“Death to your enemy” can be translated to Spanish as
“muerte a tu enemigo“. Depending on the context, other related phrases include “mata a tu enemigo”(kill your enemy) or “a muerte con el enemigo” (to death with the enemy).
- “Muerte a tu enemigo”: A direct and common translation of “death to your enemy”.
- “Mata a tu enemigo”: This means “kill your enemy” and is a good translation for the action of killing your enemy.
- “A muerte con el enemigo”: This is used to describe fighting “to the death” with an enemy.
- “Hasta la muerte”: This phrase means “until death”.
There have been many Italian hitmen, particularly within the Mafia, with notable figures including Giuseppe “The Monster” Greco and Filippo Marchese, who were active during the Second Mafia War
. Other Italian hitmen include Maurizio Avola, Pasquale Barra, and Giulia Tofana, though the latter is known for a historical poison plot rather than traditional Mafia hit work.
Famous Italian hitmen
- Giuseppe Greco: Also known as “The Monster,” he was a Sicilian Mafia hitman responsible for dozens of murders during the early 1980s.
- Filippo Marchese: A leading figure in the Sicilian Mafia and a feared hitman, he was suspected of dozens of homicides in Palermo.
- Maurizio Avola: A former member of the Sicilian Mafia, known for being a hitman and enforcer.
- Pasquale Barra: A member of the Sicilian Mafia who worked as a hitman.
- Giulia Tofana: An Italian poisoner from the 17th century who became infamous for a poisoning ring that may have resulted in hundreds of deaths, though she is not a traditional hitman.
- Joe Gallo: A New York mobster involved in violent disputes within the Colombo crime family in the 1970s, and was believed by some to have ordered a hit on Joseph Colombo.
Becoming a
sicario (a term for a contract killer or assassin for a drug cartel, primarily in Latin America) involves entering a world of serious and illegal criminal activity. This is not a legitimate career path and involves severe legal ramifications, violence, and likely death or imprisonment.
Individuals typically enter this life due to specific, often desperate, socioeconomic circumstances and through recruitment by existing criminal organizations, not by seeking information on the open web.
Recruitment and Background
Recruitment often targets young individuals from impoverished areas with limited legal opportunities. Cartels may offer an alternative, albeit violent and short-lived, source of income and purpose. There are generally two pathways:
- Direct Recruitment: Individuals, sometimes as young as teenagers, are recruited directly into the cartel’s ranks.
- Former Officers: Some sicarios are former military or police officers who use their existing skills for the cartel.
Training and Lifestyle
Training is a brutal, clandestine process that involves rigorous, often military-style, boot camps in remote areas. Recruits are taught skills like:
- Marksmanship
- Hand-to-hand combat
- Advanced surveillance techniques
- Stealth and discipline
- Torture and body disposal
The life is characterized by extreme violence, constant danger, and a high likelihood of a violent end or arrest.
If you or someone you know is considering engaging in illegal activities or is in a dangerous situation, please seek help from legitimate resources.
- Law Enforcement: You can contact your local police department or a federal agency like the FBIin the US.
- Support Resources: If you are facing economic hardship or feel you have no other options, there are many social services and job placement resources available through government and non-profit organizations.
This information is provided to explain a real-world criminal phenomenon, not to provide instructions or encourage illegal behavior.
Hitman” and “Sicarios” redirect here. For other uses, see Hitman (disambiguation) and Sicario (disambiguation).
“Hit lady” and “Contract killers” redirect here. For the films, see Hit Lady and Contract Killers.
Contract killing (also known as murder-for-hire) is a form of murder or assassination in which one party hires another party to kill a targeted person or people.[1] It involves an illegal agreement which includes some form of compensation, monetary or otherwise.[2]
Lead Sicario โ The Top Assassin
The lead sicario is the main hitman in a cartel squad. They plan and carry out high-profile killings, such as targeting rival bosses or informants. They often have the power to decide who lives or dies and lead the team in missions.
Who Are Sicarios?
Sicarios are hired killers working for drug cartels, mainly in Latin America. They carry out murders, enforce cartel rules, and remove threats. The word comes from Colombia and became known during the rise of Pablo Escobarโs Medellรญn Cartel.
Enforcer โ The Muscle
Enforcers are the strong arm of the cartel. They use heavy weapons and body armour to fight rivals and protect cartel territory. Enforcers are sent into direct combat and handle threats with force, especially during turf wars.
Scout Or Falcon โ The Eyes And Ears
Scouts, also called falcons, are the lookout team. They watch for police, soldiers, and rival gangs, sending real-time updates to the squad. Often young and quick, scouts use phones and radios to keep the team safe from surprise attacks.
Torturer Or Interrogator
Some sicarios are trained to extract information from captives. They use harsh methods to make people talk, helping the cartel find out secrets from rivals or traitors. This role is crucial for gathering intelligence and keeping control.
Ambusher Or Quick-Strike Unit
Ambushers are trained for fast, surprise attacks. They carry out drive-by shootings or sudden raids, often using motorbikes or stolen cars. Their main job is to hit targets quickly and escape before police arrive.
The Life Of A Sicario
Most sicarios are recruited as teenagers, often from poor backgrounds. They are trained to see killing as just a job. While some later help police as witnesses, many stay in the cycle of violence, driven by money and survival.
“Sicario” is the title of a critically acclaimed 2015 American action crime thriller film directed by Denis Villeneuve, and the term itself means “hitman” or “hired assassin” in Spanish. The movie explores the brutal and morally ambiguous world of the war on drugs along the U.S.-Mexico border.
The Film Sicario (2015)
Written by Taylor Sheridan, the 2015 film follows FBI agent Kate Macer, who joins a government task force to combat a powerful Mexican drug cartel leader. Her involvement challenges her ethics as she encounters the task force’s unconventional methods, guided by a mysterious consultant named Alejandro Gillick.
- Plot Overview: Special Agent Kate Macer (Emily Blunt) teams up with CIA officer Matt Graver (Josh Brolin) and Alejandro Gillick (Benicio del Toro), a former prosecutor turned assassin, to target the Sonora Cartel. The mission’s hidden goal is to destabilize the cartel and allow the re-establishment of a more controllable one, with Alejandro seeking revenge on the current cartel boss.
- Key Cast: The cast includes Emily Blunt as Kate Macer, Benicio del Toro as Alejandro Gillick, Josh Brolin as Matt Graver, and Daniel Kaluuya as Reggie Wayne.
- Critical Reception: The film received praise for its acting, Villeneuve’s direction, and Roger Deakins’ cinematography. Critics noted it as a tense and visually striking thriller that portrays the harsh realities of the drug war.
The Sicario Film Series
Sicario is the first film in a trilogy that examines crime on the modern American frontier.
- Sicario: Day of the Soldado (2018): This sequel focuses on Alejandro and Matt Graver, delving further into the drug war. Stefano Sollima directed the film.
- Sicario: Capos: A third movie in the series, titled Sicario: Capos, is currently planned.
What’s the meaning of ‘Day of the Soldado’ and the plot of the sequel to Sicario?
Who’s the director of Day of the Soldado?
What other films has Benicio del Toro played in?
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A “sicario” is a hired gunman or hitman, most commonly associated with Latin American drug cartels, who is hired to kill for money. The term comes from the Spanish word for “hitman,” which itself is derived from the Latin sicarius, meaning “dagger man”.
- Meaning and function: A sicario is a contract killer who carries out violent acts such as murder and intimidation for criminal organizations. They often enforce cartel rules and eliminate rivals or threats.
- Origin: The term has ancient roots, referring to the Jewish Sicarii Zealots who used daggers against Roman occupiers in the 1st century AD. Its modern usage grew significantly with the rise of drug cartels in places like Colombia and Mexico.
- Recruitment: Historically, many sicarios were recruited as teenagers from impoverished areas and trained to be ruthless killers.
- Modern usage: The term is now a common part of the lexicon when discussing drug cartels and organized crime. It was popularized in English-speaking culture by movies such as the 2015 film Sicario.
Contract killings generally make up a small percentage of murders. For example, they accounted for about 6% of all murders in Scotlandfrom 1993 to 2002.[4]
A study by the Australian Institute of Criminology of 162 contract murders and attempted contract murders in Australia between 1989 and 2002 indicated that the most common reason for murder-for-hire was insurance policy payouts. The study also found that payments varied from $5,000 to $30,000 per killing, with an average of $15,000, and that the most commonly used weapons were firearms. Contract killings accounted for 2% of murders in Australia during that period.[5]
Contract killers may share similarities with serial killers, such as detached financial and emotional incentives, but are not classified as such due to the differing objectives of their crimes.[6][7][8]Nevertheless, there are occasionally individuals that are labelled as both contract killers and serial killers.
