Russian mafiosi. In the list of "Russian mafia" you will find many famous and familiar names

08.11.2019 | Cell phones

There are many criminal groups in the world, which, due to their high organization and large numbers, have become known as the mafia. with the most powerful and violent mafias this post will introduce you to the world.

Sicilian mafia

Valid in Sicily early XIX century, turning at the beginning of the 20th century into international organization. Initially, the organization was engaged in protecting the owners of orange plantations and nobles who own large plots of land, mainly from themselves. These were the beginnings of racketeering. Later, Cosa Nostra expanded its area of activity, becoming a criminal gang in every way. Since the 20th century, banditry has become the main activity of Cosa Nostra.

Russian Mafia

It is officially the most feared organized crime group in the world. Former FBI special agents call the Russian mafia "the most dangerous people on the ground". In the West, the term "Russian mafia" can mean any criminal organization, both Russian and from other states. post-Soviet space, or from the immigration environment in the far abroad. Some get hierarchical tattoos, often use military tactics and perform contract killings.

Mexican mafia (La eMe)

This gang is an ally of the Aryan Brotherhood from the south coast of the United States. Known for her active involvement in the drug trade. Gang members are easily identified by a special tattoo in the form of a black hand located on the chest.

The Mexican mafia was created in the late 50s by members of a street gang of Mexicans imprisoned in the Dewell Prison, located in Trici, California. The founders of the gang were thirteen Mexican-Americans from East Los Angeles, several of whom were members of the Maravila gang. They called themselves Mexicanemi, which is translated from the Nahuatl language as "one who walks with God in his heart."

The Yakuza are organized crime syndicates in Japan, similar to the triad in other Asian countries or the Western mafia. However, the social organization and work patterns of the Yakuza are very different from other criminal gangs: they even have their own office buildings, and their actions are often and quite openly reported in the press.

One of the iconic images of the Yakuza is their intricate colored tattoos all over their bodies. The Yakuza use a traditional method of manually injecting ink under the skin, known as irezumi, a tattoo that serves as a kind of proof of courage, since this method is very painful.

Chinese Triad

The triad is a form of secret criminal organization in China and in the Chinese diaspora. Triads have always been characterized by common beliefs (belief in the mystical meaning of the number 3, hence their name). At present, the triads are known mainly as mafia-type criminal organizations prevalent in Taiwan, the United States and other centers of Chinese immigration, specializing in drug trafficking and other criminal activities.

The Triad is one of the most patriotic mafias. During international events, militants guarantee the safety of foreigners, and during the outbreak of SARS they even announced a $1 million bonus to a doctor who finds a cure for this disease.

Hell's Angels (USA)

One of the largest motorcycle clubs in the world with its chapters (branches) all over the world. Included, along with Outlaws MC, Pagans MC and Bandidos MC, in the so-called "big four" outlaw clubs and is the most famous among them. Law enforcement agencies in a number of countries call the club a “gang of motorcyclists” and are accused of drug trafficking, racketeering, trafficking in stolen goods, violence, murders, etc.

According to the legend posted on the official website of the motorcycle club, during the Second World War, the US Air Force had the 303rd heavy bomber squadron with the name "Hell's Angels". After the end of the war and the disbandment of the unit, the pilots were left without work. They believe that their homeland betrayed them and left them to the mercy of fate. They had no choice but to go against their "cruel country, get on motorcycles, join motorcycle clubs and rebel."

Mara Salvatrucha

This mafia is engaged in many types of criminal business, including drug trafficking, weapons and people; robbery, racketeering, contract killings, kidnapping for ransom, pimping, car theft, money laundering and fraud.

Many street vendors and small shops located in the territories of Mara Salvatrucha pay the gang up to half of the income for the opportunity to work. Many Salvadorans living in the US are also forced to pay MS-13, whose relatives, in case of refusal, the bandits will mutilate or kill in their homeland.

Montreal Mafia Rizzuto

The Rizzuto are a crime family primarily based in Montreal but running the provinces of Quebec and Ontario. They once merged with families in New York, which eventually led to the mafia wars in Montreal in the late 70s. Rizzuto owns hundreds of millions of dollars of real estate in different countries. They own hotels, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, construction, food, service and trading companies. In Italy, they own firms for the production of furniture and Italian delicacies.

Mungiki (Kenya)

This is a Kenyan political-religious group banned since 2002, reviving the traditional African religion. Born in the wake of the Mau Mau uprising. Gained notoriety in connection with the massacres and clashes with the police.

Mungiki considers itself a religious group that advocates the preservation of the traditional "African way of worship, culture and way of life." Its adherents pray with their faces turned towards Mount Kenya. They also practice vows and sacrifices.

The dubious underground world of the mafia has captured the imagination of people for many years. The luxurious but criminal lifestyle of thieves' gangs has become an ideal for many. But why are we so fascinated by these men and women who are, in essence, just bandits living off those who are not able to protect themselves?

The fact is that the mafia is not just some organized criminal group. Gangsters are seen as heroes, not the villains they really are. The criminal lifestyle looks like in a Hollywood movie. Sometimes this is a Hollywood movie: many of them are based on real events from the life of the mafia. In the cinema, crime is ennobled, and it already seems to the viewer that these bandits are heroes who died in vain. As America gradually forgets about the days of prohibition, it is also forgotten that the bandits were looked upon as saviors who fought against the evil government. They were the Robin Hoods of the working class, opposing themselves to impossible and strict laws. In addition, people tend to admire powerful, rich and beautiful people and idealize them.

However, not everyone is given such charisma, and many major politicians are hated by everyone, not worshiped. Gangsters know how to use their charm to appear more attractive to society. It is based on heritage, on family history associated with emigration, poverty and unemployment. The classic rags-to-riches storyline has been attracting attention for centuries. There are at least fifteen such heroes in the history of the mafia.

Frank Costello

Frank Costello was from Italy, like many other famous mafiosi. He led the terrifying and famous Luciano family in the criminal world. Frank moved to New York at the age of four and, as soon as he grew up, he immediately found his place in the world of criminals, leading gangs. When the infamous "Lucky" Charles Luciano went to prison in 1936, Costello quickly rose through the ranks to lead the Luciano clan, later known as the Genovese clan.

They called him the Prime Minister because he ruled the criminal world and really wanted to get into politics by linking the mafia and Tammany Hall, political society US Democratic Party in New York. The ubiquitous Costello ran casinos and gaming clubs throughout the country, as well as in Cuba and other Caribbean islands. He enjoyed great popularity and respect among his people. Vito Corleone, the hero of the 1972 film The Godfather, is believed to be based on Costello. Of course, he also had enemies: in 1957, an assassination attempt was made on him, during which the mafia was wounded in the head, but miraculously survived. He died only in 1973 from a heart attack.

Jack Diamond

Jack "Legs" Diamond was born in Philadelphia in 1897. He was a significant figure during Prohibition and a leader in organized crime in the United States. Earning the nickname Legs for his quick evasion and extravagant dance style, Diamond was also known for unparalleled brutality and murder. His criminal escapades in New York went down in history, as did the liquor smuggling organizations in and around the city.

Realizing that it was very lucrative, Diamond moved on to larger booty, organizing truck robberies and opening underground liquor outlets. But it was the assassination order for notorious gangster Nathan Kaplan that helped him solidify his status in the world of crime, putting him on a par with such serious guys as Lucky Luciano and Dutch Schultz, who then stood in his way. Although Diamond was feared, he became a target several times himself, earning the nicknames Shooting Skeet and Unkillable Man due to his ability to get away with it every time. But one day luck left him, and in 1931 he was shot dead. Diamond's killer was never found.

John Gotti

Known for leading the famous and virtually unstoppable New York Gambino Mafia during the turn of the 1980s and 1990s, John Joseph Gotti Jr. became one of the most powerful men in the mob. He grew up in poverty, being one of thirteen children. He quickly joined the criminal atmosphere, becoming the six of the local gangster and his mentor Aniello Dellacroce. In 1980, Gotti's 12-year-old son Frank was crushed to death by neighbor and family friend John Favara. Although the incident was ruled an accident, Favara received numerous threats and was later attacked with a baseball bat. A few months later, Favara disappeared under strange circumstances, and his body has not yet been found.

With his flawless good looks and stereotypical gangster style, Gotti quickly became the darling of the tabloids, earning him the nickname Teflon Don. He went in and out of prison, was difficult to catch red-handed, and each time he ended up behind bars for a short time. However, in 1990, thanks to wiretapping and inside information, the FBI finally caught Gotti and charged him with murder and extortion. Gotti died in prison in 2002 from cancer of the larynx, and towards the end of his life he faintly resembled that Teflon Don who did not get off the pages of the tabloids.

Frank Sinatra

Yes, Sinatra himself was once an alleged accomplice of gangster Sam Giancana and even the ubiquitous Lucky Luciano. He once stated: "If it were not for my interest in music, I probably would have ended up in the underworld." Sinatra was convicted of having links with the mafia when it became known about his participation in the so-called Havana Conference - a mafia gathering in 1946. Newspaper headlines then shouted: "Shame on Sinatra!" About the double life of Sinatra became known not only to the newspapermen, but also to the FBI, which followed the singer from the beginning of his career. His personal file contained 2,403 pages of interactions with the mafia.

Most of all, his connection with John F. Kennedy before he became president excited the public. Sinatra allegedly used his underworld contacts to help the future leader in the presidential campaign. The mafia lost faith in Sinatra because of his friendship with Robert Kennedy, who was involved in the fight against organized crime, and Giancana turned away from the singer. Then the FBI calmed down a bit. Despite the obvious evidence and information linking Sinatra with such major mafia figures, the singer himself often denied any relationship with gangsters, calling such claims a lie.

Mickey Cohen

Mayer Harris Cohen, nicknamed Mickey, has been a pain in the ass for the LAPD for many years. He had a stake in all branches of organized crime in Los Angeles and several other states. Cohen was born in New York but moved to Los Angeles with his family when he was six years old. After starting a promising career in boxing, Cohen left the sport to go down the path of crime and ended up in Chicago, where he worked for the famous Al Capone.

After several successful years during the Prohibition era, Cohen was sent to Los Angeles under the auspices of the notorious Las Vegas gangster Bugsy Siegel. Siegel's murder struck a nerve with the sensitive Cohen, and the police began to take notice of the violent and short-tempered thug. After several assassination attempts, Cohen turned his home into a fortress by installing alarm systems, floodlights, and bulletproof gates, as well as hiring Johnny Stompanato, who was then dating Hollywood actress Lana Turner, as a bodyguard.

In 1961, when Cohen was still influential, he was convicted of tax evasion and sent to the famous Alcatraz prison. He became the only prisoner who was released from this prison on bail. Despite numerous assassination attempts and a constant hunt for him, Cohen died in his sleep at the age of 62.

Henry Hill

Henry Hill inspired one of the best films about the mafia, The Goodfellas. It was he who said the phrase: "For as long as I can remember, I always wanted to become a gangster." Hill was born in New York in 1943 to an honest working family with no Mafia ties. However, in his youth, he joined the Lucchese clan due to the large number of bandits in his area. He began to quickly advance in the service, but due to the fact that he was both of Irish and Italian origin, he could not take a high position.

Once Hill was arrested for beating a player who refused to pay lost money, and sentenced to ten years in prison. It was then that he realized that the way of life that he led in the wild, in fact, was similar to that behind bars, and constantly received some kind of preferences. After his release, Hill became seriously involved in the sale of drugs, which is why he was arrested. He betrayed his entire gang and overthrew some very powerful gangsters. He entered the federal witness protection program in 1980, but two years later he went undercover and the program was terminated. Despite this, he managed to live to the age of 69. Hill died in 2012 from heart problems.

James Bulger

Another veteran of Alcatraz is James Bulger, nicknamed Whitey. He got this nickname because of his blond silky hair. Bulger grew up in Boston and from the very beginning caused a lot of problems for his parents, running away from home several times and once even joining a traveling circus. The first time Bulger was arrested at the age of 14, but this did not stop him, and by the end of the 1970s he was in the criminal underground.

Bulger worked for a mafia clan, but at the same time he was an FBI informant and told the police about the affairs of the once famous Patriarca clan. As Bulger expanded his own criminal network, the police began to pay more attention to himself, and not to the information he provided. As a result, Bulger had to escape from Boston, and he ended up on the list of the most wanted criminals for fifteen years.

Bulger was caught in 2011 and charged with several crimes, including 19 murders, money laundering, extortion and drug dealing. After a two-month trial, the famous gang leader was found guilty and sentenced to two life terms in prison and another five years in prison, and Boston was finally able to sleep peacefully.

Bugsy Siegel

Known for his Las Vegas casino and criminal empire, Benjamin Siegelbaum, known in the world of crime as Bugsy Siegel, is one of the most notorious gangsters in the world. modern history. Starting with a mediocre Brooklyn gang, young Bugsy met another aspiring gangster, Meer Lansky, and created the Murder Inc. group, which specialized in contract killings. It included gangsters of Jewish origin.

Increasingly famous in the world of crime, Siegel sought to kill old New York gangsters and even had a hand in the elimination of Joe "The Boss" Masseria. After years of smuggling and gunfights on the west coast, Siegel started making money. large sums and acquired connections in Hollywood. He became a real star thanks to his Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas. The $1.5 million project was financed from a bandit obshchak, but the estimate was significantly exceeded during construction. old friend and Siegel's partner Lansky decided that Siegel was stealing funds and partly investing in legitimate businesses. He was brutally killed in own house, riddled with bullets, and Lansky quickly took over the management of the Flamingo Hotel, denying any involvement in the murder.

Vito Genovese

Vito Genovese, known as Don Vito, was an Italian-American gangster who gained notoriety during Prohibition and beyond. He was also called the Boss of Bosses and was the head of the famous Genovese clan. He is famous for making heroin a mass drug.

Genovese was born in Italy and moved to New York in 1913. Quickly joining the criminal circles, Genovese soon met Lucky Luciano, and together they destroyed a rival, gangster Salvatore Maranzano. Fleeing from the police, Genovese returned to his native Italy, where he remained until the end of World War II, making friends with Benito Mussolini himself. Upon his return, he immediately began to lead an old way of life, seizing power in the world of crime and once again becoming the man everyone was afraid of. In 1959, he was accused of drug trafficking and imprisoned for 15 years. In 1969, Genovese died of a heart attack at the age of 71.

Lucky Luciano

Charles Luciano, nicknamed Lucky, was seen many times in criminal adventures with other gangsters. Luciano got his nickname because he survived a dangerous stab wound. He is called the founder of the modern mafia. Over the years of his mafia career, he managed to organize the murders of two big bosses and create a completely new principle for the functioning of organized crime. He had a hand in creating New York's famous Five Families and the national crime syndicate.

Having lived a high life for quite a long time, Lucky became a popular character among the population and the police. Maintaining an image and a stylish image, Lucky began to attract attention, as a result of which he was charged with organizing prostitution. When he was behind bars, he continued to conduct business both outside and inside. It is believed that he even had his own chef there. After his release, he was deported to Italy, but he settled in Havana. Under pressure from the US authorities, the Cuban government was forced to get rid of him, and Lucky went to Italy forever. He died of a heart attack in 1962 at the age of 64.

Maria Licciardi

Although the world of the mafia is mainly the world of men, it cannot be said that there were no women among the mafiosi at all. Maria Licciardi was born in Italy in 1951 and was the head of the Licciardi clan, a well-known Camorra, Neapolitan criminal group. Licciardi, nicknamed The Godmother, is still very famous in Italy, and most of her family is connected to the Neapolitan mafia. Licciardi specialized in drug trafficking and racketeering. She led the clan when her two brothers and husband were arrested. Although many were dissatisfied, since she became the first female head of a mafia clan, she managed to quell the unrest and successfully unite several urban clans, expanding the drug market.

In addition to her activities in the field of drug trafficking, Licciardi is also known for human trafficking. She used underage girls from neighboring countries, such as Albania, forcing them to work as prostitutes, thus violating the Neapolitan mafia's long-standing code of honor, according to which one cannot earn money from prostitution. After one of the deals to sell a batch of heroin fell through, Licciardi was on the list of the most wanted criminals and was arrested in 2001. Now she is behind bars, but, according to rumors, Maria Licciardi continues to lead the clan, which is not going to stop.

Frank Nitti

Known as the face of the Al Capone Crime Syndicate in Chicago, Frank Nitti, nicknamed The Bouncer, became the first man in the Italian-American mafia as soon as Al Capone was behind bars. Nitti was born in Italy and came to the US when he was only seven years old. It wasn't long before he started getting into trouble, which caught the attention of Al Capone. In his criminal empire, Nitti quickly prospered.

As a reward for impressive progress during Prohibition, Nitti became one of Al Capone's closest associates and established himself in the Chicago Crime Syndicate, also known as the Chicago Outfit. Although he was nicknamed the Bouncer, Nitti delegated tasks more than he broke bones on his own, and often organized many approaches during raids and attacks. In 1931, Nitti and Capone were sent to prison for tax evasion, where Nitti suffered terrible bouts of claustrophobia that haunted him for the rest of his life.

Upon his release, Nitti became the new leader of the Chicago Outfit, surviving assassination attempts by rival mafia groups and even the police. When things got really bad and Nitti realized that arrest was inevitable, he shot himself in the head so that he would never again suffer from claustrophobia.

Sam Giancana

Another respected gangster in the underworld is Sam Giancana, nicknamed Muni, who was once the most powerful gangster in Chicago. Starting as Al Capone's inner circle driver, Giancana quickly worked his way up, making acquaintances with some politicians, including the Kennedy clan. Giancana was even called to testify in the case when the CIA staged an assassination attempt on Cuban leader Fidel Castro. Giancana was believed to have key information.

Not only did Giancana's name appear in the case, but there were also rumors that the mob had made huge contributions to the John F. Kennedy campaign, including ballot stuffing in Chicago. The Giancana-Kennedy connection was increasingly discussed, with many believing that Frank Sinatra was an intermediary to avert federal suspicions.

Things soon went downhill due to speculation that the Mafia had a hand in the assassination of John F. Kennedy. After living the rest of his life as a wanted man by the CIA and rival clans, Giancana was shot in the back of the head while cooking in his basement. There were many versions of the murder, but the perpetrator was never found.

Meer Lansky

As influential as Lucky Luciano, if not more, Meer Lansky, whose real name is Meer Sukhomlyansky, was born in the city of Grodno, which then belonged to Russian Empire. Moving to America at a young age, Lansky got a taste of the street by fighting for money. Not only could Lansky stand up for himself, but he was also exceptionally smart. An integral part of the emerging world of American organized crime, Lansky was at one point one of the most powerful men in the US, if not the world, doing business in Cuba and several other countries.

Lansky, who was friends with high-ranking mobsters like Bugsy Siegel and Lucky Luciano, was both feared and respected. He was a major player in the alcohol smuggling market during Prohibition, leading a very profitable business. When things went better than expected, Lansky became nervous and decided to retire by emigrating to Israel. Nevertheless, he was deported back to the US two years later, but he still managed to avoid prison, as he died of lung cancer at the age of 80.

Al Capone

Alfonso Gabriel Capone, nicknamed the Great Al, needs no introduction. Perhaps this is the most famous gangster in history and he is known all over the world. Capone came from a respected and prosperous family. At the age of 14, he was kicked out of school for hitting a teacher, and he decided to take a different path, plunging into the world of organized crime.

Under the influence of gangster Johnny Torrio, Capone began his journey to fame. He earned a scar that earned him the nickname Scarface. Dealing with everything from alcohol smuggling to murder, Capone was invulnerable to the police, free to move about and do as he pleases.

The games ended when Al Capone's name was implicated in a brutal massacre called the Valentine's Day Massacre. Several gangsters from rival factions died in this massacre. The police could not attribute the crime to Capone himself, but they had other ideas: he was arrested for tax evasion and sentenced to eleven years in prison. Later, when the gangster's health deteriorated due to illness, he was released on bail. He died of a heart attack in 1947, but the world of crime has changed forever.

Louise Shelley, professor at George Mason University, author of many books on organized crime, talks about what the “Russian mafia” is and how it differs from the “Japanese” or “Italian” one.

Does Russian organized crime have any specific characteristics that distinguish it from other criminal groups in the world?

It does, and this practice is comparable to the trade in natural resources. Russians, in fact, are not merchants in terms of business. Look at how the Chinese mafiosi operate - they do not miss the opportunity to integrate business from start to finish in order to maximize profits and then use them to develop the economy. Russian organized crime aims only at making short-term profits, as happens with the trade in natural resources. In such situations, the illegal economy is likened to the legal one.

For example, when trading women, no one thinks about who will produce the next generations of Russian people. No one traces the whole process of trafficking in women from beginning to end, say, to the markets of London or New York, where women are in the highest demand and prices, as the Chinese do. For Russian criminal gangs, it is important to simply sell the goods at the first opportunity. This is what I call the business model. natural resources”, which, in the case of the Russians, applies to everything - they just sell everything that they do not produce.

In the public consciousness of Russia, the idea is popular that the Russian mafia is patriotic and even helps the state fight the enemies of the people. Your comment?

This is what organized crime is all about. The Japanese yakuza cooperated with the authorities before the Second World War. The American mafia during the same World War II helped the authorities ensure the smooth operation of ocean ports. Due to this, organized crime survives, pleasing the authorities - otherwise, the authorities will try to get rid of it.

During the reign of President Vladimir Putin and his crackdown on organized crime, it seemed that its influence was on the wane. At the same time, there were many reports about the intensification of the activities of Russian criminal groups in the international arena. Is there a connection between these processes?

No, there is no connection. Russian organized crime was globalized very quickly and much earlier. This was her advantage over others - she was quick and flexible, did not miss the opportunities that presented herself, overcame any borders and used a lot of money. Its international expansion took place even before the collapse Soviet Union, which, in turn, contributed to the further expansion of the geography of its activities, thanks to the already established connections.

With representatives of the criminal world from former USSR I first encountered in one of their restaurants on Brighton Beach in 1981 - that is, long before Putin. We can say that there is a certain pattern: when the government takes on organized crime in one country, criminal elements strengthen their positions in another. But in the case of the Russians, organized crime did not become international because it was broken at home.

Many articles appear in the Western press, the authors of which claim that the actions of the Russian mafia pose a serious threat to the United States. Is it really true?

In my opinion, when compared with the Salvadoran MS-13 criminal group or other mafia structures, the Russians are definitely less cruel. On the other hand, it is not known what they are capable of in economic machinations, and this is potentially much more serious. Sometimes the consequences of criminal operations become apparent too late. As for the size and level of brutality of Russian groups, they are less dangerous than others.

It is believed that the Russian mafia uses the same business practices as the Italian and Japanese mafia...

I don't think so. Maybe, to some extent, the Russian mafia has similarities with the Japanese mafia, but certainly not with the Italian one. There is some external resemblance - in clothes or manner of speaking, but Russian-speaking mafiosi are characteristically different from their colleagues. Italian mobsters don't invest in their education and expand internationally at the same pace as the Russians do. So I would not call the Italian mafia a role model for Russian organized crime. The Japanese mafia, which has successfully infiltrated the country's financial and banking systems, is more comparable as it is more financially involved and has access to higher circles legal economy.

One gets the impression that ethnic criminal groups often operate among “their own”: for example, the Chinese “triads” are based in “Chinatowns”. Does this rule apply to the Russian mafia?

Applicable, but not always - there are exceptions. Often, mafia groups operate together, especially in big cities, so one should not resort to generalizations here. At first glance, the most diverse groups can cooperate in one specific area. For example, in London you can see a Turkish group collaborating with a Jamaican one in the distribution of drugs, which at first glance seems completely impossible.

- There are cases in Russia when the leaders of criminal gangs became political leaders...

This is probably a distinctive feature of Russia, where people with a criminal past easily become politicians. One example is the story of "Winnie the Pooh" - Vladimir Nikolaev, who until recently was the mayor of the city of Vladivostok. Many seek power in Russia simply because the law provides protection from criminal liability for those who occupy high-ranking positions. This is absurd! The very immunity that Russia provides to the officials who won the elections is precisely what makes the criminals go to power.

- In your opinion, last years Is the Russian mafia getting stronger or weaker?

It has simply transformed and remains a serious driving force in the country's economy. Many oligarchs are connected with organized crime, which in turn has a huge influence even on the leading corporations. It may not be as obvious or widespread as it used to be, but it cannot be said that the power of crime is a thing of the past.

- What could be the future of Russian organized crime?

I think she will continue to play an important role in Russian economy. Fighting organized crime requires an open and independent press, an active civil society, the rule of law, and a functioning and respected judiciary so that the population feels that their problems can be fairly resolved. There is currently no fair and open press in Russia, just as there is no active civil society or an independent judiciary. Until all of the above appears, it is useless to fight organized crime.

- How dangerous is the mafia for Russian society and states?

Pretty dangerous. Take, for example, the problem of drugs - it has acquired such proportions only thanks to the actions of organized crime. Russia has broken world records for drug use per capita. The distribution and use of drugs, of course, affects the health of the nation. Trafficking in women deprives Russia of its future - who will give birth to children? It also contributes to the spread of AIDS, which again is dangerous to the health of the nation. In addition, the Russian mafia has a huge impact on the economy, which again has a very negative effect on the state of Russia as a whole.

Russian nationalists are often inclined to claim that Russian criminal gangs are mainly composed of people not of Slavic, but of some other nationality. This is true?

Yes, there are ethnic groups, but "Russian" criminal groups definitely exist. There are also many Russians among those who represent the law and whose duties include working with criminals. The criminal mayor of Vladivostok was Russian. So, maybe there are different ethnic groups in the criminal world, but this does not mean that Russians do not participate in organized crime.

Washington Profile

Top 10 largest mafias in the world

Russian mafia - is in first place in the top ten most powerful mafias in the world, according to the rating of the London newspaper "Daily News" and the Spanish "Diario". The criteria for getting into the "top ten" of the strongest mafias in the world were participation in organized crime in many countries, illegal activities - arms trafficking, drugs, and so on.

In tenth place are immigrants from Jamaica in Britain who moved to England in the 50s. This ethnic group controls a fair share of arms and drug trafficking operations.

9 Albanian mafia

Albania is made up of numerous criminal gangs. Their rules have remained unchanged since the 15th century ... The Albanian mafia is involved in the trade in white slaves, alcohol and tobacco, controls prostitution, car theft and racketeering.

8. Serbian mafia

The Serbian mafia has found its place in the ranks of the leaders, as it operates in dozens of countries around the world and is associated with drug smuggling, contract killings, racketeering, robberies, control of rates and gambling houses. Interpol lists about 350 Serbian citizens, who are often employees and leaders of the largest drug cartels in the world.

7 Israeli Mafia

These guys work in the field of banditry in many countries, the main occupation is drug trafficking and prostitution. Times have changed, and if earlier they were once looked at with reverence because of their ability to protect, today they are ruthless killers who do not think long before pulling the trigger.

6. Mexican mafia

The Mexican mafia is a powerful criminal structure in the United States, rooted in the prison world. It originated in the 50s, positioned as the protection of Mexicans in US prisons from other criminals and prison guards. The main activities are extortion and drug trafficking.

5. Japanese yakuza

The Japanese mafia proudly traces its lineage to impoverished samurai nobles, or ronin as they were called in Japan. The heirs of noble fathers with many children, who sometimes had nothing but a sword, they inherited only the right to wear a sword and even comb their hair like a samurai: shave their forehead and crown, long hair from the back of the head, braid into a tight pigtail and stick on the bluish scalp.

Areas of activity: racketeering, distribution of prohibited pornography from Europe and America, prostitution and illegal emigration.

4. Chinese triads

The fact that rapidly growing China is rapidly turning into a leader in global development is being talked about all over the world today. But there are also negative aspects of this process. As China's leading position in the global economy strengthens, Chinese organized crime will rapidly expand its presence in transnational criminal relations. "Triads" have already staged a "third world war" for their competitors! The Chinese "triads" have supplanted the home-grown mafia in Japan - the yakuza: the Chinese account for about half of all crimes committed by foreigners.

3 Colombian drug cartels

The Colombian mafia is one of the world's largest suppliers of cocaine. All the efforts of the state authorities are still in vain, as the business of the bandits is more than successful. The Colombian drug mafia has existed since the mid-60s of the last century. The Medellin and Cali cartels quickly became the world's leading producers of cocaine.

2. Sicilian and American Cosa Nostra

Members of the Sicilian Mafia (left to right), Salvatore Lo Bue, Salvatore Lo Cicero, Gaetano Lo Presti, Giuseppe Scaduto, Antonino Spera, Gregorio Agrigento, Luigi Caravello, Mariano Troia, Giovanni Adelfio and Francesco Bonomo

At the end of the XIX century. thousands of Sicilians, fleeing poverty and clan wars, moved to America. IN major cities In the United States, Cosa Nostra ("Our Cause") arose - a network of Sicilian "families" that controlled casinos, smuggling, prostitution, illegal trafficking in alcohol, tobacco and weapons, and also engaged in racketeering.

All the "consorteries" of Sicily constitute a "venerable community" headed by Capo di tutti Capi, head of all chapters. Important figures in the structure of the mafia are also picciotti di ficatu (assassins), stopalieri (bodyguards), gabellotti (judges) and consiglieri (advisors).

1. Russian mafia

The Russian mafia has 500,000 people. Her godfathers control 70% of the Russian economy, as well as prostitution in Macau and China, drug trafficking in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, money laundering in Cyprus, Israel, Belgium and England, car theft, nuclear trafficking and prostitution in Germany.

Russian criminal communities sometimes expressed very specific interests in different countries of the world. So, in December 1993, the Western press first mentioned that groups were “shaking” Russian hockey players playing in foreign clubs, the so-called “legionnaires”. The mass of materials on this subject in the press in subsequent years indicated that the "sports racket" had acquired a truly industrial scale. According to some reports, now the Russian criminal community operates in 50 countries around the world. According to the American professor Louise Shelley, since 1991 the ROP has exported 150 billion dollars from the Russian Federation. According to other sources - 50 billion dollars, but also a lot.

2 Comment(s) to the entry “How does the Russian mafia differ from the criminal communities of other countries”

I am writing to you in the hope of being at least heard by you. Please take my request seriously.
I believe that in Russia there is neither legality, nor justice, nor justice, nor democracy, nor feedback the country's leadership with its citizens, who are systematically destroyed by Russian corrupt officials and werewolves in uniform and robes, by fabricating custom-made, falsified criminal cases against them, as evidenced by my numerous appeals to various national human rights institutions (courts, prosecutors and investigators , including the President of the Russian Federation D.A. Medvedev and the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation V.V. I was illegally and "ordered" by the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation under part 1 of article 264 and part 1 of article 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation in a pre-planned and fabricated political criminal case, artificially making me a criminal for something that I did not commit. in my opinion, it is a vivid example of mutual responsibility and systemic corruption flourishing in law enforcement agencies and courts of the Russian Federation, aimed at systematically squeezing honest and principled professional judges who are not pleasing to the authorities from their ranks, using the methods of 37 years. And some national media are actively helping them in this, in particular, artificially creating a negative attitude towards me. public opinion on the Internet, on television and in the print media, deliberately distorting the actual circumstances of the case in relation to me, in which no one in Russia wants to objectively understand and will not do this on purpose, with the aim of reprisal against me. From which we can conclude that there are no human rights mechanisms in our country, and the law enforcement agencies, courts and media existing in the country serve only the interests of the authorities in the illegal prosecution of their own law-abiding, but not pleasing to the authorities, citizens, including for political reasons . I believe that only the European Court of Human Rights can give an objective assessment of the custom-made criminal case fabricated against me and the actions of the authorities, who decided in this way to crack down on me as a principled judge, and I hope with your help public opinion, as in Russia, its own I simply have no real opportunity to protect my rights and freedoms because of systemic corruption in law enforcement agencies and courts, which, by fulfilling the order of the authorities on me, systematically destroy me.
I earnestly ask you, using the methods available to you, to provide me with effective assistance in protecting my rights and freedoms from systemic corruption in law enforcement agencies and courts of the Russian Federation and to assist me in the real protection of my rights and freedoms guaranteed to me by the Constitution of the Russian Federation, the European Convention and internationally accepted -legal norms and draw close attention of the public to my problem. For clarity and understanding of my situation, you can watch on YouTube the audio video clips I posted, which are called: Stavropol Regional Court, illegal reports of cases, absenteeism of judges. If necessary, I am ready to provide you with other information about the violation of my rights and freedoms.
Sincerely. Judge of the Stavropol Regional Court Blinov Alexander Nikolaevich, residing at: (355012) Stavropol, st. Komsomolskaya, 41 "v", apt. 35, mob. tel.: 8-918-745-77-14, e-mail address: [email protected]

Alexander, you need to contact lawyers on the site or forum, we have nothing to do with legal issues, and our site is not Russian, so all our help can be limited only by posting your appeal, which may attract the attention of someone someone who can really help you. Good luck to you.

- AND Does Russian organized crime have any specific characteristics that distinguish it from other criminal groups in the world?
— Yes, and this practice is comparable to the trade in natural resources. Russians, in fact, are not merchants in terms of business. Look at how the Chinese mafiosi operate - they do not miss the opportunity to integrate business from start to finish in order to maximize profits and then use them to develop the economy. Russian organized crime aims only at making short-term profits, as happens with the trade in natural resources. In such situations, the illegal economy is likened to the legal one.
For example, when trading women, no one thinks about who will produce the next generations of Russian people. No one traces the whole process of trafficking in women from beginning to end, say, to the markets of London or New York, where women are in the highest demand and prices, as the Chinese do. For Russian criminal gangs, it is important to simply sell the goods at the first opportunity. This is what I call the “natural resources business” model, which, in the case of the Russians, applies to everything – they just sell whatever they don’t produce.

- In the public consciousness of Russia, the idea is popular that the Russian mafia is patriotic and even helps the state to fight the enemies of the people. Your comment?
“This is what organized crime is all about. The Japanese yakuza cooperated with the authorities before the Second World War. The American mafia during the same World War II helped the authorities ensure the smooth operation of ocean ports. Due to this, organized crime survives, pleasing the authorities - otherwise, the authorities will try to get rid of it.

- During the reign of President Vladimir Putin and his crackdown on organized crime, it seemed that its influence began to decrease. At the same time, there were many reports about the intensification of the activities of Russian criminal groups in the international arena. Is there a connection between these processes?
- No, there is no connection. Russian organized crime was globalized very quickly and much earlier. This was her advantage over others - she was quick and flexible, did not miss the opportunities that presented herself, overcame any borders and used a lot of money. Its international expansion took place even before the collapse of the Soviet Union, which, in turn, contributed to the further expansion of the geography of its activities, thanks to the already established connections.
I first encountered representatives of the criminal world from the former USSR in one of their restaurants on Brighton Beach in 1981 - that is, long before Putin. We can say that there is a certain pattern: when the government takes on organized crime in one country, criminal elements strengthen their positions in another. But in the case of the Russians, organized crime did not become international because it was broken at home.

- Many articles appear in the Western press, the authors of which claim that the actions of the Russian mafia pose a serious threat to the United States. Is it really true?
- In my opinion, if we compare with the Salvadoran criminal group MS-13 or other mafia structures, then the Russians are definitely less cruel. On the other hand, it is not known what they are capable of in economic machinations, and this is potentially much more serious. Sometimes the consequences of criminal operations become apparent too late. As for the size and level of brutality of Russian groups, they are less dangerous than others.

- It is believed that the Russian mafia uses the same business practices as the Italian and Japanese mafia ...
- I don't think so. Maybe, to some extent, the Russian mafia has similarities with the Japanese mafia, but certainly not with the Italian one. There is some superficial similarity - in clothes or manner of speaking, but Russian-speaking mafiosi are characteristically different from their colleagues. Italian mobsters don't invest in their education and expand internationally at the same pace as the Russians do. So I would not call the Italian mafia a role model for Russian organized crime. The Japanese mafia, which has successfully infiltrated the country's financial and banking systems, is more comparable, as it is more financially involved and has access to the upper echelons of the legal economy.

- One gets the impression that ethnic criminal groups often operate among “their own”: for example, the Chinese “triads” are based in “Chinatowns”. Does this rule apply to the Russian mafia?
- Applicable, but not always - there are exceptions. Often, mafia groups operate together, especially in large cities, so one should not resort to generalizations here. At first glance, the most diverse groups can cooperate in one specific area. For example, in London you can see a Turkish group collaborating with a Jamaican one in the distribution of drugs, which at first glance seems completely impossible.

- In Russia, there are cases when the leaders of criminal groups became political leaders ...
- This is probably a distinctive feature of Russia, where people with a criminal past easily become politicians. One example is the story of "Winnie the Pooh" - Vladimir Nikolaev, who until recently was the mayor of the city of Vladivostok. Many seek power in Russia simply because the law provides protection from criminal liability for those who occupy high-ranking positions. This is absurd! The very immunity that Russia provides to the officials who won the elections is precisely what makes the criminals go to power.

- In your opinion, has the Russian mafia strengthened or weakened in recent years?
— It has simply transformed and remains a serious driving force in the country's economy. Many oligarchs are connected with organized crime, which in turn has a huge influence even on the leading corporations. It may not be as obvious or widespread as it used to be, but it cannot be said that the power of crime is a thing of the past.

— What could be the future of Russian organized crime?
— I think it will continue to play an important role in the Russian economy. Fighting organized crime requires an open and independent press, an active civil society, the rule of law, and a functioning and respected judiciary so that the population feels that their problems can be fairly resolved. Russia currently lacks a fair and open press, as well as an active civil society or an independent judiciary. Until all of the above appears, it is useless to fight organized crime.

- How dangerous is the mafia for Russian society and the state?
- Pretty dangerous. Take, for example, the problem of drugs - it has acquired such proportions only thanks to the actions of organized crime. Russia has broken world records for drug use per capita. The distribution and use of drugs, of course, affects the health of the nation. Trafficking in women deprives Russia of its future - who will bear children? It also contributes to the spread of AIDS, which again is dangerous to the health of the nation. In addition, the Russian mafia has a huge impact on the economy, which again has a very negative effect on the state of Russia as a whole.

— Russian nationalists are often inclined to state that Russian criminal gangs mainly consist of people not of Slavic, but of some other nationality. This is true?
- Yes, there are ethnic groups, but "Russian" criminal groups definitely exist. There are also many Russians among those who represent the law and whose duties include working with criminals. The criminal mayor of Vladivostok was Russian. So, maybe there are different ethnic groups in the criminal world, but this does not mean that Russians do not participate in organized crime. .

In Russia, there was a complete merging of the state with crime

Renowned criminologist Vladimir Semyonovich Ovchinsky, who in the past headed the Russian bureau of Interpol, gave a new interview that is striking in its frankness. The Major General of the Ministry of Internal Affairs admitted that in Russia there was a complete merging of the state with crime, and the bandits "dug in" on all floors. According to the expert, organized criminal groups ( organized crime group) of the period of the late USSR and the formation of modern Russian statehood have not gone away, but simply have changed qualitatively.

“Probably, the main difference between the new gangsters is that never - neither in the 1980s nor in the 1990s - was there such a large-scale presence of representatives of official state structures in organized criminal groups. It is safe to say that in our country there is none a “clean” state structure – be it the government, ministries, governors’ office or city hall,” says Vladimir Ovchinsky, Doctor of Law.

A special place in this "hit parade" of corruption is occupied by strong structure. Even in "" there was no such large-scale involvement of employees in organized crime groups law enforcement. “An absolutely fantastic case can be cited as an illustration Moscow region prosecutors, who “covered” the gambling business. I am like former boss Interpol, I affirm that there are no analogues in world practice,” the criminologist added.

In his opinion, suburban prosecutors turned out to be representatives completely. It's not just corrupt officials. “These people closed the functions of bandits on themselves. They personally extorted personally threatened personally brought bandits. It has never happened that the Deputy Prosecutor of the Moscow Region went on the run and was wanted. This is unprecedented,” says Vladimir Ovchinsky.

Literally in May 2011, the trial on the “fraternal” organized crime group, which was engaged in raiding, illegal timber business, murders and racketeering. Headed this criminal former MP from the pro-Kremlin party "United Russia", famous businessman Vadim Malyakov. And the initiator of the murders was the head of the Department of Internal Affairs of Bratsk, Vladimir Utvenko, whose orders were carried out by policemen and bandits. Finally, the coordinator of their actions was deputy from LDPR Alexander Zagorodnev.

20 years ago, only a rare bandit managed to "crawl into power." Such a “lucky one” was, for example, a thief in law named Poodle, who received the status of a public assistant to the President of the Russian Federation. “Someone slipped him at one time. But it did not last long,” added Major General of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Another isolated example is the famous bandit Mikhail Monastyrsky, who sat down in the deputy chair.

“But these are all isolated examples. It was not of a mass character, that's the main difference. Now something is happening "nationalization of the mafia"- mafia structures actually began to replace the real leadership, ”says the doctor of law.

The Russian mafia feels at ease even in the legal spheres of business, while in Europe organized crime is gradually being squeezed out of there. Transformation Example killers V "effective managers"- the Tsapkov gang in the Kuban village of Kushchevskaya.

The criminologist draws attention to another dangerous trend - to change organized crime group came to Russia clans. “If earlier it was typical for people from the Caucasus, now the trend has spread throughout the country. . And at the head of these clans, as a rule, are criminal authorities, ”says Vladimir Ovchinsky.

According to him, organized criminal groups can be held accountable, but Themis cannot break the clan. The shell of the clan, consisting of representatives of the intelligentsia (doctors, economists, teachers), considers the criminal core to be the vanguard and is ready to defend it. “So it was, by the way, in Kushchevskaya. Gang, which captured the entire village, is also a kind of clan. In this case, Tsapki formed the core of the regional level,” the expert notes.

Now Russia may be overwhelmed by a new wave of violence, as even the most notorious criminals convicted in the "dashing 90s" are released. As evidence, the major general cites the statistics of the Supreme Court for 2004-2009. For example, of those who premeditated killings life sentence was imposed 0,2% . Only 25 years of them were sentenced 3-4% . Of the 234,000 convicted of grievous bodily harm, including causing death, only 2% bandits. From the same category of convicts 37% got probation and remained free. During the same period, 1180 people were involved in banditry. Of these, only 3 received the maximum sentence.

147,000 people were convicted of robbery. Of these, only 7 . For a rather rare article "Organization of a criminal community" 440 people were convicted. Of these, only 37 Mafiosi received the maximum sentence.

“But even those who receive maximum sentences are not particularly upset. They are released on parole (parole), after half a term. Therefore, the entire contingent of the 1990s, which, as it seems to us, is sitting, has been out for a long time. Moreover, there are all the conditions for this,” summed up Vladimir Ovchinsky.

According to the criminologist, none of the old gangsters became a law-abiding citizen after the "imprisonment". According to the law of the criminal world - if he was a leader, then he remained. “The general of the Ministry of Internal Affairs can be retired and forgotten, but the generals of the criminal world are not sent to retire,” says the former head of the Russian bureau of Interpol.

At Russian crime there are also "national characteristics". For example, nowhere in the world such a type of crime as raiding has become widespread.

Vladimir Ovchinsky believes that the fateful decision of 2008, when there were UBOPs disbanded(combat control), and all forces were soon thrown into the fight against notorious extremists. “Specialists believe that in 2008, after the liquidation of these special forces, the situation was returned 20 years ago in one fell swoop. As a result of this thoughtless step, we lost the structures that should deal with organized crime, and with them a large number of professionals,” says Major General of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.