Created for the purposes of the Erasmus+ project Per Aspera Ad Inferi - Unveiling the Roots of Drug Addiction among Youth, financed by the European Union through Dům zahraniční spolupráce. The project took place in Písečná-Jablunkov, in Moravian-Silesian region of the Czech Republic.

1. Camorra,
'Ndrangheta
and illegal drug
trade in Italy
… but you should be not
afraid to come in Italy!

2. Organized Crime in Italy
The three main Italian mafia-style groups:
● The Cosa Nostra
● Camorra
● Ndrangheta
Operate worldwide but keep a very low
profile outside of Italy, making it difficult
for law enforcement agencies to detect
these organised crime groups. Sicily Calabria

3. Organized Crime in Italy
● Money laundering and large-
scale drug trafficking are the
criminal focus of these groups.
● However, they are also
involved in corruption,
currency and goods
counterfeiting, and the
trafficking of toxic waste.

4. Organized Crime in Italy
La Cosa Nostra
● Our Thing or Our Affair.
● The Sicilian Mafia formed in the 19th
century by clans which sprang out of
groups of bandits; these groups
gained local power and influence.
● The Sicilian Mafia has evolved into
an international organized crime
group.

5. Camorra: origins and features
- 'Camorra' is, broadly speaking, the mafia phenomenon, but developed in a
different region of Italy, called Campania (a southern Italy region)
- since the beginning of the 19th century
- particularly rooted in the city of Naples and
its surroundings
- relies on a very high degree of
integration with the poorer sections of
the population; has strong links with
political circles.

6. Camorra: development over time
- Unlike Cosa Nostra or 'ndrangheta, Camorra has never had a unitary structure -except
in its original phase- but a constellation of
clans that often came into conflict with each other in so-called 'feuds' (=fights)
- All attempts to create a unitary structure totally failed (ex. Cutolo's New Organised
Camorra, or Carmine Alfieri's New Mafia of Campania).
In spite of this, Camorra is the oldest Italian mafia organisation, and still active today
with around 113 operational families and over 6900 affiliates.
- Camorra organisations' business activities range from loan-sharking to cigarette
smuggling, drug trafficking and dealing, swindling, extortions, robberies, clandestine
meat imports, arms trafficking, clandestine betting and the concrete monopoly.

7. Connections with other organized mafia group in europe
● Within Europe, the two organizations are known to have significant control over the cocaine trade.
● The Camorra and 'Ndrangheta have had links with the Sicilian Mafia Cosa Nostra.
● For example, in the 1980s, the Camorra and the Sicilian Mafia were reportedly involved in a massive
heroin smuggling operation from Turkey to Italy.
● This mafia have also established connections with other criminal organizations in Europe, such as the
Albanian mafia, the Bulgarian mafia, and the Russian mafia. These connections have allowed them to
expand their criminal activities beyond Italy's borders, including drug trafficking and money laundering
● The Camorra is also involved in cocaine trafficking activities within Europe, particularly in Spain and
involved in the production and distribution of synthetic drugs, particularly ecstasy.

8. Connections with other organized crime mafia outside europe:
● Furthermore, both groups have been linked to various criminal activities in the United States,
particularly in New York City, where they have established strong connections with the
American Mafia, also known as the La Cosa Nostra.
● This mafia organization has a partnership with drug dealers in South America, particularly in
Colombia, and it is involved in every stage of the cocaine supply chain, from production to distribution.
● The involvement of the Camorra and 'Ndrangheta in drug trafficking in Africa has had a devastating
impact on the region, contributing to the rise of drug addiction, violence, and corruption

9. Photo by Pixabay
The 'ndrangheta: a global
criminal organisation
- The only mafia present in all five continents of
the world.
- It has a turnover of 53 billion euro globally,
according to a survey by Demoskopika.
- In Calabria there are 166 cosche with at least
4,000 affiliates, according to the Catanzaro Court
of Appeal.
- According to some estimates, the 'ndrangheta is
active in 30 countries with 400 cosche and
60,000 affiliates, most of whom are in Calabria.

10. Photo by Pixabay
Rocco Molè
- The 'Piromalli&Molè' mafia clan unites through
cross-marriages
- Rocco Molè (senior) was murdered in 2008
→The clan broke up
- Roccò Molè (junior), the nephew, had joined the
'Liberi di ricominciare' (Free to start again)
programme, which aims to snatch youngsters
from the mafia families they belong to.
- At only 26 years old, he becomes the new boss
- He was arrested in 2021

11. Law 180/1978 - Leggebasaglia
- introduced significant
change in the care of
people with mental
health issues
- closing ‘old school’
psychiatric hospitals,
putting the person at the
centre rather than the
problem, considering also
social aspects of mental
health issues

12. In conclusions…
Italy is a wonderful place that needs to be visited!
…. You don’t have be afraid to come in Italy
Manarola, 5 Terre