How secretive ’Ndrangheta mafia families avoid police detection
The only way in is by blood or marriage. The only way out is death. The notorious ’Ndrangheta crime families have thrived under rules passed down for generations.
The only way in is by blood or marriage. The only way out is death.
The ’Ndrangheta, a notorious group of crime families who came originally from Calabria in southern Italy, has thrived under rules passed down for generations.
These strictly enforced rules and other traditions have helped the ’Ndrangheta establish a network of criminal clans across the globe, building vast wealth from illegal drugs and money laundering.
The rule of “omerta”, or silence, is one of the most enduring of traditions, and those who break it can expect to pay with their lives.
In September every year, up to 50,000 pilgrims gather for an exuberant festival paying tribute to the Madonna of the Mountain, high in the mountains in Calabria.
Police believe that for at least the past century, the feasting, dancing and music has provided cover for senior members of the ’Ndrangheta to travel from around the world, including Australia, to take their instructions from the godfathers for their next criminal enterprise.
AFP Commander Raegan Stewart said the annual gatherings at the Our Lady of Polsi festival in the mountains near San Luca was one of many ’Ndrangheta traditions passed down through the generations.
“While it is a legitimate religious celebration it is also believed to be the annual general meeting of the ’Ndrangheta (family) criminal activities,’’ she said.
The ’Ndrangheta is one of Australia’s most formidable, pervasive and successful criminal enterprises and the nation’s largest Italian organised crime group.
Its longevity is built on behaviours which have been taught over generations, tight membership rules and family loyalty. Commander Stewart said Australian members were Italians, or Australian-born Italians, who had family blood ties to the ’Ndrangheta in Italy.
The group had adopted a set of behaviours shared within families, she said, which included maintaining a low profile, setting up legitimate businesses to facilitate criminal activities such as drug trafficking and money laundering, using their reputation for intimidation, and obtaining financial benefits via corruption in politics and public administration.
“The ’Ndrangheta is based on the concepts of power, honour, loyalty, resilience and wealth,’’ Commander Stewart said.
They operate in family clans, united by kinship and descent.
“The ’Ndrangheta recruits its members based on ‘blood ties’ or familial relationships including marriage,’’ Commander Stewart said. “These families have been well recorded by Italian authorities and in public records for generations. Immigration records around the globe allow us to track where ’Ndrangheta clan members originate from.
“A family name and place of birth in Calabria is a strong indicator of the likelihood of being a ’Ndrangheta clan member.’’
Police made it clear that most Calabrians were not members of the ’Ndrangheta.
“Australia is a nation built on the hard work of its immigrants. Generations of Australian Italians have legitimately contributed across many business sectors in the community,’’ Commander Stewart said.
“However, members of the ’Ndrangheta have also used the opportunity to establish highly prosperous businesses over decades. This enables them to conduct illegal activities such as money laundering or drug importations under the cover of their very successful legitimate business operations.’’
Unlike their flashy business partners, the outlaw motorcycle gangs, ’Ndrangheta members are keen not to draw the eye of law enforcement.
“Italian organised crime (groups) are cautious and acutely aware of law enforcement capabilities, implementing a high level of operation security and using a number of strategies to mitigate the risk of law enforcement detection,’’ Commander Stewart said.
“AFP investigations have identified that the resilience and success of Italian organised crime enterprises relies on the strength of familial bloodlines and close family relationship, including through marriage.
“A vow of silence is a key value of an ’Ndrangheta member. This means they will not divulge any information to law enforcement authorities or it will result in death.’’
Commander Stewart said some of the ’Ndrangheta cliches portrayed in movies were accurate, with “the themes they portray about honour, valour, secrecy and rituals are all well documented traits”.
The group first came to law enforcement attention in Australia in the early 1920s. Italian organised crime groups established a stronger foothold in the 1960s as Italian migration to Australia increased, and began asserting themselves more aggressively in the drug trade.
In a statement, the AFP said the eldest sons of senior ’Ndrangheta figures were groomed from a young age to take over seniority. Generally, the lower-ranking members would not necessarily know higher-ranking members.
“Australian ’Ndrangheta senior figures settle family disputes between members including marriage separations and child custody matters,’’ the AFP said.
“This is a common role of senior figures of the ’Ndrangheta – to resolve disputes internally without escalating matters outside of the family realm and attracting attention to the family.’’
If members were arrested by police in Australia, other Australian ’Ndrangheta family members would step up to fill their role, or engage in criminal activity on their behalf.
AFP Assistant Commissioner crime command Nigel Ryan said the ’Ndrangheta members had been able to stay under the radar in Australia “by living modest lives, in modest homes”.
“They mix their illegitimate money with money from their legitimate construction, agricultural or catering businesses and all of this makes it more difficult to not only identify criminality but to prove it,’’ he said.
The Calabrian name ’Ndrangheta translates as “society of men of honour’’ .
