Friends of Ours

Italian Authorities: Calabrian Mafia Laundered Drug Money For Terrorist Group

Last week Italian authorities seized resort properties worth 450 million euros ($588 million) in coastal areas throughout the country's south which they suspect were money laundering operations run by the 'Ndrangheta or Calabrian Mafia, and after a series of arrests are further seeking one-time convicted terrorist Henry Fitzsimons who prosecutors claim is a front for the Irish Republican Army as reported by The Daily Mail:  "the IRA allegedly sent Fitzsimons to launder drug-trafficking profits with the help of the Italian mafia gang 'Ndrangheta."  Fitzsimmons apparently is on the the run from authorities, and last reported in Africa.  Through his attorney Fitzsimmons "has categorically denied the allegations" as reported by The Independent.

Among the misconceptions about the Mafia is that it never works with terrorists.  The fact is that the Mafia will do anything and become involved with anyone for a buck.

Indeed, the disclosure of State Department cables by Wikileaks revealed that the United States views the Mafia not only as a criminal threat but a terrorist threat.  For example, according to a June 6, 2008 diplomatic cable by J. Patrick Truhn, the U.S. general counsel in Naples, the Camorra or Neapolitan Mafia has provided Islamic terrorist groups with weapons in exchange for drugs:

A 2005 FBI intelligence assessment reported that "Criminal interaction between Italian organized crime and Islamic extremist groups provides potential terrorists with access to funding and logistical support from criminal organizations with established smuggling routes and an entrenched presence in the United States."  In a public statement given on April 19, 2004, Italy's national anti-Mafia prosecutor, Pierluigi Vigna, indicated a link between Islamic militant groups and the Camorra, stating that evidence existed implicating the Camorra in an exchange of weapons for drugs with Islamic terrorist groups.

Don't think Mafia families in the United States would betray the country for 30 pieces of silver?

Truth is American mobsters on the whole never have been a patriotic bunch.

For example, in 1945 Genovese mobster Paul "Lefty" Della Universita "arranged a heist from a lower Manhattan dock of morphine pills that were supposed to be sent to wounded soldiers overseas" as reported by Susannah Cahalan for the New York Post:   "he would find that the shipment was worth half a million dollars, making it the largest drug heist in American history at the time, which is confirmed by a New York Times newspaper clipping in 1945."

Although mob boss Vito Genovese seemingly answered the call of duty during World War II by acting as a guide and translator for U.S. Army officials in Italy he exploited the opportunity by stealing American food supplies for re-sale on the black market from which he "made a fortune" as reported by Tim Newark for American Mafia.

Stealing pain killers for wounded soldiers?  Stealing the food out of their mouths?  Is there no level to which these degenerate mobsters will not stoop?

The willingness of the Mafia to put profit ahead of country continues to make it a security threat in the United States particularly given its influence at some ports of entry as reported by The Associated Press:

"I don't believe the old idea that they're loyal Americans," said Joseph King, who teaches classes on terrorism and organized crime at New York's John Jay College. "They're in business, they don't care what it is, they're looking for money."

King, a retired customs official, said dockworker duties have changed over the years, with workers having less direct access to cargo as in the past. But many still hold positions of influence in determining which containers move off the piers.

"Everybody says: they (the mob) would never do that," King said of allowing terrorists access to the ports; "But if you agree to get a container through for a guy and he says: 'It's hashish,' what about the second time, when it could be nuclear material? They don't exercise customs, they don't open it and say: 'Yes, it's all hashish, thank you very much,' — they let the cargo through."

Sure, the Mafia promotes itself as patriotic; however, mobsters and their apologists have notorious reputations as liars, and they publicly espouse all kinds of honorable principles as cynical ruses in order to deflect attention away from their underworld activities.

Mobsters aren't honorable patriots; they're just common scoundrels.

The American Mafia Isn't A Patriotic Bunch

Tough guy John Gotti wasn't going to fight America's war in Vietnam.

The late Gambino mob boss was just a young hood when drafted in 1963, and after failing to appear for induction the draft dodger was found two years later by federal authorities on November 10, 1965 when he "appeared at the Kings County Court House for a hearing related to a grand larceny auto" as reported by Danny Fenster for Tickle The Wire:  "Gotti told authorities he was unaware of the draft status. He reported to the selective service board the next day, but was never inducted into the armed forces due to his criminal record."

Of course, mobsters never have been a patriotic bunch.

For example, in 1945 Genovese mobster Paul "Lefty" Della Universita "arranged a heist from a lower Manhattan dock of morphine pills that were supposed to be sent to wounded soldiers overseas" as reported by Susannah Cahalan for the New York Post:   "he would find that the shipment was worth half a million dollars, making it the largest drug heist in American history at the time, which is confirmed by a New York Times newspaper clipping in 1945."

Although mob boss Vito Genovese seemingly answered the call of duty during World War II by acting as a guide and translator for U.S. Army officials in Italy he exploited the opportunity by stealing American food supplies for re-sale on the black market from which he "made a fortune" as reported by Tim Newark for American Mafia.

Stealing pain killers for wounded soldiers?  Stealing the food out of their mouths?  Is there no level to which these degenerate mobsters will not stoop?

The willingness of the Mafia to put profit ahead of country continues to make it a security threat in the United States particularly given its influence at some ports of entry as reported by The Associated Press:

"I don't believe the old idea that they're loyal Americans," said Joseph King, who teaches classes on terrorism and organized crime at New York's John Jay College. "They're in business, they don't care what it is, they're looking for money."

King, a retired customs official, said dockworker duties have changed over the years, with workers having less direct access to cargo as in the past. But many still hold positions of influence in determining which containers move off the piers.

"Everybody says: they (the mob) would never do that," King said of allowing terrorists access to the ports; "But if you agree to get a container through for a guy and he says: 'It's hashish,' what about the second time, when it could be nuclear material? They don't exercise customs, they don't open it and say: 'Yes, it's all hashish, thank you very much,' — they let the cargo through."

Indeed, the ties between terrorist groups and Mafia families long has been recognized by the intelligence community. For example, in a June 6, 2008 diplomatic cable J. Patrick Truhn, the U.S. general counsel in Naples, writes:

A 2005 FBI intelligence assessment reported that "Criminal interaction between Italian organized crime and Islamic extremist groups provides potential terrorists with access to funding and logistical support from criminal organizations with established smuggling routes and an entrenched presence in the United States." In a public statement given on April 19, 2004, Italy's national anti-Mafia prosecutor, Pierluigi Vigna, indicated a link between Islamic militant groups and the Camorra, stating that evidence existed implicating the Camorra in an exchange of weapons for drugs with Islamic terrorist groups.

Sure, the Mafia promotes itself as patriotic; however, mobsters have notorious reputations as liars, and they publicly espouse all kinds of honorable principles as cynical ruses in order to deflect attention away from their underworld activities.

Mobsters aren't honorable patriots; they're just common scoundrels.