There are occasional examples of successful battles against corruption and Mafia politics. Yet, organized crime syndicates are very difficult to eliminate because they are able to protect themselves by a combination of means. Political contributions are only one weapon in the armory used by major criminal bodies. The armory of crime and corruption includes:
Extreme violence against informants and witnesses. In order to convict criminals in the courts, it is necessary not only to obtain evidence against them but also to persuade those who are able to give the evidence to appear in a court of law. The Mafia in Italy and in the United States has a notorious code of' 'omerta '. Informants can expect to be killed. It has therefore been necessary for the police to give special protection to witnesses and to their families and even to offer to give witnesses a totally new, disguised identity. Clearly, these extreme measures are costly and can be used only occasionally to protect exceptionally important witnesses.
Ethnic solidarity. Criminal mobs frequently consist of members of a distinct regional or ethnic group. Often they have a language, which is different from that of the governing power. They are drawn from a cohesive social network: for instance Italians or Chinese living in ethnic enclaves within urban areas the United States. Ethnic solidarity makes it difficult for police officers who are not members of the ethnic group to make inquiries or to overcome a wall of secrecy and suspicion.
Violence against prosecutors, judges and members of juries. In Italy and elsewhere, prosecutors and investigating judges have been gunned down. Their fate has acted as a warning against others who may wish to root out the Mafia.
Corruption of law-enforcement officials. Criminal gangs are active and clever in their efforts to bribe policemen. Cooperative police officers are helpful to criminal gangs by passing information to them about police investigations and planned raids, and by making deliberate 'mistakes' in prosecutions. Such technical errors then ensure that the charges against the criminals will not result in guilty verdicts. Corruption of police officers is made easier by the fact that they are far poorer than the Mafiosi and, therefore, are subject to temptation. Moreover, once a few policemen have been corrupted, they will make strong efforts to ensure that their colleagues are also corrupted. An honest policeman who tries to inform on his corrupt colleagues will come under the most severe pressures from them.
Expensive lawyers. Whereas most ordinary criminals cannot afford to employ large teams of expensive lawyers to defend their interests, money is no problem for top criminals. Like large business corporations, they are able to hire clever lawyers who will try to take advantage of delaying tactics and loopholes in the law.
Small safe-havens. There will often be a large advantage for crime syndicates to corrupt the politicians of a small town or of a small country. The disparity of wealth between a relatively poor, small country and an international syndicate with huge resources will make it relatively easy for criminals to bribe the top politicians and to take effective control of the government.
The advantages for criminals of creating a safe haven in a small country (often an isolated island state) can be immense. An island where the authorities are almost guarantied to tolerate their activities may be used as a landing point for small aircraft carrying contraband drugs from producer countries to the rich Western markets. Corrupt diplomats of such countries may be employed to import drugs to their destinations using diplomatic bags, which are not subject to search by customs authorities. Haven countries provide opportunities for criminals to bank their profits and to launder them.
Within the United States, there have been some notorious 'safe haven' towns from which organized criminals have operated with impunity. Criminals who controlled the mayor and the police effectively ruled the small town of Reading, Pennsylvania in the 1960s. The town therefore became a safe center for criminal operations covering several surrounding states.
Financial contributions to political campaigns. Some uses of such payments have already been described. There are several additional advantages for criminals from making political contributions. If criminals are seen to have friends in high elective office, the police will be tempted to avoid investigating their activities too thoroughly. The traditional response of police chiefs when faced with drug dealers and vice kings who appear to enjoy political protection is to concentrate on arresting and convicting the small fry - low-level drug pushers or prostitutes - while leaving the senior crime bosses untouched.
Political protection may have other uses. If the mayor of a town is responsible for appointing and dismissing the chief of police, then organized criminals may, by contributing handsomely to the mayor's election campaign fund, obtain a decisive influence over this crucial appointment. In other cases, criminals may be able to affect the appointment of judges.
Blackmail of politicians. If a politician has committed a personal indiscretion or a small crime early in his career about which the Mafiosi have evidence, they will be able to use this information and the threat of exposure to compel the politician to give them support later in their political lives.
Laundering of the proceeds of corruption. Crime syndicates are able to employ accountants as well as lawyers. There are sophisticated ways to disguise the fact that money has been derived from illegal activities, especially if a crime network stretches across a number of different countries.
