABRIA, Italy — The tale of "The Godfather" seems almost quaint from this rocky, remote outpost in Italy.

Prosecutors and lawmakers are increasingly riveted by a more mysterious and blood-bound crime racket rooted in these far southern reaches of Calabria—not Sicily—that in the past two decades has put Italy at the heart of the global cocaine market.

The Calabrian mafia, known as 'Ndrangheta, has been described in recent investigations as ruthless, pervasive in the Italian economy and an exporter of criminal businesses that span continents.

In May, the U.S. government placed 'Ndrangheta on its list of narcotic kingpin organizations. Italian authorities say their counterparts in the United States as well as Canada, Germany and other Western countries are among those playing catch-up in understanding an insidious and far-flung family enterprise.

'Ndrangheta operates in cells and in ways so opaque to top law enforcement that those trying to grapple with its spread, including Italy's parliamentary Anti-Mafia Commission, have likened it to Al Qaeda.

"The 'Ndrangheta mafia has infiltrated so many levels of society," said Francesco Forgione, a former commission chairman who detailed its findings in a new book, " 'Ndrangheta: Bosses, Places and Business of the Most Powerful Mafia in the World."
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http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-mafia_spolarjul07,0,2232907.story

and coincidentally, in the same week ...

Mafia boss gets discreet farewell
Email Print Normal font Large font July 7, 2008 - 3:46PM


In a city that has lately had its share of gaudy, gold-chain and dark-glasses underworld funerals, this was far more discreet.

And a lot bigger.

The funeral of Rosario "Ross" Gangemi would probably have looked, and sounded, much the same if it had been held in his birthplace in Calabria, Italy, rather than in Moonee Ponds.

More than 250 mourners attended the service on Monday, among them the high profile industrial negotiator and gangland figure Mick Gatto.

Many of the congregation that packed St Monica's Catholic Church had also been seen at funerals well known to viewers of the Underbelly television series.

But on Monday, their shirt buttons were done up to the neck, ties were neatly in place and proper homage was shown for a man who had almost no public profile, but who commanded plenty of quiet respect.

A steady stream of limousines delivered those who remain of the generations of Italians who did their business, whatever it was, without ostentation.

Small men in cashmere overcoats over dark suits kissed cheeks as they arrived and moved into the church, the most senior taking the reserved seats nearest the front.

Gangemi was one of the most influential members of the Calabrian Mafia - the 'Ndrangheta - in Victoria.

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http://news.theage.com.au/national/mafia-boss-gets-discreet-farewell-20080707-330r.html