First 'Ndrangheta war

Antonio Macri

First 'Ndrangheta war was a violent conflict that took place within the Calabrian Mafia, known as the 'Ndrangheta, in Calabria, Italy. The war raged from 1974 to 1977, marking a significant period of turmoil and reorganization within the criminal organization. This internal conflict was primarily a power struggle for control of the lucrative criminal activities, including drug trafficking, kidnapping, and extortion, among the various 'Ndrangheta clans.

Background

The 'Ndrangheta, established in the late 19th century, is a powerful and secretive criminal organization based in Calabria. Unlike the more centralized Cosa Nostra in Sicily, the 'Ndrangheta operates as a network of independent clans or families, each controlling their own territories. By the early 1970s, the 'Ndrangheta had grown significantly in power and wealth, largely due to its involvement in the international drug trade, particularly in the importation of heroin into Europe and North America.

Causes

The immediate cause of the First 'Ndrangheta War was the abduction and murder of a young boy from a powerful 'Ndrangheta family, an act that was initially intended as a ransom kidnapping to secure funds. This event, however, escalated into a full-blown conflict as it breached the 'Ndrangheta's code of honor, which traditionally forbade harm to women and children. The boy's murder ignited longstanding tensions and rivalries between clans, leading to a violent struggle for supremacy.

The War

The war involved numerous 'Ndrangheta clans from across Calabria, with alliances forming and fracturing as the conflict progressed. The fighting was brutal and included bombings, kidnappings, and assassinations, with casualties reported among both 'Ndrangheta members and innocent bystanders. The Italian state, which had long struggled to assert control over Calabria due to the rugged terrain and the 'Ndrangheta's infiltration of local institutions, found it difficult to intervene effectively.

Aftermath

The First 'Ndrangheta War concluded in 1977, with the intervention of older 'Ndrangheta bosses who sought to restore order and end the bloodshed. A peace agreement was brokered, leading to a reorganization of the 'Ndrangheta's structure and territories. The war had significant repercussions for the 'Ndrangheta, including the establishment of a formal commission, known as Il Crimine, to arbitrate disputes and make strategic decisions, mirroring the Sicilian Mafia's Cupola.

The conflict also exposed the 'Ndrangheta to increased law enforcement scrutiny, although the organization's deep-seated influence in Calabrian society and its decentralized nature made it difficult to combat effectively. In the years following the war, the 'Ndrangheta continued to expand its operations, becoming one of the most powerful criminal organizations in the world.

Legacy

The First 'Ndrangheta War is a pivotal event in the history of the 'Ndrangheta, marking the beginning of its modern era. It demonstrated the organization's capacity for both internal violence and strategic adaptation. The war and its aftermath have been the subject of numerous studies on organized crime, highlighting the challenges of combating such deeply entrenched and adaptable criminal networks.