Montreal Mafia

Montreal's most powerful criminal organization is, arguably, the Mafia. Active in Quebec since the early 1900s, the Montreal Mafia has been able to develop a nearly impregnable hierarchy and establish international drug networks.

The organization was, for many years, a branch office of New York City's powerful Bonanno Crime Family. The group, led by the influential Vic "The Egg" Cotroni, ran huge gambling rings, corrupted politicians, and smuggled millions worth of narcotics into the American market. The profits of these illicit activities were laundered through legitimate businesses, further expanding the organization's influence.

A power struggle erupted between the Calabrian and Sicilian factions of the family in the late 1970s. Several mobsters would lose their lives before the war was ended with the assassination of boss Paolo Violi. Vito Rizzuto, of the Sicilian wing, assumed control. He broke the family off from the Bonannos and established close ties with the powerful Caruana/Cuntrera Family.

The Montreal Mafia, along with the predominantly Irish West End Gang and the Hells Angels, make up Montreal's "Consortium". The Montreal Mafia determine the price of drugs, the amounts that are imported, and who it is sold to. Vito Rizzuto is reputedly in control and leads an extremely powerful, secretive, and disciplined group.