There are three major mafia families in Italy: the Camorra (Naples), the Cosa Nostra (Sicily) and the ‘Ndrangheta (Calabria). Two of these families are well established in Canada.
We find the ‘Ndrangheta in the Greater Toronto Area and Thunder Bay, while in Quebec the Cosa Nostra with the Rizzuto clan dominates, which dominated after a seizure of power at the end of the 70s with the murder of Paolo Violi, a pretender to the throne, the godfather of the time, Vincent Cotroni.
In short, everyone was home and the sheep were being well looked after. Well, you might think so.
When one family expels another, it usually resorts to appeasing the remaining members. The Rizzuto clan had integrated the Calabrians of the Cotroni era into its ranks. However, Vito Rizzuto did not seem reassured by the strength of the Calabrians in Ontario. He then tried to establish a few farmers in Hamilton and Niagara. What the ‘Ndrangheta was anything but pleased with.
In the Mafia, revenge is a dish best served cold, even frozen. In 2004, when Vito Rizzuto was extradited to the United States for a 1981 triple murder in New York, the ‘Ndrangheta appeared to be moving its chess pieces.
Coincidentally, an internal war broke out in Quebec between the Sicilians and the Calabrians. Vito’s father was eliminated (November 2010), as were his son Nicolo (December 2009) and several of his loyal captains, including Paolo Renda, Federico Del Peschio and Agostino Cuntrera. Then Vito died in December 2013.
This weakens the Sicilian clan and the Montreal mafia loses its godfather.
A clan system that doesn’t work
Since 2013, the Montreal Mafia has been trying to reorganize itself without instructions. The clans interact according to previous interests and alliances, but no godfather seems to emerge. It is suggested that a table be set up where the clans meet to discuss business.
But heads continue to roll on the ground. The Rizzuto clan fights to retain leadership. The clans are way too greedy and new players don’t care about the rules. Leonardo Rizzuto even becomes the victim of an attempted murder and one of his gunmen, Gregory Woolley, is eliminated. Worse, their allies in certain chapters of the Hells Angels appear to want to jump ship. Is this an order from Ontario?
You should know that the Hells Angels of Ontario have very good relations with the Ontario ‘Ndrangheta.
The noose around the Sicilian clan is tightening.
A godfather for Montreal?
The Montreal Mafia can’t stay without a godfather. The last ten years of instability are proof of this. Although Montreal has always distanced itself from Italian mafia traditionalism, the fact remains that this system cannot function without a godfather, a direction. It’s in the DNA of the Mafia.
The 50 billion euro question (that would be the ‘Ndrangheta’s turnover)… Who will win the crown?
Allow me this little pun… I’m betting on the ‘Ndrangheta.