In italy from all groups,there are about 25,000 made members and about 300,000 associates.
The FBI has cited 25,000 members and 250,000 associates. One could accuse them of taking the lazy man's route of just estimating 10 associates for every member but, with the Italian clans, 10 associates per member is very realistic.
How do the Italian clans/members operate? and how are the associate's accounted for and what do they serve towards the group? In Mexico or so more Los Zetas and Gulf Cartel operate similarly but different. What I mean is that the Gulf Cartel members are just as goons as Los Zetas but are more of an administration role.
There are about 2,000-3,000 Los Zetas "fighters" in Mexico operating in about 150-200 municipalities. These "fighters" take more of a enforcers role than hitmen, their general role is to enforce their rackets within the neighborhoods and install fear and respect within the street gangs that work for them/authorities/ and citizens. These fighters or "estacas" as what they call themselves are the most respected members and are the core members of the cell or organization as a whole. There are about 10-25 or so "estacas" per area or sector of the city under or per "commadante" or local captain. There are about 4 or 5 "commadantes" or local captains per town and one "jefe de plaza" per town or the town boss. There is a second in command or "second plaza boss" and of course the accounting or accounters that pay every their weekly checks including the police that work for them. There are about 6-8 local thugs(street gang members) per neighborhood that work for the "central" selling drugs, lookouts, and sometimes hitmen. "Central" means the local headquarters but it's basically the core group that makes up a cell which is a the "commadante" they work for and his "estacas" or enforcers. Above the town boss or "jefe de plaza" are the regional commanders of "jefe regionales" in Spanish. Regional bosses are basically state bosses/region bosses, they command or control the "plaza bosses" or town bosses(They are very powerful). Not all of the cells leaders or "plaza bosses"are under the same command or under the same regional boss. And obviously under the regional bosses are "Sol" which is the head of the central bank for the organization as a whole, Z-42 the under boss for the whole orgination and the leader himself Z-40.
The Gulf Cartel uses the some of the same similar nicknames but they operate differently. Los Zetas are freaking goons compared to the Gulf Cartel.
