View source for Drug cartel

{{Short description|Group drug trafficking operations}}

A '''drug cartel'''   is a [[Organized crime|criminal organization]] composed of independent [[Drug lord|drug lords]] who [[collude]] with each other in order to improve their profits and dominate the [[illegal drug trade]]. Drug cartels form with the purpose of controlling the [[Supply (economics)|supply]] of the illegal drug trade and maintaining prices at a high level. The formations of drug cartels are common in [[Latin America|Latin American]] countries.{{dubious|date=May 2025}} [[Rivalry|Rivalries]] between multiple drug cartels cause them to wage turf wars against each other. Drug cartels often transport both [[Drug|drugs]] and [[Narcotic|narcotics]], and most often the term "Narcotics cartel" is not used to describe an organization that transports the latter legally defined set of illegal substances, such as marijuana.

== Structure ==
The basic structure of a drug cartel is as follows:

=== Falcons ===
Considered as the "eyes and ears" of the streets, the "falcons" are the lowest rank in any drug cartel. They are scouts, who are responsible for conducting [[reconnaissance]], such as reporting the activities of the [[police]], the [[military]] and rival groups.<ref>{{cite news|title=Va Marina por 'halcones del crimen organizado|url=http://www.mundonarco.com/2011/04/va-marina-por-halcones-del-crimen.html|newspaper=Blog del Narco|date=21 April 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110827061101/http://www.mundonarco.com/2011/04/va-marina-por-halcones-del-crimen.html|archive-date=27 August 2011}}</ref>

=== Hitmen ===
The armed group within the drug cartel, responsible for carrying out assassinations, kidnappings, thefts and extortions, operating protection rackets, as well as [[wikt:turf war|defending their ''plaza'' (turf)]] from rival groups and the military.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bowden|first=Charles|title=El sicario, un documental proscrito en México (1)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7C45xR_48mQ |website=YouTube |date=Feb 6, 2011|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411020804/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7C45xR_48mQ|archive-date=2016-04-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Bowden|first=Charles F |author2=((axellmx1)) |title=El sicario, un documental proscrito en México (2)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDFDxtjGuuI |website=YouTube |date=Feb 6, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630083554/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDFDxtjGuuI|archive-date=2016-06-30}}</ref>

=== Lieutenants ===
The second highest position in the drug cartel organization, responsible for supervising the hitmen and falcons within their own territory. They are allowed to carry out low-profile murders without permission from their bosses.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ejército detiene a lugarteniente del cártel del Golfo|url=http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/602145.html|newspaper=El Universal|date=2 June 2009|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012114558/http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/602145.html|archive-date=12 October 2012}}</ref>

=== Drug lords ===
[[Drug lord]]s are the highest position in any drug cartel, responsible for supervising the entire drug industry, appointing territorial leaders, making alliances, in addition to planning high-profile murders.<ref>{{cite web|title=DATOS&nbsp;– Principales capos de la droga en México|url=http://mx.ibtimes.com/articles/6593/20101106/lideres-droga-mexico-narcotrafico.htm|work=International Business Times |date=November 6, 2010 |access-date=November 6, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715171715/http://mx.ibtimes.com/articles/6593/20101106/lideres-droga-mexico-narcotrafico.htm|archive-date=July 15, 2012}}</ref>

=== Other roles ===
There are other operating groups within the drug cartels. For example, the drug producers and suppliers,<ref>{{cite journal|title=Uncovering the link between the Mexican drug cartels|journal=National Defense University: Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies|url=http://www.ndu.edu/chds/SRC-peru07/SRC_PAPERS/TRACK%201/VELARDE_SPA%20final.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615194812/http://www.ndu.edu/chds/SRC-peru07/SRC_PAPERS/TRACK%201/VELARDE_SPA%20final.pdf|archive-date=2011-06-15}}</ref> although not considered in the basic structure, are critical operators of any drug cartel, along with the [[Mule (smuggling)|smugglers]], [[Distribution (marketing)|distributors]], [[Sales|sales representatives]], [[accountant]]s and [[Money laundering|money launderers]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Las 5 caras del lavado de dinero |url=http://www.cnnexpansion.com/economia/2010/06/07/lavado-de-dinero-narco-mexico-eu |first1=Tania M. |last1=Moreno  |newspaper= CNNExpansión |date=8 June 2010 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303214015/http://www.cnnexpansion.com/economia/2010/06/07/lavado-de-dinero-narco-mexico-eu |archive-date= Mar 3, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Cae 'El Adal' operador financiero de los Zetas |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBEDcgepE6M&feature=channel_video_title |access-date=3 August 2011 |newspaper=TV Milenio |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150110120521/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBEDcgepE6M&feature=channel_video_title |archive-date=10 January 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Cae 'El Míchel' operador financiero de Los Zetas en Aguascalientes |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpM93oU7ICM |access-date=3 August 2011 |newspaper=Tele Diario |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150110120525/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpM93oU7ICM |archive-date=10 January 2015 }}</ref> Furthermore, the arms suppliers operate in a completely different circle;<ref>{{cite news |title=Entrevista a el Mamito, presunto fundador de los Zetas |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HacDTEn2TDs |newspaper=CNN Videos |date=Jul 6, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529140022/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HacDTEn2TDs |archive-date=2016-05-29 }}</ref> they are technically not considered part of the cartel's logistics.

==Africa==
{{See also|Taxi wars in South Africa|blood diamond|Kivu conflict#Conflict minerals|Barbary Coast|Piracy in Somalia|Al-Shabaab (militant group)|Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb|Boko Haram}}
*[[Cape Verdean organized crime]]
*[[Mungiki]]<ref name="gangs">Kinnear, Karen L (2009) ''Gangs: a reference handbook'', ABC-CLIO, {{ISBN|1-59884-125-4}}</ref>
*[[Organized crime in Nigeria]]<ref name="traffic">Shanty, Frank & Mishra, Patit (2007) ''Organized crime : from trafficking to terrorism'', ABC-CLIO, {{ISBN|1-57607-337-8}}</ref><ref name="mcmafia"/><ref name="drugs"/><ref name="jersey"/><ref name="afro"/><ref name="gomorra"/>
**[[Confraternities in Nigeria]]
***[[Black Axe (organized crime group)]]
**[[Lawrence Anini|Anini gang]]
*[[Mai-Mai]] militia gangs
*[[Cannabis in Morocco|Moroccan hashish smugglers]]
**[[Mohamed Taieb Ahmed|Ahmed organization]]

==Americas==
{{see also|Illegal drug trade in Latin America}}

===North America===

====Canada====
*[[Lucien Rivard|Rivard organization]]
*[[Red Scorpions]]
*[[Bacon Brothers (gangsters)|Bacon Brothers]]
*[[United Nations gang]]
*[[Montreal]]
**[[West End Gang]]<ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/><ref name="canada"/>
**[[Richard Blass|Blass gang]]
**[[Dubois Brothers]]
*[[Indo-Canadian organized crime]]
**[[Brothers Keepers (gang)]]
**[[Bindy Johal|Punjabi Mafia]] ਜੌਹਲ ਗਿਰੋਹ (Canada)<ref name="canada">Schneider, Stephen (2009) ''Iced: The Story of Organized Crime in Canada'', John Wiley and Sons, {{ISBN|0-470-83500-1}}</ref>
*Canadian mafia families
**[[Rizzuto crime family]]<ref name="canada"/><ref name="idiot"/>
**[[Cotroni crime family]]<ref name="canada"/><ref name="idiot"/>
**[[Musitano crime family]]<ref name="canada"/><ref name="idiot"/>
**[[Papalia crime family]]<ref name="canada"/><ref name="idiot"/>
**[[Luppino crime family]]<ref name="canada"/><ref name="idiot"/>
**[[Cuntrera-Caruana Mafia clan]]<ref name="canada"/><ref name="idiot"/>
**[[Rocco Perri|Perri crime family]]<ref name="canada"/><ref name="idiot"/>
**[[Siderno Group]]<ref name="canada"/><ref name="idiot"/>
**[[Commisso 'ndrina]]<ref name="canada"/><ref name="idiot"/>

====Mexico====
{{distinguish|Mexican Mafia}}
[[File:Mexican drug cartels 2008.jpg|thumb|right|240px|The [[Mérida Initiative]], a U.S. Counter-Narcotics Assistance to Mexico]]

Mexican cartels (also known in [[Mexico]] as: ''la Mafia'' (the [[mafia]] or the mob), ''La Maña'' (the skill / the bad manners),<ref>{{cite news|title=Controla 'La Maña' a Reynosa, Tamaulipas|url=http://www.terra.com.mx/noticias/articulo/790419/Controla+La+Mana+a+Reynosa+Tamaulipas.htm|newspaper=Terra Noticias|date=2 March 2009|access-date=4 August 2011|archive-date=18 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918080602/http://www.terra.com.mx/noticias/articulo/790419/Controla+La+Mana+a+Reynosa+Tamaulipas.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''narcotraficantes'' (narco-traffickers), or simply as ''narcos'' usually refers to several, rival, criminal organizations that are combated by the Mexican government in the [[Mexican Drug War|Mexican War on Drugs]] (List sorted by branches and heritage):<ref>{{cite web|last=Guerrero Gutiérrez|first=Eduardo|title=At the root of the violence|url=http://www.idpc.net/sites/default/files/library/wola_guerrero_root_of_violence.pdf|publisher=Nexos|access-date=9 October 2011}}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Mexican academic Oswaldo Zavala, in his book ''[[Drug Cartels Do Not Exist]]'', argues that academics, officials, journalists and writers are mistaken to label the criminal gangs as cartels, noting that they do not meet the definition due to the competitive nature of the drugs trade, and the lack of hierarchal structure. He states that the Mexican state perpetuates the label to justify their militarised response.<ref name=":0">ANÍBAL GÓMEZ, O. ''Drug Cartels Do Not Exist: Narco-Trafficking and Culture in the US and Mexico''. '''Chasqui (01458973)''', ''[s. l.]'', v. 51, n. 2, pp. R29–R31, 2022. Disponível em: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=159559885&site=eds-live&scope=site . Accessed: 6 June 2023.</ref>

According to some observers in 2010, [[Los Zetas]] instituted social media demonstrations of torture and sadism in their reprisals which changed the rules of the game among the Mexican cartels.<ref>Grayson, George W. THE EVOLUTION OF LOS ZETAS IN MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA: SADISM AS AN INSTRUMENT OF CARTEL WARFARE. Strategic Studies Institute, US Army War College, 2014. {{JSTOR|resrep11767}}Retrieved 5 Feb. 2025.</ref> The level of violence and social instability greatly increased during the presidency of [[Felipe Calderon]].<ref>Wax-Edwards, Jessica. “Introduction.” Documenting Violence in Calderón’s Mexico: Visual Culture, Resistance and Memorialisation, Boydell & Brewer, 2023, pp. 1–8. {{doi|10.2307/j.ctv30pntt2.6}} Retrieved 5 February 2025.</ref> The Calderon and Foxe administrations worked closer with American law enforcement and utilized the military forces which led to some confusion among local law enforcement in public security and a variety of human rights abuses and corruption.<ref>YADAV, SUHASINI. “Mexican Drug Cartelisation: THE LONG WAR AND ROLE OF THE UNITED STATES (2000–2016).” ''World Affairs: The Journal of International Issues'', vol. 26, no. 2, 2022, pp. 40–59. {{JSTOR|48681980}}  Retrieved 5 Feb. 2025.</ref>
The former head of Mexican law enforcement, [[Genaro García Luna]], was sentenced in the Eastern District of New York on October 16, 2024 for his role in [[Sinaloa Cartel]] associated drug trafficking in the United States.<ref>United States Attorney's Office. (16 October 2024). "Press Release:Ex-Mexican Secretary of Public Security Genaro Garcia Luna Sentenced to Over 38 Years' Imprisonment". [https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/ex-mexican-secretary-public-security-genaro-garcia-luna-sentenced-over-38-years U.S. Attorney's Office website] Retrieved 5 February 2025.</ref>

Note: As of 2020 the DEA considered the cartels of Sinaloa, Jalisco and Golfo-Noreste-Zetas to be the most influential cartels in Mexico.<ref>{{cite news |title=Estos son los nueve cárteles mexicanos que influyen en el trafico de drogas hacia EEUU, según la DEA |url=https://www.infobae.com/america/mexico/2021/03/03/estos-son-los-nueve-carteles-mexicanos-que-influyen-en-el-trafico-de-drogas-hacia-eeuu-segun-la-dea/ |access-date=March 3, 2021 |publisher=Infobae |date=March 3, 2021 |language=es-ES}}</ref>

* ''[[Sinaloa Cartel]]'' (Spawned from the Guadalajara Cartel)
** [[Colima Cartel]] (members are now a branch of the Sinaloa Cartel)<ref name="fpri.org">{{cite web |url=http://www.fpri.org/enotes/200708.grayson.mexicodrugcartels.html |title=E-Notes: Mexico and the Drug Cartels – FPRI |access-date=2010-09-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309155416/http://www.fpri.org/enotes/200708.grayson.mexicodrugcartels.html |archive-date=2012-03-09 }}</ref>
** [[Sonora Cartel]] (was reformed in 2018 and is still a branch of the Sinaloa Cartel)<ref name="fpri.org"/>
** [[Los Ántrax]] (enforcer squad)[[File:Sinaloa Cartel Drug Tunnel.jpg|thumb|Drug trafficking tunnel under the [[Mexico–United States border|U.S.-Mexico border]] used by the Sinaloa Cartel]]
** [[La Resistencia (gang)|La Resistencia]] (Splintered from the Milenio Cartel; disbanded)
* ''[[Jalisco New Generation Cartel]]''<ref>{{cite news|title=Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación va contra todos|url=http://www.blogdelnarco.com/2011/06/cartel-de-jalisco-nueva-generacion-va.html|newspaper=Blog Del Narco|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807064647/http://www.blogdelnarco.com/2011/06/cartel-de-jalisco-nueva-generacion-va.html|archive-date=2011-08-07}}</ref> (Independent remnants of the Milenio Cartel)

* ''[[Gulf Cartel]]'' (The oldest Mexican criminal syndicate, started as Prohibition-era bootlegging gang)
** [[Los Zetas]] (Formerly part of the Gulf Cartel, now independent)
*** [[Zetas Vieja Escuela]] (Formerly part of Los Zetas, now independent)
*** [[Cártel del Noreste]] (Formerly part of Los Zetas, now independent)
** [[La Familia Michoacana]] (Formerly a branch of the Gulf Cartel, then went independent)<ref>[[La Familia Michoacana]]</ref><ref>[[Carlos Rosales Mendoza]]</ref> 
** [[La Nueva Familia Michoacana Organization]] (Splintered from La Familia Cartel)
** [[Knights Templar Cartel]] (Splintered from La Familia Cartel)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eleconomista.com.mx/columnas/columna-especial-politica/2011/09/07/resistencia-jalisco-nueva-generacion|title=La Resistencia y Jalisco Nueva Generación|access-date=16 December 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220042809/http://eleconomista.com.mx/columnas/columna-especial-politica/2011/09/07/resistencia-jalisco-nueva-generacion |archive-date=20 December 2014}}</ref>
** [[Los Negros]] (Beltran-Leyva enforcement squad; disbanded)
** [[South Pacific Cartel]] (branch of the Beltran Leyva Cartel in Morelos)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/primera/35971.html|title=El Universal – Arresto de El Ponchis exhibe vacos legales|date=23 June 2013|access-date=16 December 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413124307/http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/primera/35971.html|archive-date=13 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.inflexwetrust.com/2010/12/04/child-assassin-named-el-ponchisarrested-by-mexican-army/|title=Child Assassin named 'El Ponchis' Arrested By Mexican Army!! |access-date=16 December 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129065323/http://www.inflexwetrust.com/2010/12/04/child-assassin-named-el-ponchisarrested-by-mexican-army/|archive-date=29 November 2014|date=2010-12-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://site.ninjacops.com/blog/4039/alleged-u-s-teen-cartel-assassin-arrested/|title=Alleged U.S teen cartel assassin arrested – Stun Gun Savior Self Defense Blog|access-date=16 December 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129032855/http://site.ninjacops.com/blog/4039/alleged-u-s-teen-cartel-assassin-arrested/|archive-date=29 November 2014}}</ref>[[File:Drug-War Related Murders in Mexico 2006-2011.png|thumb|[[Mexican Drug War|Drug War]] related murders in Mexico, 2006–2011]]
** [[Independent Cartel of Acapulco]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Capturan a 'El Padrino', identificado como líder del Cártel Independiente de Acapulco|url=http://www.milenio.com/cdb/doc/noticias2011/3caab1c4736e2260b6f80d90cf77d05c|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120910073907/http://www.milenio.com/cdb/doc/noticias2011/3caab1c4736e2260b6f80d90cf77d05c|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-09-10|newspaper=Milenio TV}}</ref> (Splinter from the Beltran-Leyva Cartel)
** [[La Barredora]] (gang)<ref>{{cite news|title=Caen otros seis integrantes de La Barredora|url=http://www.blogdelnarco.com/2011/08/caen-otros-seis-integrantes-de-la.html|access-date=24 August 2011|newspaper=Blog del Narco|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408220159/http://www.blogdelnarco.com/2011/08/caen-otros-seis-integrantes-de-la.html|archive-date=8 April 2014}}</ref>
**La Mano Con Ojos (gang) (small cell of Beltran-Leyva members in the State of Mexico) (Disbanded)
**La Nueva Administración (Splintered from the Beltran-Leyva Cartel) (Disbanded)
**La Oficina (gang) (cell of the Beltran-Leyva Cartel in Aguascalientes) (Disbanded)
**Cártel de la Sierra (cell in Guerrero)<ref>{{cite news |title=Se presenta el Cártel de la Sierra en Guerrero con seis ejecutados |url=http://www.cronica.com.mx/nota.php?id_nota=521533 |newspaper=La Crónica |date=2010-07-27 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403015440/http://www.cronica.com.mx/nota.php?id_nota=521533 |archive-date=2012-04-03 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://contralinea.com.mx/archivo-revista/index.php/2014/10/13/en-guerrero-26-carteles-del-narcotrafico/|title=En Guerrero, 26 cárteles del narcotráfico|date=13 October 2014|access-date=20 January 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20170121032841/http://contralinea.com.mx/archivo-revista/index.php/2014/10/13/en-guerrero-26-carteles-del-narcotrafico/|archive-date=21 January 2017}}</ref>
**Cártel de La Calle (cell in Chiapas)<ref>{{cite news|title=Aparece el Cártel de La Calle en Chiapas|url=http://www.blogdelnarco.com/2011/08/aparece-el-cartel-de-la-calle-en.html|access-date=6 August 2011|newspaper=Blog del Narco}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oem.com.mx/laprensa/notas/n3556880.htm|title=Organización Editorial Mexicana|access-date=20 January 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305005935/http://www.oem.com.mx/laprensa/notas/n3556880.htm|archive-date=5 March 2016}}</ref>
**Los Chachos (gang in Tamaulipas) (Disbanded)<ref>{{cite news|last=Cacho|first=Lydia|title=La otra historia de 'La Barbie'|url=http://www.zocalo.com.mx/seccion/opinion-articulo/la-otra-historia-de-la-barbie/|newspaper=Zócalo Saltillo|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929202751/http://www.zocalo.com.mx/seccion/opinion-articulo/la-otra-historia-de-la-barbie/|archive-date=2011-09-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Otero|first=Sylvia|title=Surge nuevo 'narcoperfil'|url=http://www2.eluniversal.com.mx/pls/impreso/noticia.html?id_nota=100976&tabla=nacion|newspaper=El Universal|date=20 August 2003|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111155629/http://www2.eluniversal.com.mx/pls/impreso/noticia.html?id_nota=100976&tabla=nacion|archive-date=11 January 2012}}</ref>
*''[[Tijuana Cartel]]'' (Spawned from the Guadalajara Cartel)
**[[Oaxaca Cartel]] (Was a branch of the disbanded Tijuana Cartel, its regional leader was captured in 2007)
*''[[Juárez Cartel]]'' (Spawned from the Guadalajara Cartel)
**[[La Línea (gang)|La Línea]] (Juárez Cartel enforcer squad)
**[[Barrio Azteca]] (U.S. street gang)<ref>{{cite news|title=Los Aztecas fueron los asesinos; en EU y México hay 5 mil|url=http://www.razon.com.mx/spip.php?article22937|newspaper=La Razón|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319031928/http://www.razon.com.mx/spip.php?article22937|archive-date=2012-03-19}}</ref> (Allied with La Linea)[[File:Esparragoza-Moreno.jpeg|thumb|150px|[[Juan José Esparragoza Moreno|El Azul]] was a Mexican drug lord. He was a former [[Dirección Federal de Seguridad|Mexican secret police]] (DFS) agent.]]
* [[Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel]]
* [[Caborca Cartel]]
*Lesser-known small-[[criminal organizations]]:
**[[Los Mexicles]]  ([[Gangs in the United States|U.S. street gang]])<ref>{{cite news|last=Cruz|first=Juan Manuel|title=Caen seis presuntos integrantes de Los Mexicles|url=http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/777397.html|newspaper=El Universal|date=5 July 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709154337/http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/777397.html|archive-date=9 July 2011}}</ref>
** Los Texas (street gang) (disbanded)<ref>{{cite news|last=Cobos González|first=Carmen|title=Desmantela Ejército banda de Los Texas|url=http://fox.presidencia.gob.mx/buenasnoticias/?contenido=5244&pagina=375|newspaper=PRESIDENCIA DE LA REPÚBLICA • MÉXICO|date=14 May 2003|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930070733/http://fox.presidencia.gob.mx/buenasnoticias/?contenido=5244&pagina=375|archive-date=30 September 2011|access-date=1 August 2011}}</ref>
*'''Government officials''': Other organizations that have been involved in drug trade or traffic in Mexico:
**Mexican officials:
***Municipal, state, and [[Federal Police (Mexico)|Federal Police forces in Mexico]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Caen tres por crimen de Policía Municipal|url=http://www.mundonarco.com/2011/04/caen-tres-por-crimen-de-policia.html|newspaper=Mundo Narco}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Pedraza|first=Iván|title=Investiga PGR a policías federales relacionados con el narco en Sonora|url=http://www.milenio.com/cdb/doc/noticias2011/2be504ebb2fb2703724fc150cfa5949d|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120906095147/http://www.milenio.com/cdb/doc/noticias2011/2be504ebb2fb2703724fc150cfa5949d|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-09-06|newspaper=Milenio Televisión|date=2011-02-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Detienen en Colima a 36 policías estatales por vínculos con el narco|url=http://realidadbcs.com/2011/02/16/detienen-en-colima-a-36-policias-estatales-por-vinculos-con-el-narco/|newspaper=Periodico Realidad BCS|date=2011-02-16|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120713213311/http://realidadbcs.com/2011/02/16/detienen-en-colima-a-36-policias-estatales-por-vinculos-con-el-narco/|archive-date=2012-07-13}}</ref>
***[[Mexican Armed Forces]] ([[Mexican Army|Army]] and [[Mexican Navy|Navy]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Ejército ha procesado a 142 soldados por nexos con el narco|url=http://www.animalpolitico.com/2011/06/ejercito-ha-procesado-a-142-soldados-por-nexos-con-el-narco/|newspaper=Animal Politico|date=June 9, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110821134120/http://www.animalpolitico.com/2011/06/ejercito-ha-procesado-a-142-soldados-por-nexos-con-el-narco/|archive-date=August 21, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Sedena procesa a 13 militares por nexos con el narco|url=http://www.lapoliciaca.com/nota-roja/sedena-procesa-a-13-militares-por-nexos-con-el-narco/|newspaper=La Policiaca|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325154118/http://www.lapoliciaca.com/nota-roja/sedena-procesa-a-13-militares-por-nexos-con-el-narco/|archive-date=2012-03-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Otero|first=Silvia|title=En prisión, 40 militares por nexos con el narco|url=http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/nacion/176411.html|newspaper=El Universal|date=2010-03-20|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012114013/http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/nacion/176411.html|archive-date=2012-10-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title= Investigan a 20 militares por nexos con narco |url= http://www.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx/noticia/389806.investigan-a-20-militares-por-nexos-con-narco.html |access-date= Oct 3, 2010 |newspaper= El Siglo de Torreón |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120322101235/http://www.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx/noticia/389806.investigan-a-20-militares-por-nexos-con-narco.html |archive-date= 2012-03-22 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Detienen a marino por nexos con narco |url=http://www.correo-gto.com.mx/notas.asp?id=163271 |newspaper=El Universal |date=28 May 2010 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930023039/http://www.correo-gto.com.mx/notas.asp?id=163271 |archive-date=30 September 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Notimex |title=Detienen a marino por nexos con el narco |url=http://eleconomista.com.mx/seguridad-publica/2010/05/27/detienen-marino-nexos-narco |newspaper=El Economista |date=27 May 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004224305/http://eleconomista.com.mx/seguridad-publica/2010/05/27/detienen-marino-nexos-narco |archive-date=4 October 2011 }}</ref>)
***[[Mexico City International Airport]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Otero |first=Silvia |title=En la mira, la tropa aduanal del narco |url=http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/nacion/159805.html |newspaper=El Universal |date=2008-05-28 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012114019/http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/nacion/159805.html |archive-date=2012-10-12 }}</ref>
***[[Club Tijuana|Club Xoloitzcuintles (football)]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Morales |first=Alberto |title=Le hallaron 88 armas a Jorge Hank Rhon |url=http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/770444.html |newspaper=El Universal |date=June 4, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811005034/http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/770444.html |archive-date=August 11, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Los 'Xolos' y Shakira, preocupación en Tijuana tras detención de Hank Rhon |url=http://mexico.cnn.com/deportes/2011/06/05/los-xolos-y-shakira-preocupacion-en-tijuana-tras-detencion-de-hank-rhon |newspaper=CNN México |date=5 June 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722061358/http://mexico.cnn.com/deportes/2011/06/05/los-xolos-y-shakira-preocupacion-en-tijuana-tras-detencion-de-hank-rhon |archive-date=22 July 2011 }}</ref>
**United States officials:
***
***
***[[U.S. Customs and Border Protection]]<ref name="mundonarco.com">{{cite news|title=EU arrestó a 127 agentes aduanales corrompidos por narco mexicanos |url=http://www.mundonarco.com/2011/06/eu-arresto-127-agentes-aduanales.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120906022833/http://www.mundonarco.com/2011/06/eu-arresto-127-agentes-aduanales.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 6, 2012 |newspaper=Mundo Narco |date=June 9, 2011 }}</ref><ref name="elmanana.com.mx">{{cite news|title=Detienen a agente aduanal por narco |url=http://www.elmanana.com.mx/notas.asp?id=7274 |newspaper=El Mañana/El Universal |date=29 July 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323210533/http://www.elmanana.com.mx/notas.asp?id=7274 |archive-date=2012-03-23 }}</ref>

====United States====
[[File:Map of US Violent Crime.svg|thumb|Map of violent crime per 100,000 people in the US by state in 2016]]

The United States of America is the world's largest consumer of cocaine<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2086.html|title=The World Factbook|publisher=CIA|access-date=16 December 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101229044611/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2086.html|archive-date=29 December 2010}}</ref> and other illegal drugs.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-leads-the-world-in-illegal-drug-use/| title=U.S. Leads the World in Illegal Drug Use| work=CBS News| date=1 July 2008| url-status=live| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140927151429/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-leads-the-world-in-illegal-drug-use/| archive-date=27 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna30946730|title=U.S. drug habit keeps Mexican war boiling|work=NBC News|access-date=16 December 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140309180555/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/30946730/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/t/us-drug-habits-help-finance-mexican-cartels/#.Uxx6Qvl5PIc|archive-date=9 March 2014|date=2009-05-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/drugs/special/math.html|title=Special Reports – Do The Math – Why The Illegal Business Is Thriving – Drug Wars – Frontline |publisher=PBS|access-date=16 December 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141231003658/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/drugs/special/math.html|archive-date=31 December 2014}}</ref>  This is a list of American criminal organizations involved in illegal drug traffic, drug trade and other related crimes in the United States:

*[[Polish Mob]]
**[[Saltis-McErlane Gang]]<ref name="sifakis">Sifakis, Carl. ''The Mafia Encyclopedia''. New York: Da Capo Press, 2005. {{ISBN|978-0-8160-5694-1}}</ref>
**[[Kielbasa Posse]]<ref>{{cite web |last=McGarvey |first=Brendan |url=http://citypaper.net/articles/2002-12-12/cb3.shtml |work=Philadelphia City Paper |title=Pole-Vaulting |publisher=Citypaper.net |access-date=2012-02-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100808163738/http://citypaper.net/articles/2002-12-12/cb3.shtml |archive-date=2010-08-08 }}</ref>
**[[Polish Mob#The Greenpoint Crew|The Greenpoint Crew]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao/nye/pr/2006/2006mar8.html |title=Greenpoint Crew Indictment |publisher=Justice.gov |date=2006-03-08 |access-date=2012-02-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209020927/http://www.justice.gov/usao/nye/pr/2006/2006mar8.html |archive-date=2012-02-09 }}</ref>
**[[Joseph Filkowski|Flats Mob]]
**[[The Flathead gang]]<ref name="detroit">Kavieff, Paul (2008) ''Detroit's Infamous Purple Gang'' Arcadia Publishing, {{ISBN|0-7385-5238-0}}</ref>
*[[Prohibition in the United States|Prohibition-era]] gangs
**[[Free State of Galveston#Prohibition and the Maceos|Galveston]]
***[[Downtown Gang]]
***[[Ollie Quinn|Beach Gang]]
***[[Sam Maceo#Galveston's open era|The Maceo syndicate]]
**[[Shelton Brothers Gang]]<ref name="sifakis"/><ref name="birger">Angle, Paul M (2991) ''Bloody Williamson: A Chapter in American Lawlessness'', University of Illinois Press, {{ISBN|0-252-06233-7}}</ref>
**[[Sheldon Gang]]<ref name="sifakis"/>
**[[Broadway Mob]]<ref name="sifakis"/>
**[[The Lanzetta Brothers]]
**[[Claude Maddox|Circus Cafe Gang]]<ref name="sifakis"/>
**[[Wandering Family]]
**[[George Remus|Remus organization]]
*[[Hispanic-American]]
**[[Marielitos (gangs)|Marielitos]]
***[[Jose Miguel Battle, Sr.|The Corporation]]<ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/>
** [[Mexican Mafia]] 
**[[Border Brothers]]
** [[Paisas]]
** [[Nuestra Familia]] [[File:CJNG - US Influence Map -2018.jpg|thumb|Area of influence map of the [[Jalisco New Generation Cartel]] in the United States.]]
*** [[Surenos]] or SUR 13
*** [[Nortenos]] or Norte 14
***[[Mafia Azteca]]
***[[Brown Pride]] or BP 
**[[Illegal drugs in Puerto Rico|Puerto Rican mafia]]
***[[José Figueroa Agosto|Agosto organization]]
***[[Organizacion de Narcotraficantes Unidos|La ONU]]
***[[Martinez Familia Sangeros]]
***[[Wes Solano|Solano organization]]
***[[Edsel Torres Gomez|Negri organization]]
***[[Raymond Márquez|Márquez gambling ring]]
**[[Santiago Luis Polanco Rodríguez|Polanco-Rodriguez organization]]<ref name="drugs"/>
*[[Crime in Los Angeles|Los Angeles]] ''(See also [[Rampart scandal]])''
**[[Eddie Nash|Nash gang]]<ref name="deep">{{cite news |author=Allan MacDonell |url=http://www.laweekly.com/2003-10-09/news/in-too-deep/ |newspaper=LA Times |title=In Too Deep |publisher=Laweekly.com |date=2003-10-02 |access-date=2012-02-19 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007233907/http://www.laweekly.com/2003-10-09/news/in-too-deep/ |archive-date=2012-10-07 }}</ref>
**[[Wonderland Gang]]<ref name="deep"/>
** [[Crips]] or Locs
** [[Bloods]] or B Dogs
*[[Dixie Mafia]]<ref name="sifakis"/>
**[[Cornbread Mafia]]<ref name="cornbread">{{cite web |url=https://www.justice.gov/ndic/pubs0/664/marijuan.htm |title=National Drug Intelligence Center – Wisconsin Drug Threat Assessment (2001) |publisher=Justice.gov |access-date=2012-02-19 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120122024459/http://www.justice.gov/ndic/pubs0/664/marijuan.htm |archive-date=2012-01-22 }}</ref>
*[[Greek-American]] organized crime
**[[Philadelphia Greek Mob]]<ref>{{cite web |last=McGarvey |first=Brendan |url=http://citypaper.net/articles/2006/12/14/buon-natale |work=Philadelphia City Paper |title=Buon Natale! |publisher=Citypaper.net |access-date=2012-02-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071126021727/http://www.citypaper.net/articles/2006/12/14/buon-natale |archive-date=2007-11-26 }}</ref>
**[[Velentzas Family]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/20/nyregion/man-tied-to-mafia-guilty-on-10-counts.html |title=Man Tied to Mafia Guilty on 10 Counts |work=NY Times |date=1992-06-20 |access-date=2012-02-19 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100323064247/http://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/20/nyregion/man-tied-to-mafia-guilty-on-10-counts.html |archive-date=2010-03-23 }}</ref>
*[[Chaldean mafia]]<ref name="whitecollar">Salinger, Lawrence (2005) ''[[Lawrence M. Salinger|Encyclopedia of White-Collar & Corporate Crime]]: A–I, Volume 1'' Sage, {{ISBN|0-7619-3004-3}}</ref>
*[[Crime in Hawaii|Hawaii]]
**[[The Company (Hawaiian organized crime)|The Company]]
**[[Alema Leota|Leota mob]]
*[[Charlie Wall|Wall gang]]
*[[Jim Elkins (Oregon criminal)|Elkins mob]]
*[[The Chickens and the Bulls]]
*[[Benny Binion|Binion mob]]
*[[Bruce Johnston (criminal)#Gang|Johnston gang]]


=====La Cosa Nostra=====
[[Italian-American#The main immigration|Italian immigrants to the United States]] in the early 19th century formed various small-time gangs which gradually evolved into sophisticated crime syndicates which dominated organized crime in America for several decades. Although government crackdowns and a less-tightly knit Italian-American community have largely reduced their power, they remain an active force in the underworld.

=====Active crime families=====
*[[American Mafia]]
*[[The Commission (mafia)|The Commission]]<ref name="idiot">Capeci, Jerry (2002) ''The complete idiot's guide to the Mafia'', Alpha Books, {{ISBN|0-02-864225-2}}</ref>
*The [[Five Families]] of [[Crime in New York City|New York City]]<ref name="traffic"/><ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/><ref name="idiot"/>
**[[Bonanno crime family|Bonanno]]<ref name="traffic"/><ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/><ref name="canada"/><ref name="idiot"/><ref name="jersey">{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/sci/pdf/ocreport.pdf |title=New Jersey Commission of Investigation Report – Changing face of organized crime |access-date=2012-02-19 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111219032552/http://www.state.nj.us/sci/pdf/ocreport.pdf |archive-date=2011-12-19 }}</ref><ref name="harlem"/>
***[[Al Indelicato|Indelicato crew]]
***[[Dominick Napolitano|The Motion Lounge Crew]]
**[[Colombo crime family|Colombo]]<ref name="traffic"/><ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/><ref name="canada"/><ref name="idiot"/><ref name="jersey"/>
***[[Gregory Scarpa|Scarpa crew]]
**[[Genovese crime family|Genovese]]<ref name="traffic"/><ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/><ref name="canada"/><ref name="idiot"/><ref name="jersey"/><ref name="harlem"/><ref name="leo">{{cite web |url=http://www.nysun.com/new-york/meet-the-genovese-crime-familys-new-boss/44363/ |title=Meet the Genovese Crime Family's New Boss |work=The New York Sun |publisher=NY Sun |access-date=2012-02-19 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227211004/http://www.nysun.com/new-york/meet-the-genovese-crime-familys-new-boss/44363 |archive-date=2012-02-27 }}</ref>
***[[116th Street Crew]]<ref name="idiot"/>
***[[Greenwich Village Crew]]<ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/>
***[[Genovese crime family New Jersey faction|New Jersey Crew]]<ref name="jersey"/>
**[[Gambino crime family|Gambino]]<ref name="traffic"/><ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/><ref name="canada"/><ref name="idiot"/><ref name="jersey"/><ref name="harlem"/>
***[[Ozone Park Boys]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/10/nyregion/queens-father-and-son-accused-in-illegal-gambling-operation.html?scp=1&sq=trucchio&st=nyt |title=Queens Father and Son Accused In Illegal Gambling Operation |publisher=NY Times |date=2002-12-10 |access-date=2012-02-19 |first=William K. |last=Rashbaum |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151209142126/http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/10/nyregion/queens-father-and-son-accused-in-illegal-gambling-operation.html?scp=1&sq=trucchio&st=nyt |archive-date=2015-12-09 }}</ref>
***[[Roy DeMeo|DeMeo crew]]<ref name="idiot"/>
***[[Baltimore Crew]]
***[[Leonard DiMaria|South Florida faction]]
***[[Thomas Cacciopoli|New Jersey faction]]
***[[Bergin Hunt and Fish Club#The Bergin Crew|The Bergin Crew]]
***[[John Gambino|Cherry Hill Gambinos]]
**[[Lucchese crime family|Lucchese]]<ref name="traffic"/><ref name="canada"/><ref name="idiot"/><ref name="jersey"/><ref name="leo"/>
***[[The Jersey Crew]]<ref name="jersey"/>
***[[The Vario Crew]]<ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/>
***[[Tommy Lucchese#107th Street gang|107th Street gang]]
*[[Magaddino crime family]]<ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/><ref name="idiot"/>
*[[DeCavalcante crime family]]<ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/><ref name="idiot"/><ref name="jersey"/>
*The [[Chicago Outfit]]<ref name="traffic"/><ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/><ref name="whitecollar"/><ref name="idiot"/><ref name="detroit"/> ''(see also [[Unione Siciliane]])''
**[[Anthony Spilotro|Las Vegas crew]] (defunct)
*[[Philadelphia crime family]]<ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/><ref name="canada"/><ref name="idiot"/><ref name="jersey"/>
*[[Pittsburgh crime family]]<ref name="idiot"/><ref name="sifakis"/>
*[[Patriarca crime family]]<ref name="idiot"/>
**[[Angiulo Brothers|Angiulo Brothers crew]]<ref name="idiot"/>
*[[Cleveland crime family]]<ref name="idiot"/><ref name="detroit"/>
*[[Los Angeles crime family]]<ref name="idiot"/>
*[[Kansas City crime family]]<ref name="idiot"/>
*[[Trafficante crime family]]<ref name="idiot"/>
*[[Detroit Partnership]]<ref name="idiot"/><ref name="sifakis"/><ref name="detroit"/>
*[[Milwaukee crime family]]<ref name="idiot"/>
*[[New Orleans crime family]]<ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/><ref name="idiot"/><ref name="sifakis"/>

=====Defunct mafia families=====
*[[Morello crime family]]<ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/><ref name="idiot"/>
*[[Genna crime family]]<ref name="idiot"/>
*[[Porrello crime family]]<ref name="idiot"/>
*[[St. Louis crime family]]<ref name="idiot"/>
*[[Rochester Crime Family]]<ref name="idiot"/>
*[[Bufalino crime family]]<ref name="idiot"/>
*[[Dallas crime family]]<ref name="idiot"/>
*[[Denver crime family]]<ref name="idiot"/>
*[[San Francisco crime family]]<ref name="idiot"/>
*[[San Jose crime family]]<ref name="idiot"/>
*[[Seattle crime family]]
*[[Anthony J. Biase|Omaha crime family]]
*[[Licavoli Mob]]<ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/><ref name="idiot"/>
*[[Sam Cardinelli|Cardinelli gang]]
*[[Camorra in New York|New York Camorra]]
*[[East Harlem Purple Gang]]<ref name="leo"/>
*[[National Crime Syndicate]]<ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/><ref name="sifakis"/>
**[[Seven Group]]<ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/><ref name="sifakis"/>
**[[Murder, Inc.]]<ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/><ref name="jew">Rockaway, Robert A (2000) ''But he was good to his mother: the lives and crimes of Jewish gangsters'', Gefen Publishing House Ltd, {{ISBN|965-229-249-4}}</ref>

=====[[Jewish-American organized crime|Jewish mafia]]=====
*New York City
**[[Dutch Schultz|Schultz gang]]
**[[The Bugs and Meyer Mob]]<ref name="jew"/>
**[[Shapiro Brothers]]<ref name="jew"/>
**[[Yiddish Black Hand]]<ref name="jew"/>
**[[Arnold Rothstein|Rothstein organization]]
**[[Nathan Kaplan|Kaplan gang]]
**[[Joseph Rosenzweig|Rosenzweig gang]]
*Boston
**[[Harry Rosen (mobster)|69th Street Gang]]<ref name="jew"/>
**[[Harry Sagansky|Sagansky organization]]
**[[Charles Solomon (racketeer)|Solomon organization]]<ref name="jew"/>
*Los Angeles
**[[Mickey Cohen]] gang (mix between Jewish and Italian members)<ref name="idiot"/><ref name="sifakis"/><ref name="jew"/>
*[[The Purple Gang]]<ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/><ref name="jew"/><ref name="detroit"/>
*[[Abner Zwillman|Zwillman gang]]<ref name="jew"/>
*[[Kid Cann]]'s gang<ref name="jew"/>
*[[Charles Birger|Birger mob]]<ref name="birger"/>
*[[Moe Dalitz|Cleveland Syndicate]]


=====[[African-American organized crime]]=====
*New York City
**[[The Council (drug syndicate)|The Council]]<ref name="dea"/><ref name="drugs"/><ref name="harlem"/>
**[[Stephanie St. Clair|Harlem numbers racket]]<ref name="harlem"/>
**[[Bumpy Johnson]] gang<ref name="harlem"/>
**[[Supreme Team (gang)|Supreme Team]]<ref name="bet">[http://www.bet.com/OnTV/BETShows/americangangster/ag_gangsterguide.htm American Gangster, BET] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100529100834/http://www.bet.com/OnTV/BETShows/americangangster/ag_gangsterguide.htm |date=May 29, 2010 }}</ref>
**[[Howard Mason|The Bebos]]
**[[Frank Lucas (drug dealer)|The Country Boys]]<ref name="harlem"/><ref name="bet"/>
**[[Frank Matthews (drug trafficker)|Matthews Organization]]<ref name="harlem"/>
*[[The Family (NJ African-American crime organization)|The Family]]
*[[Crime in Detroit|Detroit]]
**[[Black Mafia Family]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.justice.gov/dea/pubs/pressrel/pr102805.html |title=DEA – News Release: DEA Deals Motor City Mafia a Knock-out Blow |publisher=Justice.gov |access-date=2012-02-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120123063401/http://www.justice.gov/dea/pubs/pressrel/pr102805.html |archive-date=2012-01-23 }}</ref>
**[[Young Boys Inc.|Young Boys, Inc.]]<ref name="drugs"/>
**[[Chambers Brothers (gang)|Chambers Brothers]]<ref name="drugs"/>
*[[Crime in Philadelphia|Philadelphia]]
**[[Black Mafia]]<ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/><ref name="harlem">Chepesiuk, Ron (2007) ''Gangsters of Harlem: the gritty underworld of New York City's most famous neighborhood'', Barricade Books, {{ISBN|1-56980-318-8}}</ref><ref name="bet"/>
**[[Junior Black Mafia]]<ref name="afro">{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/sci/pdf/afro.pdf |title=New Jersey Commission of Investigation Report – Afro-lineal organized crime |access-date=2012-02-19 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019210412/http://www.state.nj.us/sci/pdf/afro.pdf |archive-date=2012-10-19 }}</ref>
*[[Crime in Oakland, California|Oakland, California]]
**[[69 Mob]]<ref name="bet"/>
*[[Crime in Baltimore|Baltimore]]
**[[Melvin Williams (actor)|Williams organization (drug trafficking)]]<ref name="bet"/>
*[[Crime in Washington, D.C.|Washington, D.C.]]
**[[Rayful Edmond]] organization<ref name="bet"/>
*[[Crime in Chicago|Chicago]]
**[[Theodore Roe]]'s gambling ring
**[[Willie Stokes|Stokes organization]]
*[[Atlantic City]]
**[[Hakeem Abdul-Shaheed|Aso Posse]]
*[[Crime in Florida|Miami]]
**[[Miami Boys]]
*[[James Rosemond|Rosemond Organization]]

=====[[Irish Mob]]=====
*[[History of Chicago#Politics in the late 19th and early 20th centuries|Prohibition-era Chicago]] gangs
**[[North Side Gang]]<ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/><ref name="sifakis"/><ref name="paddy">English, T.J. ''Paddy Whacked: The Untold Story of the Irish American Gangster''. New York: HarperCollins, 2005, {{ISBN|0-06-059002-5}}</ref>
**[[James Patrick O'Leary]] organization
**[[John Patrick Looney]] gang
**[[Valley Gang]]<ref name="sifakis"/>
**[[Ragen's Colts]]<ref name="sifakis"/>
**[[Roger Touhy|Touhy gang]]
*[[Boston#Public safety|Boston]]
**[[Mullen Gang]]<ref name="paddy"/>
**[[Winter Hill Gang]]<ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/><ref name="paddy"/>
**[[Gustin Gang]]<ref name="paddy"/>
**[[Charlestown Mob]]
**[[Donald Killeen|Killeen gang]]<ref name="paddy"/>
*[[Danny Hogan]]'s gang
*[[Danny Walsh]] gang
*[[Tom Dennison (political boss)|Tom Dennison]] empire
*[[Danny Greene|Danny Greene's Celtic Club]]<ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/><ref name="paddy"/>
*[[Nucky Johnson's Organization]]
*[[K&A Gang]]
*[[Maurice Enright|Enright gang]]
*[[Irish Mob#New York|New York]]
**[[Bill Dwyer (mobster)|Dwyer gang]]
**[[The Westies]]<ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/><ref name="paddy"/>
**[[White Hand Gang]]<ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/>
**[[Vannie Higgins|Higgins gang]]
*[[Crime in St. Louis|St Louis]]
**[[Hogan Gang]]
**[[Egan's Rats]]<ref name="sifakis"/><ref name="paddy"/>

===Caribbean===
{{See also|Piracy in the Caribbean|Illegal drugs in Puerto Rico}}
*[[Dole Chadee|Chadee gang]] ([[Trinidad and Tobago]])
*Jamaican [[Yardies]] & [[Jamaican Posse|Posses]]<ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/><ref name="drugs"/><ref name="afro"/><ref name="morton"/>
**[[Shower Posse]]<ref name="afro"/><ref name="morton"/>
**[[Green Bay Massacre|POW Posse]]
**[[Tottenham Mandem]]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1978157.stm |title='Malign and corrosive' gangsters |work=BBC News |date=2002-05-17 |access-date=2012-02-19 |first=Chris |last=Summers |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090125044202/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1978157.stm |archive-date=2009-01-25 }}</ref>
***[[Death of Mark Duggan#Background|Star Gang]]
**[[Donovan Bennett|Klans Massive]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-924974-yardies-at-war-on-our-doorsteps.do |title=London Evening Standard – Yardies at war on our doorsteps |publisher=Thisislondon.co.uk |access-date=2012-02-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111228161748/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-924974-yardies-at-war-on-our-doorsteps.do |archive-date=2011-12-28 }}</ref>
*[[No Limit Soldiers (organized crime group)|No Limit Soldiers]] ([[Curaçao]])
*[[Roger Khan|Phantom death squad]] ([[Guyana]])
*[[Dési Bouterse#Drug trafficking|Suri-kartel]] ([[Suriname]])
*[[Zoe Pound]] ([[Haitian people|Haitian]], see also [[Tonton Macoute]])
* [[Dominican Republic|Dominican]] drug cartels<ref name="dto">{{cite web |url=https://www.justice.gov/ndic/pubs27/27506/dtos.htm |title=New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Drug Market Analysis 2008 – Drug Trafficking Organizations |publisher=Justice.gov |access-date=2012-02-19 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120043836/http://www.justice.gov/ndic/pubs27/27506/dtos.htm |archive-date=2012-01-20 }}</ref>
**[[Quirino Paulino|Paulino organization]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias_det.php?id=189130 |title=Supreme Court orders arrests of three |publisher=Diario Libre |access-date=2012-02-19 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303203858/http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias_det.php?id=189130 |archive-date=2012-03-03 }}</ref>
**[[Rolando Florián Féliz|Féliz organization]]

===South America===

====Brazil====
*[[Primeiro Comando da Capital]], based in São Paulo
*[[Comando Vermelho]], based in Rio de Janeiro
*[[Terceiro Comando]], based in Rio de Janeiro (disbanded<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-11-25 |title=PROCURADOS – Ajude a Polícia do Rio de Janeiro a Combater o Crime – Procurados.org.br |url=http://www.procurados.org.br/page.php?id=19 |access-date=2023-02-07 |archive-date=2011-11-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125014927/http://www.procurados.org.br/page.php?id=19 |url-status=dead }}</ref>)
**[[Terceiro Comando Puro]], based in Rio de Janeiro
*[[Amigos dos Amigos]], based in Rio de Janeiro
*[[Família do Norte]], based in Amazonas
*[[Guardiões do Estado]], based in Ceará

====Bolivia====
*[[Narcotics in Bolivia|Bolivian drug cartels]] ''(See also [[Luis García Meza Tejada#Drug trafficking|García Meza regime drug trafficking]])''
**[[Chapare Cartel]]
**[[La Corporación]]
**[[Santa Cruz Cartel]]

====Colombia====
{{main|Illegal drug trade in Colombia}}
[[File:Gomez-Bustamante extradited from Colombia to the United States 2007.jpg|thumb|[[Luis Hernando Gómez|Luis Hernando Gomez-Bustamante]], also known as "Rasguño", arrest performed by the [[National Police of Colombia]]]]

Colombia is the largest producer of cocaine in the world,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://latinamericanpost.com/23424-colombia-is-still-the-worlds-biggest-producer-of-cocaine|title = Colombia is still the world's biggest producer of cocaine – LatinAmerican Post| date=20 September 2018 }}</ref> and cocaine production in Colombia reached an all-time high in 2017.<ref>{{cite news |title=Colombia cocaine production acreage at 'record level' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-45578492 |work=BBC News |date=20 September 2018}}</ref>

Active Colombian drug cartels:

*[[The Black Eagles]]
*[[Clan del Golfo]]
*[[Oficina de Envigado]]
*[[National Liberation Army (Colombia)]]
*[[FARC dissidents]]
*[[Los Rastrojos]]

Historical Colombian drug cartels:

*[[Medellín Cartel]]
*[[Cali Cartel]]
*[[Norte del Valle Cartel]]
*[[North Coast Cartel]]
*[[United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia]]
*[[Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia]]

====Peru====
*[[Illegal drug trade in Peru|Peruvian drug cartels]] ''(see also [[Vladimiro Montesinos]])''
**[[Fernando Zevallos|Zevallos organisation]]

====Ecuador====
{{further|War on drugs in Ecuador}}
Active Ecuadorian drug cartels:

*[[Los Choneros]]
*[[Los Lobos (gang)|Los Lobos]]
*[[Los Tiguerones]]
*[[Los Lagartos]]
*[[Los Chone Killers]]
*[[Las Aguílas]]

====Venezuela====
Historically Venezuela has been a path to the [[United States]] for [[Illegal drug trade in Colombia|illegal drugs originating in Colombia]], through Central America and [[Mexico]] and Caribbean countries such as [[Haiti]], the [[Dominican Republic]], and [[Puerto Rico]].

According to the [[United Nations]], there has been an increase of cocaine trafficking through Venezuela since 2002.<ref>''[[El Universal (Caracas)|El Universal]]'', 24 February 2008, [http://www.eluniversal.com/2009/02/24/pol_art_aumenta-narcotrafico_1279821.shtml Aumenta narcotráfico por Venezuela] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161028034322/http://www.eluniversal.com/2009/02/24/pol_art_aumenta-narcotrafico_1279821.shtml |date=2016-10-28 }}</ref> In 2005, Venezuela severed ties with the United States [[Drug Enforcement Administration]] (DEA), accusing its representatives of spying.<ref name=NYT2012>{{cite news|last1=Neuman|first1=William|title=In Venezuela, Remote Areas Provide a Drug Trafficking Hub « Previous|newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2012/07/27/world/americas/20120727VENEZUELA.html|access-date=5 June 2015|agency=[[The New York Times]]|date=26 July 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307130733/http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2012/07/27/world/americas/20120727VENEZUELA.html|archive-date=7 March 2016}}</ref> Following the departure of the DEA from Venezuela and the expansion of DEA's partnership with Colombia in 2005, Venezuela became more attractive to drug traffickers.<ref name=VICEdrugs>{{cite news|last=al-Ameri|first=Alaa|title=Venezuela's Drug-Running Generals May Be Who Finally Ousts Maduro|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/venezuelas-drug-running-generals-may-be-who-finally-ousts-maduro/|access-date=26 May 2014|newspaper=[[Vice (magazine)|Vice News]]|date=31 March 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006145946/https://news.vice.com/article/venezuelas-drug-running-generals-may-be-who-finally-ousts-maduro|archive-date=6 October 2014}}</ref> Between 2008 and 2012, Venezuela's cocaine seizure ranking among other countries declined, going from being ranked fourth in the world for cocaine seizures in 2008<ref name="unodc.org">United Nations, [http://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/WDR2010/AllSeizures.pdf World Drug Report 2010 Statistical Annex: Drug seizures] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130827162949/http://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/WDR2010/AllSeizures.pdf |date=2013-08-27 }}</ref> to sixth in the world in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|title=Drug seizures Report From Year: 2009 Until Year: 2012 Drug Group: Cocaine-type|url=https://data.unodc.org/sys/rpt?reportfile=seizures-list-blue-wide&REGION=__ALL&REGION__label=All&SUBREGION=__ALL&SUBREGION__label=All&COUNTRY=__ALL&COUNTRY__label=All&YEAR_FROM=2009&YEAR_FROM__label=2009&YEAR_TO=2012&YEAR_TO__label=2012&DRUG_GROUP=4&DRUG_GROUP__label=Cocaine-type&DRUG=__ALL&DRUG__label=All&UNIT=__ALL&UNIT__label=All&SOURCE=__ALL&SOURCE__label=All+%2821%29&format=pdf&fullscreen=true&showtoc=true#state:0|access-date=29 May 2015|agency=[[United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime]]}}{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
The cartel groups involved include:

* The [[Cuntrera-Caruana Mafia clan]] moved to Venezuela,<ref name=roth>Tom Blickman (1997), "[http://www.tni.org/archives/tblick/aruba.htm The Rothschilds of the Mafia on Aruba] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705215807/http://www.tni.org/archives/tblick/aruba.htm |date=2008-07-05 }}", ''Transnational Organized Crime'', Vol. 3, No. 2, Summer 1997</ref> which became an important hideout as the clan bought hotels and founded various businesses in Caracas and Valencia, as well as an extended ranch in [[Barinas (state)|Barinas]], near the Colombian border. ''"Venezuela has its own Cosa Nostra family as if it is Sicilian territory,"'' according to the Italian police. ''"The structure and hierarchy of the Mafia has been entirely reproduced in Venezuela."'' The Cuntrera-Caruana clan had direct links with the ruling Commission of the Sicilian Mafia, and are acknowledged by the American Cosa Nostra.<ref name=roth/>

Pasquale, Paolo and Gaspare Cuntrera were expelled from Venezuela in 1992, "almost secretly smuggled out of the country, as if it concerned one of their own drug transports. It was
imperative they could not contact people on the outside who could have used their political connections to stop the expulsion." Their expulsion was ordered by a commission of the Venezuelan Senate headed by Senator [[Cristobal Fernandez Dalo]] and his money laundering investigator, [[Thor Halvorssen Hellum]]. They were arrested in September 1992 at [[Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport|Fiumicino airport]] (Rome),<ref name="Fonzi">[[Gaeton Fonzi|Fonzi, Gaeton]]. "[http://www.upenn.edu/gazette/0308/PG1194_feature1.pdf The Troublemaker] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909133805/http://www.upenn.edu/gazette/0308/PG1194_feature1.pdf |date=2015-09-09 }}". ''[[The Pennsylvania Gazette]]'' (November 1994).</ref><ref>Presumed Guilty, by [[Isabel Hilton]], [[GQ (magazine)|Gentlemen's Quarterly (GQ)]], July 1994 (UK edition)</ref> and in 1996 were sentenced to 13–20 years.<ref name=roth/>

* Norte del Valle Cartel : In 2008 the leader of the Colombian [[Norte del Valle Cartel]], [[Wilber Varela]], was found murdered in a hotel in [[Mérida (state)|Mérida]] in Venezuela.<ref>''[[BBC]]'', 1 February 2008, [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7223452.stm Colombian drugs lord found dead] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080207035114/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7223452.stm |date=2008-02-07 }}</ref>
* The [[Cartel of the Suns]] According to [[Jackson Diehl]]. Deputy Editorial Page Editor of ''[[The Washington Post]]'', the Bolivarian government of Venezuela shelters "one of the world's biggest drug cartels". There have also been allegations that former president [[Hugo Chávez]] and  [[Diosdado Cabello]] being involved with drug trafficking.<ref name=JDmay2015>{{cite news|last1=Diehl|first1=Jackson|title=A drug cartel's power in Venezuela|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/a-drug-cartels-power-in-venezuela/2015/05/24/9bc0ff14-ffd6-11e4-8b6c-0dcce21e223d_story.html|access-date=29 May 2015|agency=[[The Washington Post]]|date=29 May 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529053142/http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/a-drug-cartels-power-in-venezuela/2015/05/24/9bc0ff14-ffd6-11e4-8b6c-0dcce21e223d_story.html|archive-date=29 May 2015}}</ref>

In May 2015, ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' reported from United States officials that drug trafficking in Venezuela increased significantly with Colombian drug traffickers moving from Colombia to Venezuela due to pressure from law enforcement.<ref name=SUNwsj>{{cite news|last1=DeCórdoba|first1=José|last2=Forero|first2=Juan|title=Venezuelan Officials Suspected of Turning Country into Global Cocaine Hub; U.S. probe targets No. 2 official Diosdado Cabello, several others, on suspicion of drug trafficking and money laundering|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/venezuelan-officials-suspected-of-turning-country-into-global-cocaine-hub-1431977784|access-date=19 May 2015|agency=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|publisher=Dow Jones & Company Inc|date=18 May 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150520010806/http://www.wsj.com/articles/venezuelan-officials-suspected-of-turning-country-into-global-cocaine-hub-1431977784|archive-date=20 May 2015}}</ref> One [[United States Department of Justice]] official described the higher ranks of the Venezuelan government and military as "a criminal organization", with high ranking Venezuelan officials, such as National Assembly President [[Diosdado Cabello]], being accused of drug trafficking.<ref name=SUNwsj/> Those involved with investigations stated that Venezuelan government defectors and former traffickers had given information to investigators and that details of those involved in government drug trafficking were increasing.<ref name=SUNwsj/>

===Central America===

====Honduras====

*[[Illegal drug trade in Honduras|Honduran drug cartels]]
**[[Juan Matta-Ballesteros|Matta organization]]
**[[Cachiros]]

====El Salvador====
*[[Mara Salvatrucha]]

====Nicaragua====
*[[Nicaragua]]n drug cartels ''(see also [[CIA involvement in Contra cocaine trafficking|Contras]])''
**[[Oscar Danilo Blandón]]

==Asia==
===East Asia===
====Korea====

*[[Kkangpae|Korean criminal organizations]] ''(see also [[North Korea's illicit activities]])''

====Japan====

=====[[yakuza|Japanese criminal organizations]]=====
{{See also|Kenji Doihara#Criminal activities}}

The [[yakuza]] of Japan are similar to the Italian mafias in that they originated centuries ago and follow a rigid set of traditions, but have several aspects that make them unique, such as their [[Body suit (tattoo)|full-body tattoos]] and their fairly open place in Japanese society. Many yakuza groups are umbrella organizations, smaller gangs reporting to a larger crime syndicate.

======Active yakuza groups======
*[[Yamaguchi-gumi|Roku-daime Yamaguchi-gumi]] 六代目山口組<ref name="traffic"/><ref name="mcmafia"/><ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/><ref name="yakuza">Kaplan, David E. & Dubro, Alec (2003) ''Yakuza: Japan's criminal underworld'', University of California Press, {{ISBN|0-520-21562-1}}</ref>
**[[Yamaken-gumi|Yon-daime Yamaken-gumi]] 四代目山健組<ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/><ref name="yakuza"/>
**[[Kodo-kai|Ni-daime Kodo-kai]] 二代目弘道会<ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/>
**[[Takumi-gumi|Ni-daime Takumi-gumi]] 二代目宅見組<ref name="yakuza"/>
**[[Kokusui-kai|Go-daime Kokusui-kai]] 五代目國粹会<ref name="yakuza"/>
*[[Inagawa-kai]] 稲川会<ref name="traffic"/><ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/><ref name="yakuza"/>
* [[Sumiyoshi-kai]] 住吉会<ref name="mcmafia"/><ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/><ref name="yakuza"/>
**[[Sumiyoshi-ikka]] [[Shinwa-kai (Sumiyoshi-ikka)|Shinwa-kai]] 住吉一家親和会
***[[Kansuke|Kansuke Juni-daime]] 勘助十二代目
*[[Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi]]
*[[Matsuba-kai]] 松葉会<ref name="yakuza"/>
*[[Kyokuto-kai]] 極東会<ref name="yakuza"/>
*[[Dojin-kai]]<ref name="yakuza"/> 道仁会
**[[Ōmuta murders|Kitamura-gumi]]
*[[Kudo-kai|Yon-daime Kudo-kai]]<ref name="yakuza"/> 四代目工藤會
*[[Aizukotetsu-kai|Roku-daime Aizu-Kotetsu-kai]] 六代目会津小鉄会<ref name="yakuza"/>
*[[Okinawa Kyokuryu-kai]] 沖縄旭琉会<ref name="yakuza"/>
*[[Kyushu Seido-kai]] 九州誠道会
*[[Kyosei-kai|Go-daime Kyosei-kai]] 五代目共政会<ref name="yakuza"/>
*[[Fukuhaku-kai|San-daime Fukuhaku-kai]] 三代目福博会
*[[Soai-kai]] 双愛会<ref name="yakuza"/>
*[[Kyokuryu-kai|Yon-daime Kyokuryu-kai]] 四代目旭琉会<ref name="yakuza"/>
*[[Kyodo-kai|San-daime Kyodo-kai]] 三代目俠道会<ref name="yakuza"/>
*[[Taishu-kai]] 太州会<ref name="yakuza"/>
*[[Goda-ikka|Shichi-daime Goda-ikka]] 七代目合田一家<ref name="yakuza"/>
*[[Toa-kai]] 東亜会<ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/>
*[[Azuma-gumi|Ni-daime Azuma-gumi]] 二代目東組<ref name="yakuza"/>
*[[Asano-gumi|Yon-daime Asano-gumi]] 四代目浅野組<ref name="yakuza"/>
*[[Sakaume-gumi|Hachi-daime Sakaume-gumi]] 八代目酒梅組
*[[Kozakura-ikka|Yon-daime Kozakura-ikka]] 四代目小桜一家<ref name="yakuza"/>
*[[Shinwa-kai (Takamatsu)|Ni-daime Shinwa-kai]] 二代目親和会<ref name="yakuza"/>

======Defunct yakuza groups======
*[[Kantō-kai]] 関東会<ref name="yakuza"/>
*[[Honda-kai|Ni-daime Honda-kai]] 二代目本多会<ref name="yakuza"/>
*[[Yamaguchi-gumi]]
**[[Goto-gumi]] 後藤組<ref name="yakuza"/>
**[[Suishin-kai]] 水心会<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/mayors-assassination-sparks-new-yakuza-fears/story-e6frg6so-1111113367257 |title=Mayor's assassination sparks new yakuza fears |work=The Australian |date= 2007-04-19|access-date=2012-02-19}}</ref>
*[[Ichiwa-kai]] 一和会<ref name="mcmafia"/><ref name="yakuza"/>
*[[Yamano-kai|San-daime Yamano-kai]] 三代目山野会<ref name="yakuza"/>
*[[Nakano-kai]] 中野会<ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/><ref name="yakuza"/>
*[[Kyokuto Sakurai-soke-rengokai]] 極東桜井總家連合会<ref name="yakuza"/>

====Chinese====
{{See also|Tiandihui|Kuomintang in Burma#CIA connection and opium trade}}

The [[Triad (organized crime)|Triads]] is a popular name for a number of Chinese criminal secret societies, which have existed in various forms over the centuries (see for example [[Tiandihui]]). However, not all Chinese gangs fall into line with these traditional groups, as many non-traditional criminal organizations have formed, both in China and the Chinese diaspora.

*[[Organised crime in Hong Kong|Hong Kong-based Triads]]
** [[14K Triad|14K Group]] [[:zh:十四K|十四K]]
** [[Wo Group]] 和字頭
*** [[Wo Shing Wo]] [[:zh:和勝和|和勝和]]
*** [[Wo On Lok/Shui Fong|Wo On Lok (Shui Fong)]] [[:zh:和安樂|和安樂(水房)]]
*** [[Wo Hop To]] [[:zh:和合圖|和合圖(老和)]]<ref name="archive1">{{cite web |title=Chinese Criminal Enterprises |url=http://usinfo.state.gov/eap/Archive_Index/Chinese_Criminal_Enterprises.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080109233824/http://usinfo.state.gov/eap/Archive_Index/Chinese_Criminal_Enterprises.html |archive-date=2008-01-09 |date=2008-01-09 |access-date=2012-02-19}}</ref>
** [[Sun Yee On]] [[:zh:新義安|新義安(老新)]]
** [[Luen Group]] 聯字頭
** [[Big Circle Gang]] 大圈
* [[Sio Sam Ong]] (小三王)
* [[Social problems in Chinatown#Gangs|Chinese-American gangs]] ''(See also [[Tong (organization)|Tongs]])''
** [[Wah Ching]] 華青<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/cac/pr2002/013.html |date=2007-01-24 |access-date=2012-02-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070124185611/http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/cac/pr2002/013.html |archive-date=January 24, 2007 |title=USAO/CDCA Press Release }}</ref>
** [[Ping On]]
** [[Black Dragons (gang)|Black Dragons]] 黑龍<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.streetgangs.com/topics/2005/062105dragon.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120911025235/http://www.streetgangs.com/topics/2005/062105dragon.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 11, 2012 |title=Court May Have Slain Black Dragon |publisher=Streetgangs.com |date=2005-06-21 |access-date=2012-02-19 }}</ref>
** [[Jackson Street Boys]] 積臣街小子<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asianweek.com/2000_03_30/bay_21boysextortion.html |access-date=January 20, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070127082314/http://www.asianweek.com/2000_03_30/bay_21boysextortion.html |archive-date=January 27, 2007 |title=AsianWeek: Bay News: 21 Boys Gangsters Sentenced for Extortion }}</ref>
*[[Taiwan]]-based Triads
**[[United Bamboo Gang]] [[:zh:竹聯幫|竹聯幫]]<ref name="taipeitimes2001"/>
**[[Four Seas Gang]] [[:zh:四海幫|四海幫]]<ref name="taipeitimes2001">{{cite web |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/local/archives/2001/12/17/116136 |title='Mosquito brother' celebrates 90th birthday in style |publisher=Taipei Times |date=2012-02-12 |access-date=2012-02-19 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208104350/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/local/archives/2001/12/17/116136 |archive-date=2012-02-08 }}</ref>
**[[Lo Fu-chu|Celestial Alliance]]
*[[Crime in China|Mainland Chinese crime groups]] ''(see also [[Hanlong Group#Allegations of corruption|Hanlong Group]])''
** [[Chongqing gang trials|Chongqing group]] 重慶組
** Defunct
***[[Honghuzi]] gangs
*** [[Green Gang]] 青帮
*[[Triad (organized crime)|Triad]]s in [[Chợ Lớn, Ho Chi Minh City|Cholon]]
**Wu Bang

===Southeast Asia===
{{see also|Manchukuo#Drug trafficking}}
*[[Golden Triangle (Southeast Asia)|Golden Triangle]]<ref name="traffic"/><ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/><ref name="dea">{{cite web |url=https://www.justice.gov/dea/pubs/history/history_part1.pdf |title=DEA History Book, Part 1 |access-date=2012-02-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118223058/http://www.justice.gov/dea/pubs/history/history_part1.pdf |archive-date=2012-01-18 }}</ref><ref name="drugs"/><ref name="triad">Booth, Martin (2000) ''The dragon syndicates: the global phenomenon of the Triads'' Basic Books, {{ISBN|0-7867-0869-7}}</ref>
**[[Opium production in Burma|Burmese drug cartels]]'' (see also [[Myanmar Nationalities Democratic Alliance Army]])''
***[[Khun Sa|Khun Sa cartel]]<ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/><ref name="drugs">Chepesiuk, Ron (1999) ''The war on drugs: an international encyclopedia'', ABC-CLIO, {{ISBN|0-87436-985-1}}</ref> ''(see also [[Mong Tai Army]])''
***[[Red Wa]] ''(see also [[United Wa State Army]] and [[National Democratic Alliance Army]])''
***[[Naw Kham|Hawngleuk Militia]]
***[[Lo Hsing Han|Han cartel]]
**[[Agriculture in Laos#Opium|Laotian drug cartels]] ''(see also [[Ouane Rattikone]])''
{{See also|Piracy in the Strait of Malacca}}
*[[Chao pho]]
**[[Red Wa]]
*[[Illegal drug trade in the Philippines|Filipino crime gangs]] ''(See also [[Abu Sayyaf]] and  [[New People's Army]])''
**[[Kuratong Baleleng]]<ref name="traffic"/>
**[[Waray-Waray gangs]]<ref name="Rizal">{{cite web|url=http://tempo.com.ph/2018/10/10/6-gun-for-hire-gang-men-killed-in-rizal-shootout/|title=6 gun-for-hire gang men killed in Rizal shootout|website=Tempo: News Flashes|date=9 October 2018 }} October 10, 2018</ref>
**[[Bahala Na Gang]]
**[[Sigue Sigue Sputnik (gang)|Sigue Sigue Sputnik]]
**[[Nardong Putik|Putik gang]] (defunct)
*[[Drugs in Cambodia|Cambodian crime gangs]]
**[[Teng Bunma]] organization
*[[Crime in Malaysia|Malaysian crime gangs]]
**[[Mamak Gang]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/9/2/nation/20080902195317&sec=nation |title=Cops shoot dead four Mamak Gang members |work=The Star |access-date=2012-02-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629032055/http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2008%2F9%2F2%2Fnation%2F20080902195317&sec=nation |archive-date=2011-06-29 }}</ref>
* [[Secret societies in Singapore]]
**[[Ang Soon Tong]] 洪順堂
**[[Ghee Hin Kongsi]] 義興公司
**[[Hai San Secret Society|Hai San]] 海山
**[[Wah Kee]][[:zh:華記|華記]]
** [[Ah Kong]] 阿公

====[[Vietnamese Xã Hội Đen]]====
*[[Bình Xuyên]]<ref>Ooi, Keat Gin (2004) ''Southeast Asia: a historical encyclopedia, from Angkor Wat to East Timor, Volume 1'' ABC-CLIO, {{ISBN|1-57607-770-5}}</ref>
*[[Đại Cathay]]'s mafia during the 60s
*[[Năm Cam]]'s mafia of the 90s<ref name="traffic"/><ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/>
*[[Khánh Trắng]]'s "Đồng Xuân Labor Union", a crime syndicate under the guise of a legal entity
*[[Dung Hà]]'s gang
*Vũ Xuân Trường's gang: a crime syndicate led by Vũ Xuân Trường, a government official and also a drug lord.

===South Asia===
{{See also|Haqqani Network|Zomi Revolutionary Army}}
*[[Mafia Raj]]
*[[Dacoit]] gangs
====India====
*[[Indian mafia]] ''(See also [[Insurgency in Northeast India]])''
**[[Mumbai]]
***[[D-Company]] डी कंपनी<ref name="mcmafia"/><ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/>
***[[Chhota Rajan|Chhota Rajan gang]] राजन गिरोह<ref name="mcmafia"/>
***[[Arun Gawli|Gawli gang]] गवली गिरोह<ref name="mcmafia"/>
***[[Bada Rajan|Bada Rajan gang]]
***[[Manya Surve|Surve gang]]
***[[Varadarajan Mudaliar|Mudaliar gang]]
***[[Haji Mastan|Mastan gang]]
***[[Ali Budesh|Budesh gang]]
***[[Pappu Kalani|Kalani gang]]
***[[Kala Kaccha Gang|Kala Kaccha Gangs]]
***[[Chaddi Baniyan Gang|Chaddi Baniyan Gangs]]
***[[Man Singh (dacoit)|Singh gang]]
***[[Veerappan]] gang
***[[Phoolan Devi|Devi gang]]
**[[Organised crime in India#Pathan mafia|Pathan mafia]]
***[[Karim Lala|Lala gang]]
=====[[Uttar Pradesh#Crime and accidents|Uttar Pradesh]]=====
*[[Mukhtar Ansari|Ansari gang]]
*[[D. P. Yadav|Yadav gang]]
=====[[Bangalore]]=====
*[[Muthappa Rai|Rai gang]]
*[[Kotwal Ramachandra|Ramachandra gang]]
*[[M. P. Jayaraj|Jayaraj gang]]

====Sri Lanka====
*[[List of Sri Lankan mobsters|Sri Lankan criminal groups]]
====Pakistan====
*[[Organised crime in Pakistan|Pakistani mafia]] ''(See also [[Peoples' Aman Committee]], [[Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan]], [[Muttahida Qaumi Movement – Pakistan|Muttahida Qaumi Movement]] and [[Inter-Services Intelligence#Drugs trade|ISI involvement with drugs]])''
**[[Chotu gang]]
**[[Uzair Baloch|Lyari Gang]]
**[[Ayub Afridi (drug lord)|Afridi Network]]
====Afghanistan====
*[[Golden Crescent]]<ref name="traffic"/><ref name="drugs"/>
** [[Opium production in Afghanistan|Afghan drug cartels]]<ref name="mcmafia">Glenny, Misha (2009) ''McMafia'', Vintage Books, {{ISBN|1-4000-9512-3}}</ref><ref name="whitecollar"/> ''(see also [[Taliban]])''
*** [[Haji Bashar|Noorzai Organization]]<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1587252,00.html |magazine=Time |title=Warlord or Druglord? |date=2007-02-08 |access-date=2012-02-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222093838/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1587252,00.html |archive-date=2012-02-22 }}</ref>
*** [[Juma Khan|Khan organization]]
*** [[Ahmed Wali Karzai|Karzai organization]] (alleged)
*** [[Haji Bagcho|Bagcho organization]]

===Central Asia===
*[[Contents of the United States diplomatic cables leak (Asia and Oceania)#Corruption, human rights and organized crime|Uzbek mafia]] ''(See also [[Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan]])''
**[[Gafur Rakhimov|Rakhimov organization]]
*[[Tulip Revolution#Possible involvement of organized crime|Kyrgyz mafia]]
**[[Bayaman Erkinbayev|Erkinbayev group]]
**[[Ryspek Akmatbayev|Akmatbayev group]]
**[[Kamchy Kolbayev|Kolbayev group]]

===West Asia===
{{See also|Shabeeha|al-Qaeda in Iraq|Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant|Mokhtar Belmokhtar|Ba'athist Syrian Captagon industry|Piracy in the Persian Gulf}}

<ref>{{cite web |last=Sherlock |first=Ruth |url=https://vancouversun.com/news/Syrian+rebels+kidnappings+raise+funds/7211632/story.html |title=Syrian rebels use kidnappings to raise funds |publisher=Vancouver Sun |date=2012-09-08 |access-date=2012-10-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120912022544/http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Syrian+rebels+kidnappings+raise+funds/7211632/story.html |archive-date=2012-09-12 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-14482968 |title=BBC News&nbsp;– Syria unrest: Who are the shabiha? |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=2012-05-29 |access-date=2012-10-09 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120906084132/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-14482968 |archive-date=2012-09-06 }}</ref>

*[[Israeli mafia]]<ref name="traffic"/><ref name="whitecollar"/><ref name="global"/> ''(see also [[Lehi (group)|Stern Gang]])''
**[[Abergil Crime Family]] משפחת הפשע אברג'יל<ref name="traffic"/><ref name="mcmafia"/>
**[[Yaakov Alperon|Alperon crime family]] משפחת הפשע אלפרון<ref name="traffic"/>
**[[Zeev Rosenstein]] organization ארגון זאב רוזנשטיין<ref name="traffic"/>
**[[Israeli mafia#Palestinian organized crime|Palestinian organized crime]] ''(See also [[Abu Nidal Organization]])''
***[[Doghmush]] clan
*[[Turkish mafia]]<ref name="traffic"/><ref name="mcmafia"/><ref name="turk">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2425825.stm |title=Keeping tabs on the Turkish connection |work=BBC News |date=2002-11-14 |access-date=2012-02-19 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080520104655/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2425825.stm |archive-date=2008-05-20 }}</ref>
**[[Illegal drug trade in Turkey|Crime groups in Turkey]] ''(see also [[Deep state in Turkey|Deep state]] and [[Yüksekova Gang]])''
***[[Dündar Kılıç|Kılıç gang]]<ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/>
***[[Alaattin Çakıcı|Çakıcı gang]]<ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/><ref name="turk"/>
***[[Mehmet Ali Yaprak|Yaprak Family]]
***[[Ömer Lütfü Topal|Topal organisation]]
***[[Söylemez Gang]]
***[[Arifs (gang)|Arifs]]<ref name="morton"/><ref name="london"/>
**Turkish organised crime in Germany
***[[Necati Arabaci|Arabacı clan]]<ref>[http://www.ksta.de/html/artikel/1096374340433.shtml Rotlicht-Pate muss neun Jahre hinter Gitter] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120804094208/http://www.ksta.de/html/artikel/1096374340433.shtml |date=2012-08-04 }} (German)</ref>
**[[Nedim Imac|İmaç clan]] (Netherlands)
*[[Kurdish mafia]] ''(see also {{section link|Kurdistan Workers' Party|Involvement in drug trafficking}})''
**[[Baybaşin family|Baybaşin Cartel]]<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Cobain |first1=Ian |author-link1=Ian Cobain |last2=White |first2=Michael |author-link2=Michael White (journalist) |date=28 Mar 2006 |title=Heroin dealer was secret informer for Customs and Excise |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/mar/28/ukcrime.drugsandalcohol |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref>
**[[Behçet Cantürk|Cantürk gang]]
**[[Halil Ay|Ay gang]]
**[[Rawa Majid|Majid gang]]
**[[Hewa Rahimpur|Rahimpur gang]]
*[[Contents of the United States diplomatic cables leak (Iran)#Organized crime|Iranian organized crime]] ''(see also [[Jundallah (Iran)|Jundallah]] and illegal activities of the [[Controversies surrounding Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution|IRGC]])''
**[[Omid Tahvili|Tahvili crime family]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/2008/04/25/crime-binladen-guzman-biz-cz_nv_0425mostwanted_slide_11.html?thisSpeed=30000 |title=In Pictures: The World's 10 Most Wanted |work=Forbes |date=2008-04-25 |access-date=2012-02-19 |first=Nathan |last=Vardi |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102205603/http://www.forbes.com/2008/04/25/crime-binladen-guzman-biz-cz_nv_0425mostwanted_slide_11.html?thisSpeed=30000 |archive-date=2012-11-02 }}</ref>
*[[Lebanese mafia]] ''(see also [[Lebanese Civil War#Political groups and militias|Lebanese Civil War militias]])''
**Levantine crime clans
***[[Miri-Clan]]
***[[Al-Zein Clan]]
**[[John Ibrahim|Ibrahim clan]]

==Eurasia==

===Russia===
Although organized crime existed in the Soviet era, the gangs really gained in power and international reach during the [[Perestroika|transition to capitalism]]. The term [[Russian Mafia]], 'mafiya' or mob is a blanket (and somewhat inaccurate) term for the various organized crime groups that emerged in this period from the 15 former republics of the [[USSR]] and unlike their Italian counterparts does not mean members are necessarily of Russian ethnicity or uphold any ancient criminal traditions, although this is the case for some members.

*[[Israeli mafia#Ex-Soviet organized crime|Russian-Jewish mafia]]
**[[Brighton Beach#Police and crime|Brighton Beach]]
***[[Evsei Agron|Agron gang]]<ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/><ref name="soviet">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/04/nyregion/soviet-emigre-mob-outgrows-brooklyn-and-fear-spreads.html?pagewanted=all |title=Soviet Emigre Mob Outgrows Brooklyn, and Fear Spreads |publisher=NY Times |date=1989-06-04 |access-date=2012-02-19 |first=Ralph |last=Blumenthal}}</ref>
***[[Boris Nayfeld|Nayfeld gang]]<ref name="soviet"/>
***[[Marat Balagula|Balagula gang]]<ref name="soviet"/>
**[[Semion Mogilevich|Mogilevich organization]]<ref name="mcmafia"/><ref name="rusmafia"/>
*[[Brothers' Circle]] (Existence is  debatable)
*[[Russian mafia]] ''(See also [[Lubyanka Criminal Group]], [[Three Whales Corruption Scandal]] and [[Sergei Magnitsky]])''
**Moscow
***[[Izmaylovskaya gang]]<ref name="mcmafia"/><ref name="rusmafia"/>
***[[Solntsevskaya bratva]]<ref name="traffic"/><ref name="mcmafia"/><ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/><ref name="rusmafia">Varese, Frederico (2005) ''The Russian mafia: private protection in a new market economy'', Oxford University Press, {{ISBN|0-19-927949-7}}</ref>
****[[Vyacheslav Ivankov|New York branch]]<ref name="rusmafia"/>
***[[Orekhovskaya gang]]<ref name="rusmafia"/>
**[[St Petersburg#Crime|St Petersburg]]'' (See also [[Roman Tsepov#"Baltik-Eskort"|Baltik-Eskort]])''
***[[Tambov Gang]]<ref name="rusmafia"/>
**[[Tolyatti#Organized crime|Togliatti mafia]]
**[[Uralmash gang]]
**[[Maxim Lazovsky|Lazovsky gang]]
**[[Vitali Dyomochka|Vladivostok gang]]
**[[Alexander Solonik|Kurganskaya group]]
**[[Kushchevskaya massacre|Tsapok gang]]
**[[Ryazan#Crime|'Elephants' group]]
**[[Kazan gang]]

===North Caucasia===
''See also [[Caucasus Emirate#Funding|Caucasus Emirate]]''

*[[Chechen mafia]]<ref name="traffic"/><ref name="mcmafia"/><ref name="rusmafia"/> ''(See also [[Special Purpose Islamic Regiment]] and [[Kadyrovtsy]])''
**[[Khozh-Ahmed Noukhayev|Obschina]]<ref name="rusmafia"/>
**[[Ruslan Labazanov|Labazanov gang]]<ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/>

===Georgia===
*[[Georgian mafia]]<ref name="rusmafia"/> ''(See also [[Mkhedrioni]] and [[Forest Brothers (Georgia)|Forest Brothers]])''
**[[Tariel Oniani|Kutaisi clan]]<ref name="rusmafia"/><ref name="river">{{cite news|last=Schwirtz |first=Michael |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/30/world/europe/30russia.html |title=The New York Times – In a River Raid, a glimpse of Russia's criminal elite |location=Russia |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=2008-07-30 |access-date=2012-02-19}}</ref>
**[[Aslan Usoyan|Tbilisi clan]]<ref name="river"/>
**[[Otari Kvantrishvili|21st Century Association]]

===Armenia===
*[[Armenian mafia]]<ref name="armenia">[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/10/16/ap/national/main6964280.shtml CBS News/Associated Press – Armenian Organized Crime Grows More Complex]{{dead link|date=August 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
**[[2010 Medicaid Fraud#Leadership and members of the organization|Mirzoyan-Terdjanian organization]]<ref name="armenia"/>
**[[Armenian Power]]<ref name="armenia"/>

===Azerbaijan===
*[[Azeri mafia]]
**[[Rovshan Janiev|Janiev organization]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://inmoscowsshadows.wordpress.com/2013/01/16/ded-dead-the-assassination-of-russian-crime-boss-aslan-usoyan-ded-khasan/|title=Ded Dead: the assassination of Russian crime boss Aslan Usoyan ('Ded Khasan')|date=16 January 2013|website=wordpress.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130218072918/http://inmoscowsshadows.wordpress.com/2013/01/16/ded-dead-the-assassination-of-russian-crime-boss-aslan-usoyan-ded-khasan/|archive-date=18 February 2013}}</ref>

==Europe==

===Sweden===
*[[Original Gangsters (gang)|Original Gangsters]]<ref name="sweden"/>
*[[Fucked For Life]]<ref name="sweden"/>
*[[Uppsalamaffian]]
*[[Organized crime in Sweden|Chosen Ones]]
*[[Organized crime in Sweden|Werewolf Legion]]
*[[Organized crime in Sweden|Asir]]
*[[2015 Gothenburg pub shooting|Vårvädersligan]]

===Netherlands===
*[[Organized crime in the Netherlands]]
**[[Klaas Bruinsma (drug lord)|Bruinsma drug gang]]<ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/>
**[[Willem Holleeder|Holleeder gang]]<ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/>
**[[Moroccan mafia]]

===France===
*[[Milieu (organized crime in France)|French Milieu]] ''(See also [[Service d'Action Civique]])''
**[[Corsican mafia]]<ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/><ref name="triad"/><ref name="showbiz">Gayraud, Jean-François (2009) ''Showbiz, people et corruption'', Odile Jacob, {{ISBN|2-7381-2232-9}}</ref>
***[[Unione Corse]]<ref name="dea"/><ref name="drugs"/>
***[[Gang de la Brise de Mer|Brise de Mer gang]]<ref name="showbiz"/>
**[[Milieu (organized crime in France)#Les Caïds Des Cités|Les Caïds Des Cités]]
***[[Rédoine Faïd|Faïd gang]]
***[[The Affair of the Gang of Barbarians|The Barbarians]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8145616.stm |title=French 'Barbarian' killer jailed |work=BBC News |date=2009-07-10 |access-date=2012-02-19}}</ref>
**[[Gang des postiches|Wigs gang]]
**[[Alexandre Villaplane|North African Brigade]] ''(see also [[Carlingue]])''
**[[Gang des Tractions Avant|Tractions Avant gang]]<ref>Charles Bacelon, Max Clos, etc. ''Histoire du banditisme et des grandes affaires criminelles'', Genève : éditions Famot, 1974. OCLC 77615747</ref>
**[[Jacky Imbert|Bande des Trois Canards]]
**[[Milieu (organized crime in France)#"Traveler" Gangs|French gypsy gangs]]
***[[Hornec gang]]<ref name="showbiz"/>

===Greece===
*[[Greek mafia]]
===Ireland===
*Ireland
**[[History of Dublin#Heroin problem|Dublin]]
***[[Martin Cahill|Cahill gang]]<ref name="gangstersencyclopedia">Newton, Michael (2007) ''Gangsters Encyclopedia'', Anova Books, {{ISBN|1-84340-402-8}}</ref><ref name="morton"/>
***[[John Gilligan (Irish criminal)|Gilligan gang]]<ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/><ref name="morton"/>
***[[Martin Foley (criminal)|Foley gang]]
***[[Martin "Marlo" Hyland|Hyland gang]]
***[[Eamon Dunne|Dunne gang]]
***[[The Westies (Irish gang)|The Westies]]
**[[Limerick feud|Limerick]]
***[[McCarthy-Dundon]]
***[[Keane-Collopy]]
**[[Rathkeale Rovers]]
**[[Kinahan Organised Crime Group]]

===Spain===
*[[Crime in Spain|Spain]]
**[[Galician mafia]]
**[[Romani people|Romani]] clans
***[[Francisca Cortés Picazo|El Clan De La Paca]]

===Poland===
*[[Crime in Poland|Poland]] ''(See also [[Group 13]])''
**[[Pruszków mafia]]
**[[Crime in Poland|Wołomin mafia]]

===Slovakia===
*[[Slovak mafia]]
**[[Slovak mafia#Hungaro-Slovak mafia|Hungaro-Slovak mafia]]

===Hungary===
*[[Veszprém stabbing|Raffael clan]]
*[[Veszprém stabbing|Sztojka clan]]

===Czech Republic===
*[[František Mrázek|Mrázek organization]]
*[[Radovan Krejčíř|Krejčíř organization]]

===Italy===
*[[Sicilian Mafia]]<ref name="traffic"/><ref name="mcmafia"/><ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/><ref name="idiot"/><ref name="gomorra"/><ref name="global"/>
**[[Sicilian Mafia Commission]]
**[[mandamento (Sicilian Mafia)|Mandamenti]]
***''See also [[List of Sicilian Mafia clans]]''
***[[Cuntrera-Caruana Mafia clan]]
***[[Inzerillo Mafia clan]]
***[[Corleonesi]]<ref name="traffic"/><ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/>
***[[Greco Mafia clan]]
***[[Motisi Mafia clan]]
*[['Ndrangheta]]<ref name="traffic"/><ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/><ref name="gomorra"/>
*[[La Provincia]]
**''See also [[List of 'ndrine]]''
**[[Honoured Society (Australia)|Honoured Society]] ([[Melbourne]])<ref name="aussie">{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10640465 |title=Aussie gang boss' death points to inside job |author=Ansley, Greg |date=April 24, 2010 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |access-date=October 15, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130223081850/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10640465 |archive-date=February 23, 2013 }}</ref>
**[[Mammoliti 'ndrina]]
**[[Bellocco 'ndrina]]
**[[Cataldo 'ndrina]]
**[[Commisso 'ndrina]]
**[[Cordì 'ndrina]]
**[[De Stefano 'ndrina]]
**[[Pesce 'ndrina]]
**[[Barbaro 'ndrina]]
**[[Piromalli 'ndrina]]
**[[Serraino 'ndrina]]
**[[Siderno Group]]<ref name="canada"/>
*[[Camorra]]<ref name="traffic"/><ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/><ref name="whitecollar"/><ref name="gomorra">Roberto Saviano (2006) ''Gomorrah: Italy's Other Mafia'', Mondadori, {{ISBN|88-04-55450-9}}.</ref>
**[[Secondigliano Alliance]]
***[[Licciardi clan]]<ref name="gomorra"/>
***[[Contini clan]]<ref name="gomorra"/>
***[[Lo Russo clan]]<ref name="gomorra"/>
***[[Mallardo clan]]<ref name="gomorra"/>
**[[Di Lauro Clan]]<ref name="gomorra"/>
**[[Casalesi clan]]<ref name="gomorra"/>
**[[Mario Fabbrocino|Fabbrocino clan]]<ref name="gomorra"/>
**[[Vollaro clan]]<ref name="gomorra"/>
**[[Scissionisti di Secondigliano]]<ref name="gomorra"/>
**[[Augusto La Torre|La Torre clan]]<ref name="gomorra"/>
**[[Polverino clan]]
**[[Rinaldi clan]]
**[[De Luca Bossa clan]]
**[[Aprea-Cuccaro clan]]
**[[Cesarano clan]]
**[[Giuseppe Puca|Puca clan]]
*[[Sacra Corona Unita]]<ref name="traffic"/><ref name="mcmafia"/><ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/><ref name="gomorra"/>
*[[Società foggiana]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Come la Società Foggiana è diventata la mafia più brutale e sanguinosa d'Italia|url=https://www.vice.com/it/article/societa-foggiana-mafia-italia/|last=Civillini|first=Matteo|date=2016-03-21|website=Vice|language=it|access-date=2020-05-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The forgotten Foggian mafia strikes terror in southern Italy|url=https://www.efe.com/efe/english/varios/the-forgotten-foggian-mafia-strikes-terror-in-southern-italy/50000269-3349707|website=www.efe.com|language=en|access-date=2020-05-13}}</ref>
*[[Stidda]]<ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/>
*[[Mala del Brenta]]<ref name="gomorra"/>
*[[Banda della Magliana]]<ref>{{cite news |author=Nick Squires |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/7872855/Mafia-gangster-tomb-reopened-to-solve-30-year-old-mystery.html |title=Mafia gangster tomb reopened to solve 30-year-old mystery |publisher=The Telegraph |date=2010-07-05 |access-date=2012-02-19 |location=London |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120526030036/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/7872855/Mafia-gangster-tomb-reopened-to-solve-30-year-old-mystery.html |archive-date=2012-05-26 }}</ref>
*[[2014 Rome corruption scandal|Mafia Capitale]]
*[[Romani people|Sinti]] [[Casamonica clan]]
*Clan Spada di [[Ostia (Rome)|Ostia]]
*[[Crime in Italy#Central and Northern Italy|Milanese gangs]]
**[[Banda della Comasina]]<ref>Cristiano Armati, ''Italia criminale. Personaggi, fatti e avvenimenti di un'Italia violenta'', Newton Compton Editori, 2006 {{ISBN|978-88-541-1083-0}}</ref>
**[[Francis Turatello|Turatello crew]]

===Balkans===
Balkan organized crime gained prominence in the chaos following the communist era, notably the transition to capitalism and the [[wars in former Yugoslavia]].

*[[Albanian mafia]]<ref name="traffic"/><ref name="mcmafia"/><ref name="gomorra"/>
**[[Crime in Kosovo|Kosovan mafia]] 
**[[Albanian Rebellion of 1997#Gangs|Albania]]
***[[Gang of Çole]]
***[[Gang of Gaxhai]]
***[[Gang of Pusi i Mezinit]]
***[[Lazarat]] marijuana growers
**[[Rudaj Organization]]<ref>[https://www.fbi.gov/page2/march06/albanian032906.htm FBI – Cases – Not your average syndicate] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100615222119/https://www.fbi.gov/page2/march06/albanian032906.htm |date=June 15, 2010 }}</ref> (New York City)
** Gang of [[Ismail Lika]]
**[[Princ Dobroshi|Dobroshi gang]]<ref>[http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article957817.ece Aftenposten – Princ Dobroshi satt fri] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100113195436/http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article957817.ece |date=2010-01-13 }} (Norwegian)</ref> (International)
**[[Naserligan]]<ref name="sweden">[https://www.dn.se/nyheter/sverige/ligorna-har-kopplat-greppet-om-sverige/ Dagens Nyheter – Ligorna har kopplat greppet om Sverige]  (Swedish)</ref> (Sweden)
**[[Organized crime in Sweden|K-Falangen]] (Sweden)
*[[Bosnian mafia]]<ref name="traffic"/>
**[[Jusuf Prazina|Prazina gang]]<ref name="global">Siegel, Dina (2003) ''Global organized crime: trends and developments'', Springer, {{ISBN|1-4020-1818-5}}</ref>
**[[Ismet Bajramović|Bajramović gang]]
**[[Ramiz Delalić|Delalić gang]]
**[[Organized crime in Sweden|M-Falangen]] (Sweden)
**Dino and Tito Cartel<ref>{{Cite book |last=Tallant |first=Nicola |url=https://www.google.ba/books/edition/Cocaine_Cowboys/BZAzEQAAQBAJ |title=Cocaine Cowboys |date=July 25, 2024 |publisher=Mango Media}}</ref>
*[[Bulgarian mafia]]<ref name="mcmafia"/><ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/> ''(see also [[Multigroup]])''
**[[VIS (criminal organisation)|VIS]]<ref name="mcmafia"/><ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/>
**[[SIC (criminal organisation)|SIC]]
**[[Ivo Karamanski|Karamanski gang]]
**[[TIM (firm)|TIM]]
**[[Naglite]]
**[[Anti-Roma protests in Bulgaria 2011|Rashkov clan]]
*[[Serbian mafia]]<ref name="traffic"/><ref name="mcmafia"/>
**[[Željko Ražnatović|Arkan clan]]<ref name="mcmafia"/><ref name="global"/>
**[[Zemun Clan]]<ref name="mcmafia"/>
**[[Joca Amsterdam]] gang
**[[Ljubomir Magaš|Magaš clan]]
**[[Đorđe Božović|Giška gang]]
**[[Pink Panthers]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-10974366 |title=BBC News – 'Pink Panther' Tokyo heist suspect extradited to Japan |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=2010-08-14 |access-date=2012-02-19 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222211256/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-10974366 |archive-date=2012-02-22 }}</ref>
**[[Serb mafia in Scandinavia]]
***[[Rade Kotur|Kotur mob]]
***[[Ratko Đokić|Yugoslav Brotherhood]]
*[[Montenegrin mafia]]<ref name="traffic"/><ref name="mcmafia"/> ''(see also [[Milo Đukanović#Criminal investigation in Italy|allegations of Milo Đukanović's involvement in cigarette smuggling]])''
*[[Romanian organized crime|Romanian mafia]]
**[[Sergiu Băhăian|Băhăian organisation]]

===Great Britain===
{{See also|Irish Republican Army (disambiguation)|Ulster loyalism#Paramilitary and vigilante groups}}
*[[Crime in London|London]]
**[[Clerkenwell crime syndicate|Adams crime family]]<ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/><ref name="london">{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/focus-my-gun-drives-fear-into-people--once-you-got-money-and-a-gun-you-got-power-580639.html|title=US|website=independent.co.uk|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090123024121/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/focus-my-gun-drives-fear-into-people--once-you-got-money-and-a-gun-you-got-power-580639.html|archive-date=2009-01-23}}</ref>
**[[The Richardson Gang]]<ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/><ref name="morton">Morton, James ''Gangland Volume 2: The Underworld in Britain and Ireland'', 1995, {{ISBN|978-0-7515-1406-3}}</ref><ref name="villain"/>
**[[Kray Twins|The Firm]]<ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/><ref name="morton"/><ref name="villain"/>
**[[Bernie Silver|The Syndicate]]
**[[Jack Comer|Comer gang]]
**[[Lee Murray|Buttmarsh Boys]]
**[[Interwar unemployment and poverty in the United Kingdom|Interwar era]] mobs
***[[Messina Brothers]]<ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/><ref name="morton"/><ref name="villain"/>
***[[Sabini syndicate]]<ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/><ref name="morton"/><ref name="villain">Thomas, Donald (2006) ''Villains' paradise: a history of Britain's underworld'', Pegasus Books, {{ISBN|1-933648-17-1}}</ref>
***[[Hoxton Gang]]<ref name="morton"/><ref name="villain"/>
***[[Elephant and Castle Mob]]<ref name="morton"/><ref name="villain"/>
***[[Birmingham Boys]]<ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/><ref name="villain"/>
*[[Rettendon murders|Essex Boys]]
*[[Gun crime in south Manchester|Manchester]]
**[[Quality Street Gang]]<ref name="morton"/>
**[[Desmond Noonan|Noonan firm]]<ref name="morton"/>
**[[Cheetham Hillbillies]]
**[[The Gooch Close Gang]]
*[[Crime in Liverpool|Liverpool]]
**[[Curtis Warren|Curtis Warren's drug empire]]<ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/>
**[[Whitney gang]]
*[[Aggi Crew]]<ref name="london"/>
*[[British firms (organized crime)#Glasgow crime families|Glasgow]]
**[[Thomas McGraw|McGraw firm]]<ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/>
**[[Arthur Thompson (gangster)|Thompson firm]]<ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/><ref name="morton"/>
**[[Walter Douglas|Delta Crime Syndicate]]
*[[Bestwood Estate#Recent years|Bestwood Cartel]]

===Ukraine===
*[[Ukrainian mafia]]
**[[Donetsk Clan]]
**[[Sergey Aksyonov#Alleged links to organized crime|Salem gang]]

===Lithuania===
*[[Foreign relations of Lithuania#Illicit drug trafficking|Lithuanian mafia]]
**[[Boris Dekanidze|Vilnius Brigade]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D04E0D81431F936A25752C1A962958260 |title=NY Times - Lithuanians Close A Nuclear Reactor After 3 Threats |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=1994-11-15 |access-date=2012-02-19}}</ref>

===Estonia===
*[[Estonian mafia]]/[[Obtshak]]
**[[Toomas Helin|Linnuvabriku group]]

===Transnistria===
*[[Mafia state#Transnistria|Transnistrian mafia]]

==Australia==
{{See also|Federated Ship Painters and Dockers Union|Nugan Hand Bank}}
*[[Crime in Sydney|Sydney]]
**[[5T (gang)|5T gang]]<ref name="smack">Small, Clive & Gilling, Tom (2010) ''Smack Express: How Organized Crime Got Hooked on Drugs'', Allen & Unwin, {{ISBN|1-74237-208-2}}</ref> (1985–1999)
**[[George Freeman (bookmaker)|Freeman gang]] (defunct)
**[[Lenny McPherson|Lenny]]'s gang (1960s)
**[[Abe Saffron|Mr Sin]]'s gang
**[[Razor gang]]s<ref>Writer, Larry (2009) ''Razor: Tilly Devine, Kate Leigh and the Razor Gangs'' Pan Macmillan Australia Pty, {{ISBN|1-4050-3951-5}}</ref> (1920s)
*[[Crime in Melbourne|Melbourne]]
**[[The Carlton Crew|Carlton Crew]]<ref name="gangstersencyclopedia"/><ref name="aussie"/>
**[[Moran family]]<ref name="aussie"/>
**[[Carl Williams (criminal)|Williams family]]<ref name="aussie"/>
**[[Pettingill family]]
**[[Squizzy Taylor|Richmond gang]]
*[[Crime in Perth|Perth]]
**Salvator cartel<ref>{{cite web|title=The Aussie gangster behind one of the world's biggest drug cartels,after eliminating his leader, he continued in the business and has built his empire.|publisher=Courier Mail|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/special-features/in-depth/the-aussie-gangsters-behind-one-of-the-worlds-biggest-drug-cartels/news-story/d5ca8405c99f0036a76e2d4253d88dee}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yZhRLwEACAAJ | title=Blood, Death, Drugs and Sex in Old Mexico | publisher=Createspace Independent Pub | author=Aire, Jose Gutierrez | year=2012| isbn=978-1477592274}}
* [https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/drugs/ "Drug Wars"]. ''[[Frontline (American TV program)|Frontline]]''. 2006. [[PBS]].
*{{cite journal |last1=Holmes |first1=Jennifer S. |last2=Amin Gutiérrez de Piñeres |first2=Sheila |last3=Curtin |first3=Kevin M. |title=Drugs, Violence, and Development in Colombia: A Department-Level Analysis |journal=Latin American Politics and Society |date=2006 |volume=48 |issue=3 |pages=157–184 |id={{ProQuest|200275766}} |doi=10.1111/j.1548-2456.2006.tb00359.x |s2cid=198824953 }}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Drug cartels}}
*[http://www.worldpress.org/Americas/2549.cfm "Mexico: Drug Cartels a Growing Threat"]{{snd}}Worldpress, 2006

{{Gangs}}

[[Category:Drug cartels| ]]
[[Category:Illegal drug trade]]
[[Category:Organized crime groups]]
[[Category:Organized crime terminology]]
[[Category:Smuggling]]
[[Category:Transnational organized crime]]