Gangsterism has existed since the time memorial, but with different names labeling it. They have been known as the horde, tribe, gang, tong, triad, secret society, etc. The gathering of a group of individuals for a singular purpose, to survive and hopefully prosper, often by criminal means.
On this planet, there are tens of thousands of criminal gangs, many of which have realized that it is better to work with “Big Brother-The Man” than against existing power elites. You know “if you can’t beat them join them”. There is much to achieve working with those who manage society and existing political structures.
1. Protection from Police and Justice Departments.
2. Acquiring intelligence that will protect the group, offered by those who employ them.
3. Making revenue seemingly in a legal manner. Governmental/Political funds from employers.
4. Elite Structure will often not bring about legislation that would damage or threaten the group.
5. Police Agencies often work with or ignore gang activities.
Brazil: The administration of former President Jair Bolsonaro employed members of The First Capital Command(PCC) to attack, disrupt and threaten their Socialist Counterpart. While the PCC and Red Command carried out all forms of criminal activities the preservation of Bolsonaro’s Administration remained central in their efforts.
UK & Ireland: Organized Crime purposefully recruits public, political, and police officials in every which way. The smuggling of drugs and weapons- routes of the past are protected by corrupt political cells, motivating politicians and police to assist their criminal pursuits because of greed, intimidation, bribery, and threatened violence. The New Irish Mafia (several gangs working together) controls 14.7 Billion Pounds Sterling worth of drugs and weaponry.
Mexico: The Criminal world was once ruled by a handful of organizations, evolving into a situation where over 200 gangs rule Mexico’s underworld. Many of these “cartels” influence, bribe, and work with various city, state, or federal government agencies and individuals in the pursuit of funds and power.
Italy: The Camorra existed in Italy before Italy existed as a united nation. With 7-10,000 members it still runs many aspects of Italy’s criminal world. The control of public officials in Italy has become an art form for the Camorra, while still being assaulted by police. Camorra members have been known to work for and with corrupt political officials in the past. Even the Dictator Mussolini feared this organization’s reach. Between 2013-2018 Italy saw 2,339 violent attacks on politicians. Threatening, and attacking a politician can manipulate legislative policy, and create an environment of fear and intimidation while infiltrating the political parties of the elite and police force ensure the gathering of intelligence needed by the crime organization. It is estimated that over 34% of Italian Politicians are either soft or directly controlled by these gangs. Corruption is so rampant that the legislative body responsible for investigating public corruption has grown twofold in the last five years.
America and Canada: Various International organizations do business in North America. The International Wing of The Hell’s Angels continues to grow their various crime operations, all the while bribing and manipulating public officials and the police. Worldwide membership stands at @35,000. This organization also has connections with illegal militia groups throughout America, raising funds through criminal pursuits…drugs, weapons, human trafficking, prostitution, and money laundering. Various other biker gangs continue to grow regionally.
India: D Company centers its activities on heroin and opium trafficking, kidnappings, fraud – extortion, and political assassination for hire. This organization ruled by a Muslim, Dawood Ibrahim has direct ties to Al Qaeda in Pakistan and India…furthering Muslim Extremist goals within the region. Direct ties to Muslim Political Parties remain strong, as the group acts as a strong arm of these movements.
El Salvador and the World: MS-13 is and will remain the world’s most frightening organized crime syndicate, known for its vicious violent nature. Did you know MS-13 is El Salvador’s largest employer?
MS-13 has a modus operandi…
research potential marketplace- send El Salvadorian Immigrants to that region – establish who criminal competitors are – make alliances with or manipulate, bribe, or kill off competition. MS-13 will never accept being secondary. Total control of the marketplace, police, and public officials will be their prime effort.
Japan: The Yakuza’s membership is @ 39,000. This organization encompasses a huge sector of illegal and legal operations making it difficult for the justice department to fight its operations. Being Yakuza is being a member of the family(like the Camorra), so this organization spreads throughout each member’s family for generations. One of the only ways justice officials can fight the Yakuza is by investigating and pursuing public and police elites that are manipulated, bribed, or are members of this organization. In the past entire regional administrations have fallen to these investigations, showing just how powerful the Yakuza’s reach is.
The wealthier a criminal organization(Gang) becomes, the closer it becomes to the power elites of its time. After all, such gangs accumulate massive wealth, and in the process of making this money legal(washed clean), many politicians and their bureaucracy come in contact with the criminal element. Buying public land, and establishing businesses are all tags that lure public officials to these gangs without knowing who they really are. An example of this is Toronto’s Chinatown, where @10% of the land, buildings, and warehousing is owned or controlled by the criminal element, bought with clean drug money in the 1980-90’s. The opioid revolution has created Canadian and American Domestic Cartels, importing Asian drugs or preparing them in their region. Gangsters developing new forms of death for distribution to the unwise and addicted.
Illicit services like prostitution, narcotics, slavery(trafficking) gambling will continue to create a working field for gangsterism, no matter the nation, race, sex, or politics involved. The spread of Gangsterism can find its root within each of our societies, and within each of our communities too. Want to be rich? There is an illegal opportunity for you to pursue that dream. The only real equality many of us can find is within the world of crime, where opportunity is numerous and addictive.
Steven Kaszab
Bradford, Ontario
[email protected]
