The Italian mafia has not been completely taken down, but law enforcement continues to dismantle criminal networks through high-profile arrests and coordinated raids

. Recent examples include large-scale operations in Sicily and the United States targeting the Sicilian Mafia and the Gambino crime family in late 2023 and early 2025, resulting in the arrests of numerous members for crimes such as drug trafficking, extortion, and violence. 

Recent takedowns and operations

• February 2025: Italian police arrested around 130 members of the Sicilian Mafia in Palermo in a large-scale operation targeting drug trafficking, attempted murder, and extortion, CNN reports.
• January 2025: A major international sting coordinated by Eurojust and Europol led to over 1,000 years of prison sentences for mafia members involved in a network that used encrypted messaging services.
• November 2023: U.S. and Italian authorities arrested 16 alleged members of the Gambino family in a joint operation that targeted racketeering, fraud, and violence in New York and Italy, according to a Department of Justice and YouTube release.
• January 2023: Italian police arrested Matteo Messina Denaro, one of Italy’s most-wanted fugitives and a key leader of the Sicilian Mafia, after he had been on the run for three decades, reports ABC News.
• January 2011: The Federal Bureau of Investigationled a massive, nationally coordinated operation that arrested approximately 130 members of the Mafia across the East Coast, including New York’s “Five Families” and the DeCavalcante family. 

Ongoing challenges and resilience

• Despite these successes, the mafia remains a significant criminal force. Some members have complained that new, low-level criminal activities have taken the place of the large-scale operations of the past, though authorities continue to dismantle these networks as they emerge.
• Law enforcement agencies continue to fight the mafia through persistent investigations and international cooperation. 

While the Italian Mafia has been significantly weakened by decades of law enforcement crackdowns, it has 

not been entirely “taken down”and remains active, adapting its methods to survive. Recent major operations in both Italy and the United States continue to target its remnants and resurgence efforts. 

Recent Crackdowns (2023-2025)

Authorities have conducted several significant operations in the last couple of years:

• February 2025 (Italy): Italian police arrested nearly 150 suspected mobsters in a major operation against the Sicilian Mafia, or Cosa Nostra, in Palermo. Officials described the raids, involving over 1,200 officers, as a “historic blow” aimed at stopping the organization from rebuilding its influence.
• October 2025 (International): A large international operation coordinated by Eurojust, involving authorities from ten countries including Italy, led to the arrest of 132 members of an ‘Ndrangheta network and the seizure of several companies.
• November 2023 (US & Italy): Coordinated U.S. and Italian law enforcement operations led to the arrest of ten members and associates of the Gambino crime family in New York and six in Italy. The charges included racketeering, extortion, and fraud related to the carting and demolition industries.
• January 2023 (Italy): Italian police captured Matteo Messina Denaro, a notorious Sicilian Mafia boss who had been a fugitive for three decades, a major symbolic victory for the state. 

Factors in the Mafia’s Decline (General)

The overall decline of the Mafia’s power since its peak in the mid-to-late 20th century can be attributed to several factors:

• RICO Act (US): The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act of 1970 allowed prosecutors to target entire criminal enterprises, not just individual offenses. This was a crucial tool for dismantling the hierarchies of crime families.
• Law Enforcement Efforts: Decades of persistent investigations, extensive wiretapping, and infiltration by agencies like the FBI and Italian National Police have significantly eroded the mob’s power.
• Witness Cooperation: The decline of the omertà(code of silence) and increased use of mob turncoats (informants) have provided authorities with vital information needed to secure convictions against high-ranking members.
• Social Changes: Assimilation of Italian-Americans into mainstream society has reduced the traditional recruiting base of impoverished immigrants, and the shift from cash-based to digital economies has made traditional extortion and racketeering more difficult to conceal. 

Current Status

Today, the major Italian organized crime groups (Cosa Nostra, ‘Ndrangheta, Camorra, etc.) still exist but operate in a more covert, low-key manner. The Calabrian ‘Ndrangheta is now considered Europe’s most powerful mob in terms of wealth and international reach, surpassing the traditional Sicilian Mafia in influence. While individual families are a “pathetic shell” of their former selves in some areas like NYC, they still engage in crimes like drug trafficking, illegal gambling, and extortion.