Corsican mafia

The Corsican mafia is the general term used to describe the various criminal groups originating from Corsica. The Corsican mafia is one of the most influential organized crime structures in France, also active in many African and Latin American countries. One of the most important groups of the Corsican mafia is the Brise de Mer gang.

History

The Unione Corse and the French Connection era

For more details on this topic, see Unione Corse.

The Unione Corse was the general name given by American authorities to the major Corsican gangs who organized the French Connection, the heroin trade between France and the U.S. from the 1950s to the early 1970s.

The Corsican mafia today

The end of the French Connection caused the disbandment of many Corsican clans involved in the heroin trade. But the evolution of Corsican Mafia has continued in several illegal activities (hold-up, racketeering, casinos, illegal slot machines, various drug dealing). A lot of gangs (such as the Brise de Mer, the Valinco gang, the Venzolasca gang, and the Corsican mob of Marseille) constitute the present Corsican mafia. Since 2008, a violent conflict between the various Corsican gangs caused around 60 murders in Corsica.

Criminal activities of the Corsican mafia

• Money laundering
• Racketeering
• Drug trafficking
• Arms trafficking
• Prostitution
• Extortion
• Robbery
• Corporate crime
• Tax evasion
• Contract killing
• Casinos and gambling
• Political corruption
• Usury and loansharking

Popular culture references

• The French film A Prophet (2009) shows the gradual rise of a young prisoner, cornered by the leader of the Corsican gang who rules the prison.
• The French television series Mafiosa references a Corsican gang directed by a woman.
• In the film American Gangster, the Corsican mafia attempt to murder Frank Lucas, after he puts them out of business through his monopoly, on the heroin trade.

External links

• "Suspected boss of Corsican mob reported dead" - 2006 USA Today article
• "Corsicans prisoners faxed free" - 2001 BBC Online article