BACKGROUND

• The mafia is a criminal syndicate in Sicily, Italy
• It is also known as "cosa nostra" meaning our thing
• Members call themselves "men of honour"
• It is believed that the Sicilian Mafia was the first
• The background picture is some men involved in the mafia

THE FIRST MAFIA WAR

• Cesar Manzella organised a drug shipment to America
• Some drugs were missing, the buyers blamed the handlers and vice versa
• The mafia sided with the handlers, leading to the murder of Manzella
• This triggered a war killing many innocent people in the crossfire

MEMBERSHIP

• Only Sicilian men are eligible to join
• No age restriction, no connections to lawmen
• Initiates must murder, binding them to silence and proving commitment
• Being part of the mafia is highly desirable for criminals for various reasons
• Originally only men could join but now some women are being enrolled

THE 10 COMMANDMENTS

• No one can present himself directly to another of our friends.
• Never look at the wives of friends.
• Never be seen with cops.
• Don't go to pubs and clubs.
• Always being available for Cosa Nostra is a duty

TEN COMMANDMENTS (CONTINUED)

• Appointments must absolutely be respected
• Wives must be treated with respect.
• When asked for any information, the answer must be the truth
• Money cannot be appropriated if it belongs to others or to other families.
• You can not become a member if some rules are broken

SMUGGLING

• In the 1970's the mafias main items for smuggling were cigarettes
• The Sicilian and Neapolitan mafia negotiated a joint monopoly for this
• The Sicilian mafia set up heroin refineries as well
• The Mafia then sought to control it's distribution as well
• Thanks to this, heroin addiction surged across Europe and North America

THE MAFIA

PROTECTION

• Protection racketeering is one of the mafias main activities
• It may not be thought to be because it is not often reported to police
• In exchange for money or favours they use the threat of violence to protect
• They protect landowners, plantation owners politicians etc
• Roughly 70% of business men in Sicily pay protection to Cosa Nostra