The Sicilian Mafia, or Cosa Nostra ("Our Thing"), is a powerful, secretive criminal organization originating in 19th-century Sicily. Rooted in local extortion and "protection" rackets, it evolved into an international syndicate involved in drug trafficking, money laundering, and political corruption. Despite major anti-mafia efforts in Italy, it remains active today. <br /><br />Key Aspects of the Sicilian Mafia: <br />Origins: Began in the 1800s as a form of local, often violent, territorial control and land protection. <br />Structure: Composed of independent "families" or cosche. A commission, or Cupola, manages disputes and aligns efforts among families. <br />Activities: The organization is known for extortion ("pizzo"), arms trafficking, government contract fraud, and high-level, international heroin trafficking. <br />Omertà: The group operates under a strict code of silence known as omertà, which prohibits members from cooperating with authorities. <br />International Influ
