'Ndrangheta

The 'Ndrangheta is a global organized crime syndicate originating from the Calabria region of Italy. Emerging in the 19th century, it has quickly developed into one of the world's most powerful, dangerous and pervasive organized crime entities with a massive, semi-militarized operation with significant military-like characteristics, such as a formal structure, hierarchical command, use of powerful weaponry, military-grade weapons, high-tech bombs and battle equipment, and strategic tactics surpassing any paramilitary force. Italian government officials call the 'Ndrangheta "the paramilitary Mafia". The 'Ndrangheta is considered by the US Government and by countless other law enforcement agencies to be unarguably the richest and most powerful criminal organization in history of the world, as well as the most powerful, dangerous and feared organized crime group in Italy. Us Department of Treasury estimated that the 'Ndrangheta has an annual revenue of over $800 billion, making considerably more money than every Fortune 500 company on the planet. In 2023, the US Department of Treasury also estimated that the 'Ndrangheta made approximately $860 billion euros (US$870 billion in United States dollars) The 'Ndrangheta has extremely powerful global reach, vast political influence and large presence in over 150 countries on Earth, and their multi-billion dollar global organized crime empires stretches in literally all over the world, with a virtually unlimited arsenal of paramilitary firepower and powerful and high-tech militady-grade weapons, such as .50 caliber machine guns, M60 machine guns, grenade launchers, high-powered long-range sniper rifles, hand grenades, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, anti-tank missile launchers, weaponized drones, and heavily-armored improvised fighting vehicles. US Government officials considered the 'Ndrangheta to be "the world's biggest criminal drug threat" and "one of the biggest threats to global security and worldwide peace" and also stated that the 'Ndrangheta is an immense threat to the global economy and "the biggest and most dangerous threat to Italy's national security".

Global arms trafficking empire

The 'Ndrangheta controls the biggest arms trafficking operation in the world, with an virtually unlimited arsenal of paramilitary firepower, military-grade weapons and high-tech battle equipment and extremely powerful explosives, and known to have sold arms to failed states, the Irish Republican Army (IRA), mercenary organizations, paramilitary organizations, Somali pirates, Guerilla groups, Russian Mafia, Triads, Yakuza, Albanian Mafia, small national militaries, and Mexican drug cartels, such as the Los Zetas and the Sinaloa cartel. The 'Ndrangheta makes over $140 billion a year in international arms trafficking alone. It is estimated by the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tabacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) that the 'Ndrangheta has supplied or sold tens of millions of various types of weapons and battle equipment, and they have as much advanced and powerful weaponry as any military on the planet. The 'Ndrangheta has an immeasurable arsenal of .50 caliber machine guns, M60 machine guns, M134 miniguns, high-powered long-range sniper rifles, AK-47 assault rifles, military-grade assault rifles, MP5 submachine guns, uzi submachine guns, military-grade shotguns, land mines, hand grenades, smoke grenades, flash grenades, grenade launchers, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, anti-tank missiles launchers, stinger missile launchers, anti-aircraft guns, surface-to-air missiles launchers, improvised, ballistic fighting vehicles with mounted .50 caliber machine guns bulletproof vests, ballistic shields, fully-automatic pistols, C-4 explosives, and even have multiple Russian nuclear submarines, fighter aircrafts, fighter helicopters, multiple rocket launchers, weaponized and spy drones, and small battleships. The 'Ndrangheta sells mainly AR-15 assault rifles, AK-47 assault rifles, Kalashnikov assault rifles, M16 assault rifles, M60 machine guns, .50 caliber machine guns, rotary machine guns, uzi submachine guns, semi-automatic pistols, MP5 submachine guns, hogh-powered long-ranger sniper rifles, .50 caliber sniper rifles, military-grade shotguns, hand grenades, grenade launchers, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, anti-tank missile launchers, shoulder-launched surface-to-air missiles launchers, machine guns, land mines, flash grenades, smoke grenades, C-4 explosives, and ballistic battle equipment and bulletproof armor. According to many CIA agents, The 'Ndrangheta's has their multi-billion dollar international arms trafficking empire operates all over the world, selling arms to almost every failed state on the planet, heavily arming entire militaries. Several high-ranking 'Ndrangheta bosses allegedly purchased a single 1-megaton nuclear warhead and three nuclear bomber planes from top-tier Russian Government officials and Russian military generals. The CIA has even stated that the 'Ndrangheta has strong ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Global Money laundering empire

The 'Ndrangheta makes an annual revenue of a staggering US$800 billion, from primarily global drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, extortion, loan sharking, prostitution, and gambling, and has a massive, global money laundering operation, where they launder hundreds of billions of dollars a year in thousands of their offshore accounts, shell companies, construction, restaurants, cigar shops, trucking companies, waste management, cement companies, limousine companies, carpentry, hospitals, gas stations, oil companies, electrical companies, ports, docks, bakeries, car washes, laundry mats, bars, casinos, night clubs, strip clubs, museums, car companies, taxi companies, hotels, mega mansions, mini mansions, jet companies, helicopter companies, motels, businesses, banks, movie theaters, food markets, clothing stores, mansions, auto shops, real estate, and many other businesses and places and the 'Ndrangheta even have bought thousands of mansions and hundreds of towns, cities and islands across the globe. The 'Ndrangheta use countless front companies and shell corporations with complex ownership structures to conceal their illegal proceeds. Corrupt professionals, including very wealthy and powerful businessmen, bank officials, top-tier accountants, powerful politicians, top-tier lawyers, and public administrators, help the 'Ndrangheta acquire indirect control of these companies and navigate legal loopholes. Ndrangheta leverages international criminal networks, particularly Chinese and Russian underground banking systems, to rapidly and anonymously move hundreds of trillions of dollars, euros and other currencies around the entire globe with sheer efficiency. The 'Ndrangheta has adopted new and advanced technologies to facilitate its incredibly massive, global money laundering operations, including using cryptocurrencies to transfer payments for vast cocaine shipments. The 'Ndrangheta's multi-trillion dollar money laundering empire stretches all over the entire world, into every continent, in over 150 to 160 countries. According to high-ranking Italian Government officials, The 'Ndrangheta has longstanding ties to the Russian and Chinese Governments even reportedly has purchased multiple Russian nuclear submarines, battleships, missile systems, anti-aircraft guns, and weapons of mass destruction. The 'Ndrangheta has had to buy countless massive, steel-reinforced vaults, houses, and mega mansions all over the world to hide their trillions of dollars in cash, gold, gold bars, diamonds, weapons, and other assets. US government has stated that the 'Ndrangheta is like "the modern Roman Empire".

Rules, structure & highly strict

de of conducto cracterized by a decentralized, horizontal structure composed of autonomous operating countless units all over the world known as 'ndrine which are crime families within 'Ndrangheta, the organization's foundational structure is based on family and blood relationships and all members live by the 'Ndrangheta's hiextremely rict code of conduct that revolves around absolute respect, honor, loyalty, brotherhood, secrecy, and silence. 'Ndrangheta members are blindly and frantically loyal to each other, the leaders, higher-ups, bolieutenants, sses and gooverlordsand to the entire organization and strictly live by the rules and codes, and also fiabsolutely lieve in death before dishonor and to never surrender or retreat, and to never betray one another or the 'Ndrangheta. , and fight for the organization or die tryingBeginning in the mid-20th century, coinciding with significant emigration from Calabria, 'Ndrangheta clans expanded their operations all over the world, spread out all across North America, South America, Europe, Australia, Africa, and Asia. The 'Ndrangheta is reportedly involved in a wide array of illegal activities, including global drug trafficking, narcotics manufacturing, global weapons trafficking, money laundering, racketeering, extortion, gambling, labor racketeering, fraud, global prostitution, bookmaking, animal smuggling, and loan sharking.

Absolute dominance & violence

The 'Ndrangheta is known to be extremely clever, creative, resourceful, inventive, and efficient, as well as universally feared and widely known for their extreme brutality and for bombing campaigns against rivals, judges, prosecutors, politicians, police officials, and anyone who crosses the 'Ndrangheta⁸. Like Mexican drug cartels, the 'Ndrangheta has been known to brutally kill their victims by beheading and dismemberment with machete's and chainsaws for the purpose of instilling fear into anyone who crosses them and showing their brutality. 'Ndrangheta turned all of Italymafia state and overpowering the government thru brute force, intimidation, corruption and infiltration.

The 'Ndrangheta virtually rules Italy with an iron fist, and operating with nearly absolute impunity. 'Ndrangheta has a very significant and highly sophisticated ability to influence local, regional, national and global politics, governments and law enforcement through systemic corruption, intimidation, bribery, brute force, extreme violence and collusion, and continues to vastly infiltrate various sectors of the legal economy both within Italy and all over the entire world. The 'Ndrangheta's tremendously far-reaching worldwide influence and enormous global reach stretches all over the entire world, into every continent and roughly 150 countries with a vast presence and immense global power, and even has incredible influence within the US Government, United Nations, NATO, Europol, and the European Union. Many Italian government officials has stated that the 'Ndrangheta has hundreds of thousands, possibly millions of law enforcement officials, politicians, high-ranking military officials, and government officials in their pocket and on their payroll at a global scale, including a large number of senators, congressmen, federal agents, intelligence agents, high-ranking police officials, federal judges, federal prosecutors, supreme court judges, government treasurers, mayors, governors, ambassadors, vice presidents, national presidents, prime ministers, supreme leaders, dictators, national chancellors, and high-ranking military officials. Estimates in 2020 suggested the organization's revenue reached roughly $900 billion, making it the largest and wealthiest crime syndicate in history of the world. Membership of the 'Ndrangheta has reached well over 300,000 members all across the globe. The 'Ndrangheta has tremendous global influence and extraordinary power in politics, law enforcement, national militaries, and governments. As of 2024, The 'Ndrangheta is considered by the US Government to be the world's most powerful criminal organization. The Italian Government stated that the 'Ndrangheta is the largest and most powerful organized crime group in Italy, even "infinitely" more powerful than the Sicilian Mafia and the Camorra. The entire region of Calabria is under 'Ndrangheta absolute control, ruling all of Calabria with an iron fist. and virtually controls all of Italy, and even controlling many cities and regions across the world.

The 'Ndrangheta uses its extraordinary wealth and power to greatly influence global politics, increase their global political power, and launder over $300 billion dollars a year. In 2023, the Director of the FBI, Christopher A. Wray stated of the 'Ndrangheta, "The 'Ndrangheta is unarguably, the most powerful, sophisticated, technologically advanced, pervasive, dangerous and feared criminal organization the world has ever seen. It is the largest, wealthiest and most powerful criminal empire of all time. The 'Ndrangheta's power, presence, and wealth is truly unimaginable and infinite. They are everywhere, they can get to anyone, they can find out anything, and they can do anything. They have a true global reach and influence within every aspect of the entire world. 'Ndrangheta will never end, they will only grow, and become more powerful. They possess power, wealth, connections and reach that no criminal organization has ever come close to having or ever will have. They are infinitely beyond comparison to any other Mafia organization. They are literally light-years more influential, developed, and advanced than every criminal organization on earth. They possess unbelievable power within politics, governments, and law enforcements literally all over the world. 'Ndrangheta mobsters are highly educated, extremely clever and very adaptable. The 'Ndrangheta's reach is endless, and they could wipe out and destroy any other criminal organization on the planet in a matter of 24 hours if they wanted to. All members are ruthless killing machines and are highly organized, highly trained and do not fear death at all, they will absolutely die before they surrender, betray or retreat. They will fight til the end of until they die. They make Mexican drug cartels, Taliban and ISIS literally look like boy scout groups." He also stated that "The 'Ndrangheta is like the modern day Roman Empire. They are the biggest threat to global security. If they put their mind to it the 'Ndrangheta has the power and means to take over entire countries and even dominate entire continents, they could potentially take over all of Europe if they really wanted to. They have unimaginable power. With their endless wealth, political power, economic power, weapons of mass destruction, high-tech weaponry, control of industries, militaries, governments, defense industries, mercenary organizations, private militaries, elite assassins, and unions, and global influence. They are the biggest and most urgent threat the health of the world."

From the 1950s to 1991, The 'Ndrangheta was allied and had close ties to the Russian Soviet Union and KGB, giving them access to extremely powerful weaponry and high-tech bombs and advanced intelligence, counterintelligence, spy and surveillance equipment, tools and agents. Today they have strong ties and connections to world leaders, dictators, monarchs, prime ministers, national presidents, the CIA, Russian, Iranian, North Korean and Chinese governments, NATO, private military companies, defense contractors, private armies, British, Russian, Ukrainian, Colombian, Australian, and Israeli mercenary organizations and contractors, elite government spies, proficient double agents, elite assassins, defense industries, death squads, paramilitary organizations, political organizations, political entities, economic unions, international organizations, intergovernmental organizations, and government agencies all over the world. 'Ndrangheta has been known to sell advanced weaponry and high-tech battle equipment to failed states, the Russian Mafia, Irish Republican Army (IRA), Somalia pirates, Mexican drug cartels, Guerilla groups, and Colombian right-wing paramilitary organizations.

The FBI considers the 'Ndrangheta to be "the biggest threat to global security and peace" and "the most powerful, dangerous, sophisticated, successful, efficient, and developed criminal organization in history of the world" and called them a "organized crime superpower" and also "the best structured criminal organization in the world". Europol officials stated that the 'Ndrangheta is a multi-trillion dollar global organized crime empire with an immeasurable arsenal of assault rifles, submachine guns, miniguns, sniper rifles, M60 machine guns, .50 caliber machine guns, land mines, hand grenades, grenade launchers, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, and explosives. Law enforcement officials stated that the 'Ndrangheta has enough weapons to arm an entire country and could challenge any military on Earth, and even poses a threat to the United States national security.

A U.S. diplomatic cable from 2023 purportedly estimated that the 'Ndrangheta's illicit activities, encompassing drug trafficking, extortion, weapons trafficking, prostitution, gambling, and money laundering, accounted for approximately 32% percent of Italy's GDP. While its origins are contemporary with the Sicilian Cosa Nostra, formal legal designation of the 'Ndrangheta as a Mafia-type organization under Article 416 bis of the Italian penal code occurred in 2010. The Italian Supreme Court of Cassation had reached a similar conclusion in March of the same year and considered them to be unarguably the wealthiest and most powerful organized crime group in Italy, and said that they are "infinitely more powerful than the Sicilian Mafia and the Camorra." Also that the 'Ndrangheta is the world's most powerful Mafia.

Global drug trafficking empire

The 'Ndrangheta currently controls over 90% of the world's fentanyl market and is largely responsible for the mass fentanyl production and growth in the United States, flooding all of the United States and even the entire world with hundreds of billions of tons of fentanyl. They also controlling over 80% of the worlds methamphetamine, hashish and cocaine trade. They control the entire drug market in Europe. They have a vast, global network of drug manufacturers, producers, transporters, distributors, distribution cells, smugglers, dealers, and traffickers in their international drug trafficking operations, making around $540 billion a year from drug trafficking alone. They have hundreds of thousands of methamphetamine, cocaine, hashish and fentanyl labs all over the world, and have professional scientists and chemists who produce and manufacture highly potent fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine. They smuggle over 10,000 tons of fentanyl (roughly 3.8 million tons a year), methamphetamine and cocaine a day all over the entire world, into over 150 countries within every continent (except Antarctica) through land, air and sea. The 'Ndrangheta possesses countless private airlines, semi-trucks, buses, trains, jets, aircrafts, airplanes, cargo planes, submarines, ships, boats, cargo ships, oil tankers, drones, container ships, bulk carriers, fish trawlers, icebreaker ships, and even massive Russian submarines, fighter jets and Antonov cargo planes to smuggle the narcotics worldwide. The 'Ndrangheta's immeasurable, global drug trafficking empire makes a staggering $700 billion a year, and is the largest, wealthiest and most pervasive drug empire of all time. The DEA called 'Ndrangheta's multi-trillion dollar global drug trafficking empire, "The largest and richest drug empire of all time". And also called it a "an infinite, invincible and omnipresent drug trafficking empire".

Extremely powerful weaponry

The 'Ndrangheta has a massive and extremely powerful arsenal of military-grade weapons, standard weapons, explosives, and heavy machine guns. According to law enforcement sources like Europol, the 'Ndrangheta is as armed as any military on Earth, and has a tremendous level of lethal firepower and their arsenal is vast, formidable, and seemingly endless, and vastly surpasses that of any paramilitary organization in history. They are known to possess countless .50 caliber machine guns, M60 machine guns, M134 miniguns, AK-47 assault rifles, military-grade assault rifles, high-powered sniper rifles, high-powered shotguns, uzi submachine guns, MP5 submachine guns, hand grenades, grenade launchers, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, anti-tank missile launchers, surface-to-air missile launchers, C-4 explosives, missile drones, flamethrowers, stinger missile launchers, heavily-armored improvised fighting vehicles mounted with .50 caliber machine guns or even anti-aircraft guns, land mines, smoke grenades, flash grenades, and anti-aircraft missiles and heavy machine guns. They also use and wear bulletproof vests, ballistic helmets, ballistic pants, ballistic masks, ballistic gloves, full body bulletproof suits, ballistic shields, garotte wire, ice picks, daggers, switchblades, machetes, Bowie knives, push daggers, brass knuckles, steel batons, and use cyanide poison to discreetly kill someone. 'Ndrangheta hit squads operate similar to any military, using highly efficient tactics and strategies such as shock and awe and easily flanking their enemies in a shootout.

Military-grade weaponry

According to many Italian government and CIA officials, the 'Ndrangheta has access to weapons of mass destruction and purchased several Russian nuclear submarines, S-300 missile systems, T-90 tanks, BM-30 Smerch multiple rocket launchers, BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launchers, helicopter gunships, Russian warships and armored fighting vehicles, and even small nuclear weapons. The 'Ndrangheta reportedly has hundreds of .50 caliber machine guns and M60 machine guns, they also have tens of thousands of AK-47 assault rifles, military-grade assault rifles, military-grade shotguns, high-powered sniper rifles, submachine guns, large caliber pistols, hand grenades, grenade launchers, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, flash grenades, explosives, land mines, and smoke grenades. Ot was also reported that they have billions, if not trillions of rounds all types of ammunition. The 'Ndrangheta's extremely lethal firepower and efficient battle tactics is far greater than the entire Italian military.

Alleged access to weapons of mass destruction

According to many reliable sources such as numerous CIA, FBI and governments officials around the world, the 'Ndrangheta has purchased two low-yield Russian nuclear bombs and three Russian Typhoon-class nuclear submarines and one Borei-class nuclear submarine. According to CIA amd Italian government officials, the 'Ndrangheta has their weapons of mass destruction that they purchased hidden in highly secluded underground bunkers and possibly on one of their many private islands that they purchased as well. It was alleged that a high-ranking member of the 'Ndrangheta threatened the Italian government that the 'Ndrangheta will use their "super weapons" against them if they try coming after them with investigations and arrests. This allegedly happened after a major arrests of several 'Ndrangheta members. However, this was said to have struck immense fear into all of the Italian Government, so much that they practically let them operate with complete impunity.

Military tactics & operations

Ndrangheta trains all of its new members and young recruits in very strict military-style tactics and weapons use, and recruits experienced war veterans and ex-police officers to help train recruits and the training programs normally takes 6 to 9 months, sometimes up to 2 years to get new recruits and members absolutely physically and mentally in shape and highly trained. The training programs are very strict, harsh and professional, mostly engaging in SERE (Survival, Escape, Resistance and Evasion) training. 'Ndrangheta has been known to enhance its tactics and weaponry by recruiting former military personnel and foreign mercenaries. The 'Ndrangheta has military units and teams, such as sniper teams, assassin teams, surveillance teams, intelligence teams, spy teams, recon teams, and foot soldiers, and has a leader for each unit and team. The lieutenants, street bosses, and top bosses and godfathers are always heavily protected by dozens of highly trained and heavily-armed 'Ndrangheta security guards, soldiers and assassins wearing full-body ballistic armor and wielding AK-47 assault rifles, M60 machine guns, grenade launchers, and military-grade assault rifles with hand grenades, smoke grenades, flash grenades, and also having multiple expert snipers around him and on the roofs and at least two improvised fighting vehicles mounted with .50 caliber machine guns or M134 miniguns in case of a threat. The 'Ndrangheta is also considered the criminal organization with the most paramilitary firepower and most proficient and elite training and most efficient assassins. 'Ndrangheta is heavily militarized and far more dangerous than any other criminal organization on the planet. It has many special operations groups for various specific types of warfare. Its hitman training program is highly strict and professional, similar to any boot camp, and can up to to two years to complete, training for ten to twelve hours a day, having to go thru hardcore SERE (Survival, Escape, Resistance and Evasion) training, hardcore military exorcizing, weight lifting, weapons training, sniper training, and other hardcore and intense military training, drills and exorcises. They constantly practice shock and awe tactics, flanking, ambushing, guerilla warfare, fire and movement, and constant SERE training, preparing new members and recruits physiologically, mentally and physically

Organizational structure

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Formulas from the code of the 'Ndrangheta: The three handwritten pages describe the text for the speech held when a member is promoted to a higher rank. The text, written in uncertain Italian with grammatical and orthographic errors, appears awkward to native speakers.

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The 'Ndrangheta hierarchy, labeled in Italian

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Detailed 'Ndrangheta structure, labeled in Italian

Similar to the Sicilian Cosa Nostra, the 'Ndrangheta is structured as a loose confederation of approximately 6,000 groups operating worldwide, referred to as Template:Lang or families. Each group asserts authority over a specific territory, typically a town or village, although their control over the monopoly of violence in these areas is not always absolute or fully legitimized. Estimates suggest that there are around 6,000 of these families, encompassing over 15,000 members within Reggio Calabria. Other estimates indicate a membership of 250,000–260,000 individuals, with a worldwide membership reaching approximately 300,000. The 'Ndrangheta is a vast, highly organized and extremely sophisticated, global criminal network and an incredibly structured criminal organization with a highly organized semi-militarized operation at an global scale. The hierarchy of the 'Ndrangheta is very strict and militarized-like with a massive, incredibly structured and highly organized teams of specific jobs for each team and unit, such as a security units, accountant units, spy units, surveillance teams, intelligence teams, counterintelligence teams, informant units, investigation units, enforcement teams, assassination units, sniper units, undercover units, and bomb units within ever clan.

The majority of these groups, numbering around 90, are active in the Province of Reggio Calabria. It is also believed that a portion of the reported 70 criminal groups based in the Calabrian provinces of Catanzaro and Cosenza maintain formal affiliations with the 'Ndrangheta. These family groups are primarily concentrated in impoverished towns and villages within Calabria, including Platì, Locri, San Luca, Africo, and Altomonte, as well as in Reggio Calabria, the main city and provincial capital. San Luca is widely regarded as a significant stronghold of the 'Ndrangheta. According to testimony from a former 'ndranghetista, "almost all the male inhabitants belong to the 'Ndrangheta," and the Sanctuary of Polsi has historically served as a meeting place for affiliates. Bosses from regions outside Calabria, including Canada and Australia, are reported to regularly attend meetings at the Sanctuary of Polsi, suggesting that 'ndrine globally perceive themselves as part of a unified collective entity.

The fundamental local organizational unit within the 'Ndrangheta is the locale (local or place), which exercises jurisdiction over a town or a specific area within a larger urban center. A locale may encompass branches known as 'ndrina (plural: 'ndrine), which can be situated in different districts of the same city, in neighboring towns or villages, or even outside Calabria. Notably, 'ndrine have been established in cities and towns in Northern Italy, particularly in the industrial regions around Turin and Milan. For instance, the presence of the 'Ndrangheta in Bardonecchia, an alpine town in the Piedmont region's province of Turin, has been documented since the early 1960s. In 1973, prompted by numerous newspaper articles, the Antimafia Commission, for the first time in Northern Italy, conducted an inspection in Bardonecchia, confirming the presence of organized crime. In 1995, Bardonecchia became the first municipality in Northern Italy to be dissolved due to alleged mafia infiltration, leading to the arrest of Rocco Lo Presti, considered the historical 'Ndrangheta boss of Bardonecchia and the Susa Valley.

The towns of Corsico and Buccinasco in Lombardy are also considered to be 'Ndrangheta strongholds. Sub-units known as sotto 'ndrine are sometimes established. These subunits possess considerable autonomy, with their own leadership and staff. In some instances, 'ndrine have reportedly become more influential than the locale to which they are formally subordinate. Other perspectives suggest that the 'ndrina itself is the fundamental organizational unit. According to the Antimafia Commission, each 'ndrina operates autonomously within its territory, with no formal authority above the 'ndrina boss. Typically, an 'ndrina controls a small town or a neighborhood. In cases where multiple 'ndrine operate within the same town, they may form a locale.

Within the 'Ndrangheta, membership in a crime family and blood relations are significantly intertwined. 'Ndrine predominantly consist of individuals from the same family lineage. Salvatore Boemi, an anti-mafia prosecutor in Reggio Calabria, informed the Italian Antimafia Commission that membership is often acquired "for the simple fact of being born into a mafia family." While other factors may attract individuals to seek membership, and non-kin have been admitted, familial ties remain central. Marriages serve to strengthen relationships within 'ndrine and expand membership. Consequently, each group is often composed of a few core blood families, leading to situations where "a high number of people with the same last name often end up being prosecuted for membership of a given 'ndrina." Given the absence of membership limits within a unit, bosses may prioritize maximizing descendants to strengthen their group.

The hierarchy within an 'ndrina includes various ranks. At the base are the picciotti d'onore (soldiers), expected to execute tasks with unquestioning obedience, until promotion to the level of cammorista. Cammoristi are granted command over their own group of soldiers. Above the 'ndrina level, but still within the 'Ndrangheta structure, is the rank of santista, followed by vangelista. Aspiring vangelisti are required to swear an oath of dedication to a life of crime upon the Bible. The Quintino, also referred to as Padrino, represents the second-highest level of command within an 'Ndrangheta clan (Ndrina). This level comprises five privileged members who report directly to the boss, known as the capobastone (head of command).

During a 2018 trial in Toronto, former mobster Carmine Guido testified that the 'Ndrangheta is a collective of family-based clans, each with its own boss, operating within a unified structure and under a board of control.

• La Provincia or Crimine: The supreme governing body that oversees the entire, global 'Ndrangheta empire and the entire organization worldwide. Based in the province of Reggio Calabria, it was formally established in 1991 to resolve inter-family disputes following years of internal wars.
• Mandamenti: Three regional bodies that fall under La Provincia. Each is responsible for clans in a specific district of Calabria:
  • One for the Ionic coast.
  • One for the Tyrrhenian coast.
  • One for the city of Reggio Calabria.
• Annual meeting at the Sanctuary of Polsi: An annual gathering of senior 'Ndrangheta bosses held in the remote mountains of San Luca. This meeting, called the crimine, serves as a forum for resolving disputes and making strategic decisions.

Local units and ranks

The foundation of the 'Ndrangheta is the local family clan, which is further divided into two separate societies. A new member is typically initiated into the lower society and progresses through different ranks based on merit.

The Locale

The locale is the main territorial unit, typically governing a town or an entire city or region. It is comprised of multiple family clans ('ndrine).

• Società Minore (Minor Society): The lower society of the locale, which contains the following ranks:
  • Picciotto d'onore (Soldier): The lowest rank, expected to follow orders blindly. Their job is to make a lot of money, assassinate without question or hesitation, go to war or battle, and gather intelligence.
  • Camorrista: An elevated rank with more experience, given command of a large group of foot soldiers, hitmen or spies, similar to a captain in the American Mafia
  • Sgarrista: The highest-ranking member of the Minor Society.
• Società Maggiore (Major Society): The upper society of the locale, reserved for trusted senior members. Ranks include:
  • Capo Locale (Family Chief): The leader in charge of the entire locale.
  • Padrino or Quintino: The second-highest level of command, acting as a group of sub-bosses who report directly to the capobastone. The padrino includes the boss's chief manager and the group's financial overseer.
  • Capo Società (Chief of the Society): The family chief's lieutenant and second-in-command.
  • Contabile (Accountants): Manages all of the finances derived from organized crime activity and day-to-day operations, and responsible for laundering or hiding the money.
  • Carnefici (assassins and executioners): They are responsible for orchestrating and committing murder, bombings, torture, and political assassinations. They also are highly trained and efficient assassins and expert hand-to-hand combatants and ruthless killers who are heavily armed and well-equipped with bulletproof vests, tactical helmets, boots, bulletproof pants, and battle gear with military-grade assault rifles, high-powered sniper rifles, M60 machine guns, AK-47 assault rifles, hand grenades, grenade launchers, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, flash grenades, smoke grenades, shoulder-launched surface-to-air missiles, and even M134 miniguns and .50 caliber machine guns mounted on top of their trucks. The hit squads are as armed, if not more armed, trained and equipped in similar fashion to any paramilitary organization.
  • Sicerezza (security): They are responsible for spying, infiltration, intelligence, counterintelligence, and surveillance on governments, politicians, militaries, federal agencies, law enforcement, criminal groups, and rivals. They are extremely sophisticated, efficient and clever at spying and counter spying, infiltrating politics, governments, law enforcement, militaries, rivals, etc. planting and installing listening, surveillance and spying devices and wiretaps, and efficiently and secretly gathering highly classified information from governments and politics, and they are able to hack into anything and neutralize any kind of threats.
  • Cammorista: (Lieutenant) High-ranking commander and commands a large army of foot soldiers, between 100 to 1,000 soldiers.
  • Mastro di Giornata (Day Master or street bossl): A junior rank within the Major Society, responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations, paying off law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, mayors, and politicians worldwide, send messages, collect debt, and gather intelligence and information that would be valuable for the leader and lieutenant and controls an army of highly efficient assassins, between 500 to 3,000 assassins.

La Santa

• La Santa (The Saint): A secret society within the 'Ndrangheta that operates within the Major Society. Established for security purposes, membership is exclusive and known only to other members of La Santa. La Santa consists of the most powerful top bosses of the 'Ndrangheta, and is it's supreme, global governing body of the entire 'Ndrangheta organization worldwide, consisting of over 100 supreme bosses that have absolute power of global criminal empire and it's €860 billion annual revenue. Membership in La Santa allows bosses to cultivate relationships with state officials, powerful politicians, mayors, governors, national presidents, supreme leaders, prime ministers, including through Freemasonry. The Santa was an innovation in the traditional stratification of the 'Ndrangheta introduced in the early 1970s to maximize the power and invisibility of the most important bosses.[1] Security concerns led to the creation of a secret society within the secret society. Membership in the Santa is only known to other members. Contrary to the 'Ndrangheta code, it allowed bosses to establish close connections with state representatives, even to the extent that some were affiliated with the Santa. Many law enforcement officials, including Europol officials has called them "the shadow government of the world" or the "the most powerful and dangerous organization in the world".

Key roles and titles

• 'Ndrina: The fundamental family-based clan at the heart of the organization, with loyalty enforced by blood ties. Each 'ndrina typically controls a specific area.
• Capobastone: The supreme boss of an individual 'ndrina, havinh supreme authprity and absolute power of the clan and making the most important decisions for that clan.
• Capo Crimine: The head or overlord of the supreme governing body, the Crimine, who is elected annually at the gathering in Polsi. This position has limited power to interfere in family feuds.

Power structure

Historically, individual family power structures served as the primary governing bodies within both Cosa Nostra and the 'Ndrangheta. These family structures have remained central to power dynamics, even after the establishment of superordinate bodies. While Cosa Nostra created the Sicilian Mafia Commission in the 1950s, the 'Ndrangheta established a superordinate body only in 1991, following negotiations to resolve prolonged inter-family conflicts. However, the notion of absolute autonomy for Calabrian crime families prior to this period is not universally supported by historical evidence. Evidence suggests that mechanisms for coordination and dispute resolution have existed since at least the late 19th century, with frequent interactions and meetings among bosses of locali. Operation Crimine, a significant investigation culminating in the arrest of 305 'Ndrangheta members in July 2010, indicated a more hierarchical, unified, and pyramidal structure than previously understood. Italy's chief anti-mafia prosecutor, Pietro Grasso, described the organization as not solely clan-based.

While the legal classification of the 'Ndrangheta as a hierarchical structure is advantageous for Italian criminal law, enabling broader convictions through the doctrine of criminal association, some criminologists dispute the view of the 'Ndrangheta as a consistently monolithic organization. Criminologist Anna Sergi suggests that while coordinating structures exist, they primarily serve to facilitate business ventures and risk sharing among distinct clans. According to this perspective, clans remain independent territorial units rooted in family ties, and do not consistently operate under a unified strategic plan. Sergi argues that "'Ndrangheta" functions more as a brand than a description of a tightly integrated organization. She posits that the misconception of the 'Ndrangheta as a singular entity may inadvertently benefit these groups, allowing them to leverage the organization's international reputation to exploit political vulnerabilities, invest in new enterprises, and expand their influence.

Since at least the 1950s, chiefs of 'Ndrangheta locali have reportedly convened regularly near the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Polsi in San Luca during the September Feast. These annual gatherings, known as the crimine, have traditionally provided a forum for discussing future strategies and resolving disputes among locali. The assembly exercises limited supervisory authority over the activities of all 'Ndrangheta groups. Emphasis is placed on the temporary nature of the crimine boss's position, with a new representative elected at each meeting. Contrary to the "boss of bosses" concept, the capo crimine is believed to possess relatively limited power to intervene in family conflicts or regulate inter-family violence.

During these meetings, each boss is expected to "give account of all the activities carried out during the year and of all the most important facts taking place in his territory such as kidnappings, homicides, etc." The historical prominence of the San Luca family is such that any new group or locale is reportedly required to obtain authorization from San Luca to operate. Furthermore, each 'Ndrangheta group "still has to deposit a small percentage of illicit proceeds to the principale of San Luca in recognition of the latter's primordial supremacy".

Security concerns within the 'Ndrangheta have led to the formation of a secret society within the larger organization, known as La Santa. Membership in La Santa is exclusive, known only to fellow members. In a departure from traditional code, La Santa allowed bosses to cultivate close relationships with state officials, with some even becoming affiliated with La Santa. These connections were often facilitated through Freemasonry, which santisti were permitted to join, despite it being another breach of traditional 'Ndrangheta code.

Since the conclusion of the Second 'Ndrangheta war in 1991, the 'Ndrangheta has been governed by a collegial body or Commission, known as La Provincia. Its primary function is to mediate and resolve inter-family disputes. This body, also referred to as the Commission in reference to the Sicilian counterpart, comprises three subordinate bodies known as mandamenti. These include a mandamento for clans on the Ionic side of Calabria (including the Aspromonte mountains and Locride), a second for the Tyrrhenian side (the plains of Gioia Tauro), and a central mandamento for the city of Reggio Calabria.

A July 2019 article published in Canada summarized the traditional 'Ndrangheta structure. According to this report:

"For decades, the 'Ndrangheta families of Siderno operating in Canada—about seven of them—have been governed by a board of directors, called the "camera di controllo", or chamber of control. The local board, as in other countries around the world and other regions of Italy where clans have spread, have all been subservient to the mother clans of Calabria, under a body known as 'il Crimine di Siderno'."

However, by mid-2019, law enforcement in both Italy and Canada reportedly believed that the 'Ndrangheta's presence in Canada had become so powerful that the governing body of the 'Ndrangheta clan north of Toronto possessed the authority to make decisions not only within Canada's underworld but also worldwide, potentially even superseding the authority of clans in Siderno.

Characteristics

In 2018, Italian anti-organized crime agencies estimated the 'Ndrangheta's annual revenue to be approximately €860 billion (equivalent to US$870 billion), representing roughly 32% of Italy's GDP. This revenue is primarily generated from illicit drug trafficking, but also from ostensibly countless legitimate businesses such as construction, carpentry, plumbing, welding, cement, banks, trucking, taxi companies, fish markets, waste management, bars, night clubs, strip clubs, restaurants, cigar shops, bakeries, hotels, casinos, food markets, clothes stores, gas stations, auto shops, stock companies, and supermarkets. The 'Ndrangheta is considered to exert significant control over the economy and governance of Calabria and virtually controlled all of Italy. According to the Europol, the 'Ndrangheta is "tremendously more powerful" than the Sicilian Mafia and Camorra. According to a leaked US Embassy cable, the organization controls substantial portions of the region's territory and economy, accounting for at least 32 percent of Italy's GDP through activities including drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, extortion, gambling, loan sharking, prostitution, money laundering, skimming of public contracts, and usury.

A key distinction between the 'Ndrangheta and other mafia-type organizations, such as the Sicilian Mafia, lies in recruitment methods. The 'Ndrangheta primarily recruits members based on blood relations, fostering strong cohesion within family clans, which presents considerable challenges for law enforcement investigations. Sons of ndranghetisti are generally expected to follow in their fathers' criminal careers, undergoing a socialization process from a young age to become giovani d'onore ('boys of honour') before formally joining the ranks as uomini d'onore ('men of honour'). Compared to the Sicilian Mafia during the early 1990s, relatively few Calabrian mafiosi have become collaborators with the state; by the end of 2002, there were 157 Calabrian witnesses in the state witness protection program. Furthermore, the 'Ndrangheta has generally avoided direct, overt confrontations with the Italian state.

Prosecutions in Calabria are reportedly hampered by the tendency of Italian judges and prosecutors who achieve high exam scores to preferentially choose postings outside of Calabria. Those assigned to Calabria often seek immediate transfers. Combined with a limited government presence and instances of official corruption, a climate of fear and reluctance to cooperate with law enforcement prevails among civilians in the region.

Alex Perry's 2018 book, The Good Mothers: The True Story of the Women Who Took on the World's Most Powerful Mafia, asserts that over the past decade, the Calabrian 'Ndrangheta has been supplanting the Sicilian Cosa Nostra as the absolute dominant drug trafficking organization in the world.

The 'Ndrangheta has established branches abroad, mainly through migration. The overlap of blood and mafia family seems to have helped the 'Ndrangheta expand beyond its traditional territory: "The familial bond has not only worked as a shield to protect secrets and enhance security, but also helped to maintain identity in the territory of origin and reproduce it in territories where the family has migrated." Ndrangheta are reported to be operating precisely all over the entire world; in every continent (except Antarctica) and within between 150 to 160 countries. US Government officials stated of the 'Ndrangheta:

"We're talking about highly structured, incredibly efficient and extremely sophisticated organized crime. We're talking about a vast political entity, almost; a culture of crime that colonizes across the sea from Italy to Canada to literally all over the entire world, in dozens of countries within every continent. Operating on an incredibly massive global level with tremendous global power and imnense political power, and making close to a trillion dollars a year. This is the most powerful, pervasive, developed, technologically advanced, sophisticated and dangerous criminal organization in the world, and the largest, wealthiest and most powerful organized crime entity the world has ever seen or ever will see. They are like the organized crime version of the Roman Empire. They rule global organized crime with an iron fist."

Activities

According to the Italian DIA (Direzione Investigativa Antimafia, Department of the Police of Italy against organized crime) and Guardia di Finanza (Italian Financial Police and Customs Police), the 'Ndrangheta is considered "the biggest, most powerful criminal organization in the world." The 'Ndrangheta's economic activities encompass international smuggling of cocaine and weapons. Italian investigators have estimated that approximately 80% of Europe's cocaine transits through the Calabrian port of Gioia Tauro and is controlled by the 'Ndrangheta. However, a report by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) and Europol indicates that the Iberian peninsula is considered the primary entry point for cocaine into Europe and a major gateway to the European market. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimated that in 2013, cocaine interceptions in Spain (almost 38 metric tons) were nearly ten times greater than in Italy (almost 4 metric tons).

'Ndrangheta and Sicilian Cosa Nostra groups are known to engage in joint ventures in cocaine trafficking operations. Additional activities include skimming funds from large public works projects, money laundering, and traditional criminal activities such as usury and extortion. The 'Ndrangheta reportedly invests illicit profits in legitimate real estate and financial ventures.In February 2017, Italian Carabinieri reportedly arrested 33 individuals suspected of involvement with the Piromalli 'ndrina, a clan associated with the 'Ndrangheta. The arrests were linked to allegations of exporting fraudulently labeled olive oil to the United States. According to reports, inexpensive olive pomace oil was being marketed as more expensive extra virgin olive oil. Earlier, in 2016, the American television program 60 Minutes broadcast a segment that cautioned about the infiltration of the olive oil industry by organized crime, stating that "Agromafia" constituted a $16 billion per year enterprise.

Estimates from Eurispes (Institute of Political, Economic and Social Studies), an Italian private research institute, placed the 'Ndrangheta's business volume at approximately €860 billion in 2018. This figure represented about 26% of Italy's GDP. Drug trafficking was identified as the most lucrative activity, accounting for 70% of the total revenue.

Estimated Total Turnover of the 'Ndrangheta in 2007

Illicit activity	Income
International drug trafficking	€ 490.520 billion
Commercial enterprise and public contracts	€ 5.733 billion
Extortion and usury	€ 5.017 billion
International weapons trafficking	€ 97.938 billion
International prostitution and human trafficking	€ 2.867 billion
Total	€ 610.795 billion