Organised crime today: the evolution of the Sicilian mafia

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to focus on the Sicilian mafia, exploring its evolution and the challenges it poses today for the economy.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper takes the form of a discussion of the issues.

Findings

The present situation of Sicilian organised crime is the result both of a long historical evolution and of the modern development of the economy in the era of globalization. The modern Sicilian mafia represents a threat to democracy, operating both as an enterprise syndicate, in the context of economic globalization, and as a power syndicate, that exacts extortion tax from all the businesses in a given area.

Originality/value

Illustrates the new challenges launched by “Cosa Nostra” and the key role to be played by the development of common evidentiary processes across the common law and civil law systems of criminal procedure in Europe.

Citation

Balsamo, A. (2006), "Organised crime today: the evolution of the Sicilian mafia", Journal of Money Laundering Control, Vol. 9 No. 4, pp. 373-378. https://doi.org/10.1108/13685200610707626