Then and Now – The Face of the Cosa Nostra

Activities of the Cosa Nostra

The most important part in analysing Cosa Nostra is how its activities have changed throughout its existence, which lasts more than 150 years. As I mentioned before, originally the first Sicilian clans started making money with the provision of protection for local peasants, which later on became protection racketeering. When Sicilian clans became bigger with greater influence, they started bribing state officials and sponsored their favourite politicians and their friendly policies. Without a doubt, when Cosa Nostra was formed, Mafiosos invoked more violence and performed contract killing, executions, sabotages, arsons, physical warnings and other forms of physical violence. Killing became an ordinary part of Cosa Nostra activities. Because this organization was and still is profit-fueled, executions were justified as they included no personal intentions and it was a part of the business. Fraud and loan-sharking were also performed by the Sicilian Mafia. Under the fascist regime, when many members of Cosa Nostra fled to the United States and started business there, they took up the contraband of alcohol drinks, which were prohibited between 1920 and 1933. Cosa Nostra transported many trucks full of alcohol drinks, especially high quality Canadian whiskey and liquor from Canada. This activity quickly filled the pockets of Sicilian mobsters like Al Capone. But it was not enough for the Sicilian greed; it seemed that the Cosa Nostra was attracked by everything what was illegal in Italy and the United States of America. Thus, it started gambling business and prostitution in the US. Cosa Nostra also got into immigration business – members of the Sicilian Mafia provided immigration papers for many ...

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...nd culture, but still does not give up its old habits and is adapted to new technologies. The Cosa Nostra looks from conservative point of view, hence, its changes are visible mostly in their activities, which implemented modern technologies. Its existence depends on the existence of Italy and the United States of America, the countries, where the influence of Cosa Nostra is penetrated inside the apparatuses of these countries and the failure of these countries would mean the failure of the Sicilian Mafia. Thus, Cosa Nostra would support these two countries when their existence will be at stake, even if the masses will have negative opinion about them. Because that is how the Sicilian Mafia was built – it was created when societies needed help and their opinion does not mean a thing to the gangsters as long as societies pay protection money. It is only business.