Commisso 'ndrina
Encyclopedia
The Commisso 'ndrina is a powerful clan of the 'Ndrangheta, a criminal and mafia-type organisation in Calabria
, Italy
. The 'ndrina is based in Siderno
, but has an important branch in the Greater Toronto Area
in Canada.
the undisputed boss at the time. In January 1975, Macrì was killed in the so-called first 'Ndrangheta war. His right-hand man – who was wounded in the attack on Macrì – Francesco Commisso was intended to be his successor. However, he appointed his son, Cosimo Commisso
, also known as "the quail" ("'u quagghia"), as the new boss of the locale of Siderno.
In the 1980s, the Commisso were challenged by the Costa 'ndrina over the command of Siderno. The Costas had returned from Toronto
(Canada). By 1991, the feud – that spilled over to Toronto as well – ended in a victory for the Commisso clan. Officially, there were 28 dead among the Costas and eight among the Commissos. Cosimo Commisso was sentenced over the vendetta and his nephew Antonio Commisso
succeeded him as the acting boss of the clan.
The Commissos are one of the 'Ndrangheta's biggest and most important clans, involved in the global cocaine business and money laundering. They were members of La Provincia, a provincial commission of the 'Ndrangheta formed at the end of the Second 'Ndrangheta war in September 1991, to avoid further internal conflicts.
, which is headed by Cosimo Elia Commisso, and is part of the wider Siderno Group
. Cosimo’s brother Rocco Remo Commisso has been named as a part of the mob in Canada for decades. He initiated a continuous flow of cocaine trafficking to Toronto, using supply channels from Argentina according to Italian prosecutors.
By the end of the 1970s, the Comissos had put together a criminal enterprise that "rivalled the best of the Sicilian Mafia structures existing in the United States and which was, in terms of pure muscle and audacity, one of the most powerful mafia groups in Canada." They "controlled a criminal organization that imported and distributed heroin with the Vancouver
mob and the Calabrian Mafia in Italy, fenced stolen goods across North America, printed and distributed counterfeit money throughout Canada and the United States, ran a vast exortion network in Ontario, arranged insurance and land frauds in the Toronto area, and engaged in contract killings and contract-enforcement work across Canada and the United States – the whole gamut of violent criminal activities one usually associates with the Mafia."
Canada is a safe haven for fugitives from Italy who have allies at the other side of the Atlantic. One of them, Antonio Commisso
, was arrested in June 2005. According to the Siderno police force, "the criminal minds of Siderno are in Canada."
Calabria
Calabria , in antiquity known as Bruttium, is a region in southern Italy, south of Naples, located at the "toe" of the Italian Peninsula. The capital city of Calabria is Catanzaro....
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. The 'ndrina is based in Siderno
Siderno
Siderno is a town and comune located in Calabria, Italy about 3 kilometres from Locri.Siderno Marina is the newer town located on the Ionian coast. It is popular with both Italian and foreign tourists and has a bathing beach....
, but has an important branch in the Greater Toronto Area
Greater Toronto Area
The Greater Toronto Area is the largest metropolitan area in Canada, with a 2006 census population of 5.5 million. The Greater Toronto Area is usually defined as the central city of Toronto, along with four regional municipalities surrounding it: Durham, Halton, Peel, and York...
in Canada.
In Siderno
Siderno was the fiefdom of Antonio MacrìAntonio Macrì
Antonio Macrì , popularly known as Zzi 'ntoni, was a historical and charismatic boss of the 'Ndrangheta, a criminal and mafia-type organisation in Calabria, Italy...
the undisputed boss at the time. In January 1975, Macrì was killed in the so-called first 'Ndrangheta war. His right-hand man – who was wounded in the attack on Macrì – Francesco Commisso was intended to be his successor. However, he appointed his son, Cosimo Commisso
Cosimo Commisso
Cosimo Commisso , also known as "the quail" , is an Italian criminal and a member of the 'Ndrangheta, a mafia-type organisation in Calabria...
, also known as "the quail" ("'u quagghia"), as the new boss of the locale of Siderno.
In the 1980s, the Commisso were challenged by the Costa 'ndrina over the command of Siderno. The Costas had returned from Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
(Canada). By 1991, the feud – that spilled over to Toronto as well – ended in a victory for the Commisso clan. Officially, there were 28 dead among the Costas and eight among the Commissos. Cosimo Commisso was sentenced over the vendetta and his nephew Antonio Commisso
Antonio Commisso
Antonio Commisso is an Italian criminal and a member of the 'Ndrangheta, a criminal and mafia-type organisation in Calabria, Italy. He was a fugitive since 2005 and included in the list of most wanted fugitives in Italy until his capture on June 28, 2005, near Toronto, Canada...
succeeded him as the acting boss of the clan.
The Commissos are one of the 'Ndrangheta's biggest and most important clans, involved in the global cocaine business and money laundering. They were members of La Provincia, a provincial commission of the 'Ndrangheta formed at the end of the Second 'Ndrangheta war in September 1991, to avoid further internal conflicts.
In Canada
The clan has a branch in Canada, in the Greater Toronto AreaGreater Toronto Area
The Greater Toronto Area is the largest metropolitan area in Canada, with a 2006 census population of 5.5 million. The Greater Toronto Area is usually defined as the central city of Toronto, along with four regional municipalities surrounding it: Durham, Halton, Peel, and York...
, which is headed by Cosimo Elia Commisso, and is part of the wider Siderno Group
Siderno Group
The Siderno Group is a criminal association in Canada and Australia related to the 'Ndrangheta, a Mafia-type organisation in Calabria. The association is labelled the "Siderno Group" because its members primarily came from the town of Siderno on the Ionian coast in Calabria and migrated to Canada...
. Cosimo’s brother Rocco Remo Commisso has been named as a part of the mob in Canada for decades. He initiated a continuous flow of cocaine trafficking to Toronto, using supply channels from Argentina according to Italian prosecutors.
By the end of the 1970s, the Comissos had put together a criminal enterprise that "rivalled the best of the Sicilian Mafia structures existing in the United States and which was, in terms of pure muscle and audacity, one of the most powerful mafia groups in Canada." They "controlled a criminal organization that imported and distributed heroin with the Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
mob and the Calabrian Mafia in Italy, fenced stolen goods across North America, printed and distributed counterfeit money throughout Canada and the United States, ran a vast exortion network in Ontario, arranged insurance and land frauds in the Toronto area, and engaged in contract killings and contract-enforcement work across Canada and the United States – the whole gamut of violent criminal activities one usually associates with the Mafia."
Canada is a safe haven for fugitives from Italy who have allies at the other side of the Atlantic. One of them, Antonio Commisso
Antonio Commisso
Antonio Commisso is an Italian criminal and a member of the 'Ndrangheta, a criminal and mafia-type organisation in Calabria, Italy. He was a fugitive since 2005 and included in the list of most wanted fugitives in Italy until his capture on June 28, 2005, near Toronto, Canada...
, was arrested in June 2005. According to the Siderno police force, "the criminal minds of Siderno are in Canada."