The 'Ndrangheta in Canada: Outpost or Transnational Power Centre?

The 'Ndrangheta is considered one of the most widespread criminal organizations in Italy, Europe, and the world. 'Ndrangheta cells with direct ties to Calabria have had a presence in Canada since at least the 1950s (with the discovery of the so-called "Siderno Group"). Since then, the ’Ndrangheta had risen to a “Tier 1” national threat, based on RCMP assessments. Italian law enforcement officials estimate there are seven cells in Ontario and have accused the province of becoming an international “penal colony” for ’Ndrangheta members who had fled Italy for the sanctity of Canada. This paper will examine the ’Ndrangheta as a transnational mafia-style criminal organization while exploring accusations that its international power centre has shifted from Calabria to Canada. First, it will analyze the Canadian cells by applying a typology of criminal organization attributes developed by this author. Second it will determine if the Canadian cells satisfy the criteria of a mafia-type criminal organization using a theoretical framework develop by Paoli as well as Reuter and Paoli. Third, it will examine the 'Ndrangheta as a transnational criminal organization, focusing on its international structure using a typology developed by the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime. Finally, it will examine how Canada fits into the transnational operations and power structure of the 'Ndrangheta. This includes addressing how this criminal operation became embedded in Canada using Varese’s writings on attempts of the ‘Ndrangheta to move from Calabria to the north of Italy as a loose analytical framework.