[quote=Antonio]If you ask me, The Mafia might still be a powerful force in America although other crime groups like the Mexican drug cartels are increasingly becoming involved all around the USA. But how powerful is the Italian Mafia in America in comparison to other crime groups such as the Triads, Drug cartels and the so called Russian Mafia, however they operate...

the russian mafia is nothing but media hype there not as organized as the italians there more like crews then mob familys. The mexican drug cartels are no where near the influence of the italian mob they don't control unions and large scale white collar crimes, they control drugs and human smuggling territorys there powerful in mexico but in the states there not as prevalent although that is changing quickly. The reason the mafia was so powerful was because at the time (1931-late 1970's) law enforcement wasn't nearly as advance as today. J edgar hoover denied the mafia existed and wouldn't even pursue them. If you read joe bonnanos book bound by honer he says they had a picture of j edgar hoover dressed as a woman at a brothel. The prohibition financed the loansharking and illegal gambling along with a bunch of other enterprises. The mafia couldn't have come at a better time. The russians the triads and the cartels couldn't repeat what the italians did in a million years. The LCN is weaker but its never going to die. If you look at the LCN as a whole yes it is still number one in america because other crime groups that started off in the late to early 19th cent. Died a long time ago but the mafia is still alive its just on life support. The fact that a criminal organization has managed to survive decades is unbelievable. in terms of power no they are not on top at this point no one is the mafia at a point in time had a monopoly no group really has a monopoly maybe on a neigborhood but not in an entire city there's always competition.