U.S. military relationships helped the Camorra surpass the Sicilian Cosa Nostra in power.

Evidence

Boosted by its relationships with U.S. forces and the mafias in Sicily and America, the Camorra eventually surpassed the economic power and influence of the Sicilian Cosa Nostra. Growing beyond underground markets, small-scale extortion, and racketeering, the Camorra became an international business syndicate. The biggest expansion in scale and scope came in the 1970s, when the Camorra clans found lucrative opportunities in construction, concrete, public contracts, waste disposal, and especially international drug trafficking. This turned the Camorra into a global economic powerhouse, grossing an estimated $16 billion per year and employing twenty thousand people, with affiliates across Europe, South America, and the United States. — David Vine, Base Nation_ How U.S. Military Bases…, 339

Categorization

• corroborated: 3 independent passages support this claim — David Vine, Base Nation_ How U.S. Military Bases…, 339
• XREF: connects to: The U.S. Navy has worked with the Camorra since World War II — David Vine, Base Nation_ How U.S. Military Bases…, 323; U.S. military and taxpayer dollars directly supported the Camorra’s economy; The US Navy rented housing from Camorra money-laundering fronts — David Vine, Base Nation_ How U.S. Military Bases…, 361 (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• The US Navy rented housing from Camorra money-laundering fronts #exemplifies (0.85) — David Vine, Base Nation_ How U.S. Military Bases…, 361
• US taxpayers paid Camorra clans for housing at inflated rates #exemplifies (0.80)
• NATO rent payments flowed into Camorra mafia coffers in Naples #exemplifies (0.80)
• U.S. military and taxpayer dollars directly supported the Camorra’s economy #expands (0.70)