◆ SpookStack

ofte consistent x rmouis opel andiy.t! ithe ; outstanding toughn +: @lements; and the proc sof small groups of its: elementa't E ‘domineer over much larger numbers of other criminal : ' been indicated in visite of certain hoodlums to Sicily: prior or te: ! attendance at the Apalachin, New York, meeting of hoodlume: ‘in’ “fn the United States. Such coordination has been most’ ‘atrougly. “world headquarters" for the Mafia, | ~ a | The eradication of the Mafia in Sicily, ‘attempted by. Italian author | “on repeated occasions, has never been successfully accomplished.. ~ f.@.,°as known practitioners are suppressed, new opportunists: crimes or to reveal the crimes of others; (4) the traditional'ang a Se Fg UT : . + hen me gangs. . Some coordination exists between Mafia elements in Bielly and th illustrated in the illicit international traffic in narcotics.:: November, 1957; in the passing of information to the Sicjlian: Mafia ; by Mafioal in visits to Sicily; and in correspondence between Maf! elements in Sicily and those in the United States. * Data current! available, however, fails to indicate that Sielly. c nsider _ an hese ‘ Reasona for their failure have included: (1) the infiltration of Mafia elements and the reach of Mafia pressures into law enforcement, high government circles; (2) the intimidation or elimination of « Se witnesses; (3) the traditional refusal of Mafiosi to confess their’ consequently chiefly tacit and understood nature of the Mafia's (iiee extortionary pressures; (5) the institutional quality of the “Mafia; or favored by the perseverance of a conditioned public, especially ti superstitious, poverty-stricken, and unenlightened elements, ‘and cue those made vulnerable by adherencé to ancient traditions of hostility - to the law; (6) the new, lucrative criminal opportunities that enrich some Mafia leaders and increase their power; and (7) the perennial’ problem faced by the prosecutive authorities in attempting to pe that the Mafia as such ig an illegal group. Although the Mafia: