Extended family: The Italian mafia's continued expansion

The Italian mafia has developed considerably beyond its rural roots, and has spread far beyond its original homes in the poor south of the country. Despite some successes for law enforcement, the four major mafia groups, the Cosa Nostra, the 'Ndrangheta, the Camorra and the Sacra Corona Unita, have retained a strong grip on organised crime within and beyond Italy. New groups originating from elsewhere in Europe and outside the continent have joined the original mafia organisations, forging strong alliances in the pursuit of profit and expanding into countries that are ill-prepared to meet the threat.