Gomorrah

1. The Camorra's Reach Extends Beyond Naples

The huge international clothing market, the vast archipelago of Italian elegance, is fed by the System.

Global network. The Camorra's influence isn't confined to Naples; it's a vast, international network. This criminal organization has tentacles reaching into various sectors, including textiles, drug trafficking, and high-tech products, impacting economies worldwide.

International presence:

• Stores and warehouses in Germany, Spain, Belgium, Austria, and Portugal
• Investments in Canada, the United States, and South America
• Dominance in the clothing market in Brazil and plans to expand into Cuba, Saudi Arabia, and North Africa

Adaptability and expansion. The Camorra's ability to adapt and expand its operations globally underscores its resilience and the challenges in combating its influence. This widespread reach makes it difficult to contain and dismantle the organization.

2. Economic Power is the Camorra's True Strength

The Directory, and not the hit men or firing squads, represents the organization’s real power.

Beyond violence. While violence is a tool, the Camorra's true power lies in its economic control. The "Directory," a structure of businessmen and Camorra bosses, manages the organization's financial operations, highlighting the importance of economic influence over brute force.

Economic control:

• Control of the entire clothing manufacturing chain
• Production of astronomical capital, unimaginable for any legal industrial conglomeration
• Acquisition of entire retail chains, dominating the international clothing market

Economic focus. This emphasis on economic power demonstrates the Camorra's evolution from a purely criminal organization to a sophisticated economic entity, making it a formidable force in the global market.

3. The System: A Criminal Economic Ecosystem

Camorra is a nonexistent word, a term of contempt used by narcs and judges, journalists and scriptwriters; it’s a generic indication, a scholarly term, relegated to history—a name that makes Camorristi smile.

Interconnected network. The Camorra operates as a "System," an interconnected network where criminal activities are deeply intertwined with the economy. This system blurs the lines between legal and illegal, making it difficult to distinguish between legitimate businesses and criminal enterprises.

Key features of the System:

• Direct connection between criminal organization and the economy
• Dialectic of commerce as the framework of the clans
• Control of the entire clothing manufacturing chain

Economic integration. This integration of crime and commerce creates a self-sustaining ecosystem that is difficult to disrupt, as the Camorra's activities are embedded within the fabric of society.

4. Women Play Complex Roles in the Camorra

The huge international clothing market, the vast archipelago of Italian elegance, is fed by the System.

Beyond traditional roles. Women in the Camorra are not merely passive figures; they play complex and evolving roles. They can be managers, entrepreneurs, and even enforcers, demonstrating their increasing involvement in the organization's operations.

Evolving roles:

• From maternal figures and helpers to skilled workers and businesswomen
• Some women even become bodyguards and enforcers
• The rise of female bosses, such as Anna Mazza, who wield significant economic power

Challenging stereotypes. This complexity challenges traditional stereotypes of women in organized crime, highlighting their agency and influence within the Camorra's structure.

5. The Allure and Brutality of Camorra Life

People are worms and they have to stay worms.

Contrasting realities. The Camorra presents a paradoxical existence, offering both allure and brutality. While it promises wealth, power, and respect, it also demands violence, loyalty, and a constant risk of death or imprisonment.

The allure:

• Promises of economic and social advancement
• A sense of belonging and respect within the community
• Access to luxury goods and a lavish lifestyle

The brutality:

• Constant threat of violence and death
• The dehumanization of individuals, reducing them to "worms"
• The erosion of ethical boundaries and moral values

Moral ambiguity. This juxtaposition of allure and brutality creates a morally ambiguous environment, where individuals are drawn to the promise of power while simultaneously facing the harsh realities of a life of crime.

6. The Camorra's Influence on the Construction Business

Las Vegas stopped requiring permits, contracts, or proper working conditions in the 1950s, and garages, stairwells, and storerooms were transformed into factories.

Cement as a foundation. The construction business is a cornerstone of the Camorra's economic power. Control over cement production, land acquisition, and construction contracts allows the organization to generate vast wealth and exert influence over local economies.

Control of the construction industry:

• Manipulation of zoning regulations and building permits
• Subcontracting to clan-controlled companies
• Imposition of patron saints' days festivities that depend on their multiservice companies

Economic dominance. This control over the construction industry enables the Camorra to shape urban development, extract wealth from public projects, and maintain its grip on local communities.

7. The Port of Naples: A Gateway for Contraband

Everything that exists passes through here. Through the port of Naples.

Strategic location. The Port of Naples serves as a crucial entry point for contraband goods, particularly from China. Its strategic location and lax customs enforcement make it a hub for illegal trade, facilitating the flow of counterfeit products and untaxed merchandise into Europe.

Key role of the port:

• Handling a significant percentage of Italian textile imports from China
• Facilitating the evasion of customs inspections and taxes
• Serving as a point of entry for counterfeit goods and contraband

Economic impact. This illegal trade distorts the market, undermines legitimate businesses, and generates vast profits for the Camorra, further solidifying its economic power.

8. The Camorra's Transformation of Extortion and Usury

The clans have become hidden financiers, offering cash at 10 percent interest on average.

Beyond traditional methods. The Camorra has modernized its extortion and usury practices, moving beyond simple protection rackets to become hidden financiers. By offering loans to businesses at high-interest rates, the organization gains control over their operations and profits.

Modernized extortion:

• Providing cash to shopkeepers at high-interest rates
• Establishing corporate relationships among buyers, sellers, and the clan
• Reducing indebted retailers to straw men on a monthly salary

Economic control. This transformation of extortion and usury allows the Camorra to exert greater control over the economy, extracting wealth from businesses and solidifying its financial dominance.

9. The Secondigliano War: A Case Study in Clan Conflict

Secondigliano isn’t big enough for both of them.

Internal power struggles. The Secondigliano War exemplifies the internal conflicts and power struggles within the Camorra. This violent feud between rival factions highlights the ruthless competition for control over territory, resources, and criminal enterprises.

Key aspects of the war:

• A schism within the Di Lauro clan, leading to a violent power struggle
• The use of extreme violence, including murders, bombings, and torture
• The involvement of young recruits, transforming them into soldiers and killers

Consequences of conflict. This case study illustrates the devastating consequences of clan conflict, including loss of life, economic disruption, and the erosion of social order.

10. The Camorra's Flexible Structure Adapts to New Markets

The economy has a top and a bottom. We got in at the bottom and we’re coming out on top.

Adaptability and innovation. The Camorra's flexible and decentralized structure allows it to adapt to new markets and opportunities. This adaptability enables the organization to remain relevant and profitable in a constantly changing economic landscape.

Key features of the Camorra's structure:

• A horizontal structure that draws on new clans and adopts new strategies
• The ability to move capital, set up and liquidate companies, and invest quickly
• A focus on small groups of manager bosses operating in well-defined sectors

Economic evolution. This adaptability demonstrates the Camorra's evolution from a traditional criminal organization to a sophisticated economic entity, capable of exploiting new opportunities and maintaining its dominance in the global market.

Last updated: March 27, 2025