Lords of the Mafia
Hosted and produced by Robert Stack, this critically-acclaimed PBS series chronicles the historical rise of international organized crime and its leadership.
Episodes
With the collapse of the U.S.S.R. in 1991, Russia became fertile ground for organized criminal organizations that soon greatly diversified and expanded operations around the world. Leading the way in this regard was Vyacheslav Ivankov.
Lester Lloyd Coke, otherwise known as Jim Brown, was the leader of the much-feared Jamaican criminal organization called the Shower Posse that was responsible for highly profitable money-laundering operations and running drugs and weapons.
Whether by land, sea, or sky, Amado Carrillo Fuentes delivered narcotics to the United States by synergizing cartel operations in Mexico, and by finding new ways to compel authorities to either acquiesce or pay the ultimate price.
The Yakuza in Japan can be traced back to the 17th century, but their true origin remains a mystery. Their expertise revolves around strict codes of conduct enforced by serious punishment and an innate ability to legitimize dirty money.
New Orleans was the first city to experience the rise and expansion of Cosa Nostra on American soil. By 1947, Carlos Marcello had gone from a teenage street tough to a Louisiana crime boss with strong ties to other national organizations.
By the 1960s la Cosa Nostra in Italy and the United States began operating a narcotics network that would rapidly expand into a colossus, but within two decades, Italian Judge Giovanni Falcone was determined to dismantle the entire system.
No other country in the world understands the vicious struggle between the global narcotics empire and law enforcement more deeply than Colombia. One man stood at the center of this struggle in the late 20th century- Pablo Escobar.
As Prohibition took effect in the 1920s in New York City, criminals such as Tommy Gaetano Lucchese saw an opportunity to form what eventually became an extensive business network that would grow at an enormous rate over subsequent decades.
Lester Lloyd Coke, otherwise known as Jim Brown, was the leader of the much-feared Jamaican criminal organization called the Shower Posse that was responsible for highly profitable money-laundering operations and running drugs and weapons.
Raymond Lee Washington and nine men founded the Crips street gang that, along with the Bloods, became an organized force on the streets of L.A in the second half of the 20th century at a time when the city was simmering with discontent.
Criminal organizations originating from Vietnam after the Vietnam War have spread worldwide, including the Pacific Rim, Australia, and the United States. These violent groups specialize in home invasion, computer theft, and counterfeiting.
The unification of the European economy in the 1950s allowed organized criminal groups to tap into lucrative new markets in Western Europe and discover how to profoundly profit from narcotics, extortion, and new high-tech computer crimes.
In the 20th century, as global criminal organizations experienced a crackdown on their national activities, some began to seek international partnerships to increase business and to stay ahead of the curve of law enforcement stratagem.
As the world's Black Market grows to include nuclear arms and material, law enforcement has increased its surveillance to prevent the nuclear mafia from possessing weapons that could be used as leverage against governments worldwide.
In the world of crime, accomplices come in many forms, including corrupt government officials who collaborate with, and benefit from, their ties to organized crime. Among other countries, Mexico, China, and Jamaica are examined in depth.
The single trait that links all crime lords and the organizations they operate is: murder. Forensic scientists and criminal profilers from law enforcement offer unique insight into the psychological motivations that drive humans to kill.
