Cuban mafia

History of the Cuban Mafia

The Cuban Mafia was formed after the mass influx of Cuban exiles into the United States starting in the 1950's, but particularly in the late 1970's and 1980's. Many of the Cuban exiles made their home in Miami, Florida and this would become the breeding ground of the Cuban Mafia, as well as the New York area. The main role of the Cuban mafia was illegal gambling and during the 70's and 80's it also transcended into trafficking drugs from Colombia to the United States. Later on, they would mostly buy cocaine from Colombians and operate as wholesale distributors. The biggest entity associated as the Cuban mafia was known as The Corporation, headed by Jose Miguel Battle, Sr.. As the Cuban right-wing nationalist paramilitary organization Omega 7 later got involved in the trafficking of cocaine, it was also considered part of the Cuban Mafia by some.