FROM its roots in Sicily, the Mafia has endured through the centuries and is currently flourishing amid the Coronavirus crisis.

Italy has been crippled by the virus?

With more than 180,000 confirmed cases and 24,000 deaths, Italy has been the worst affected country in Europe. Its health service has been brought to its knees and the country remains under strict lockdown.

So how can the Mafia thrive?

Rather than impinging their activities, ‘La Cosa Nostra’ - as the mob refers to itself - is defying lockdown and capitalising on the vulnerability of individuals and businesses.

In what ways?

Earlier this month, members held an elaborate funeral procession for a 70-year-old scion of one of Sicily's most renowned mob families, despite lockdown meaning funerals have been banned since early March. In the Sicilian district of Palermo, a local mob boss also organised a Good Friday church service, but it was ultimately halted by police.

Making money?

Mafia clans are offering credit to firms on the brink, with anti-Mafia body, SOS Impresa, saying the virus has essentially transformed the mob into Italy’s largest bank, even buying shares in at-risk firms to offer apparent ‘lifelines’ that could soon be dead-weights.

Targeting the vulnerable?

The Mafia provide necessities to poverty-stricken neighbourhoods - but these residents are then in the mob’s debt. Some debts are being repaid by those who find themselves newly unemployed agreeing to become foot-soldiers, boosting the Mafia’s numbers.

Cleaning?

The mob has always invested in cleaning firms and delivery services and are now focusing on running funeral homes and hospital laundry services, two areas under severe pressure presently.

It’s always been this way?

On the island of Sicily, which was ruled by foreign invaders for centuries, islanders banded together to protect themselves and carry out their own brand of justice. In fact, the term ’Mafioiso’ - or ‘Mafia member’ - originally had no criminal connotations, meaning only someone who was suspicious of authority.

But by the mid-19th century, the groups became private armies - ‘Mafie’ - who extorted landowners and firms for protection money, evolving into the Sicilian Mafia as we know it today.

The American mob?

A separate entity to the Sicilian Mafia, the US Mafia follows the same code of conduct, but is not faring so well. The cancellation of sporting events has wiped out millions of dollars in illegal gambling earnings, while other mafia mainstays, including extorting restaurants and construction rackets, have also ended, with eateries closed and building projects halted.

It’s just like the movies?

So many classic films feature the Mafia, from Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather, starring Marlon Brando, to Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas. But even Goodfellas was based in reality - inspired by the non-fiction book, Wiseguy, about mobster-turned-informant, Henry Hill.

Tony Soprano?

The late James Gandolfini memorably played New Jersey mob boss Tony on iconic TV show, The Sopranos. A new movie based on the young Tony's life stars Gandolfini's son, Michael, and will be released next spring.

MAUREEN SUGDEN