The ‘Ndrangheta family is one of the most powerful organized crime entities in the world.

According to the FBI, the group was established in the 1860s in Calabria, Italy. In the decades since its founding, the ‘Ndrangheta has expanded its empire beyond Italy and has international offshoots in Canada, Australia and the United States, among several other countries, per the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP).

The ‘Ndrangheta family has allegedly made billions of dollars from various criminal activities — including drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, money laundering, fraud, kidnapping and racketeering. In 2014, The Guardian reported that the organization had made more money than McDonald’s and Deutsche Bank combined during the previous year.

Unlike other organized crime groups, the ‘Ndrangheta allegedly prioritizes a family-based structure and consists of smaller groups called ‘ndrine. Although international authorities have had success taking down several members of the group, they’ve partially struggled to infiltrate the mob because of the loyalty that comes as a result of the family-based hierarchy.

Several former members and officers investigating the family appeared in the 2025 docuseries, Mafia: Most Wanted, which hit Netflix in September 2025. The docuseries shares a rare look into where some of the former mobsters are now and how they were able to leave the group.

Here’s everything to know about the ‘Ndrangheta family, as seen in Mafia: Most Wanted.

The ‘Ndrangheta family is one of the most powerful organized crime groups in the world

The ‘Ndrangheta family has established itself as one of the wealthiest and most powerful organized crime groups in the world. They are one of Italy’s three major crime families, along with the Naples-based Camorra and the Sicilian Cosa Nostra.

In 2022, the Central Directorate for Antidrug Services described the ‘Ndrangheta family as “one of the most powerful and dangerous criminal organizations worldwide.” The report explained that the group “holds a primary position in the management of drug trafficking as a real ‘player’ capable of relocating its illicit activities worldwide.”

“Nowadays the ‘Ndrangheta is Italy’s most wide-reaching Mafia-type organization both nationally and internationally and the most influential player in cocaine trafficking from South America and from the main temporary storage areas in Europe,” the 2022 annual report read.

The organization originated in the “toe” mountainous region of Calabria, Italy, in the 19th century and has since expanded across the world.

The group prioritizes a blood-family structure, with smaller groupings known as ‘ndrine

The ‘Ndrangheta consists of hundreds of family groups and gangs across the world called ‘ndrine. The loyalty amongst the families has reportedly made the group both feared and harder to infiltrate.

Italy’s Anti-Mafia Investigative Directorate (DIA) credited the family bonds as providing “maximum flexibility” for creating business opportunities, per Reuters. There is typically one reigning ‘ndrine per small town or allotted territory that is run by a ‘ndrina boss.

Beyond towns in Italy, ‘ndrine reportedly have ruling areas in other European countries, Africa, Asia, South America, Australia and significant territories in Canada, as shown in Mafia: Most Wanted.

The ‘Ndranghetas allegedly kidnapped over 200 people from the 1970s to 1990s – including John Paul Getty III

Around the 1970s, the ‘Ndrangheta rapidly expanded both their territory and their criminal activities. In order to maintain their loyalty and increase their areas of control, the family allegedly began kidnapping people to obtain ransom money.

From the 1970s to the 1990s, the ‘Ndrangheta kidnapped and abducted an estimated 200 people, according to the OCCRP. One of the more well-known cases occurred in 1973 when the family allegedly abducted John Paul Getty III, the grandson of the oil tycoon J. Paul Getty.

He was abducted in Rome and was subsequently held in the Calabrian mountains for five months while the ‘Ndrangheta demanded a multi-million dollar ransom. At one point, the kidnappers sent Getty’s severed ear to a newspaper.

In December 1973, Getty’s grandfather reportedly sent $2.2 million for the release of his grandson.

The crime group has ties all over the world, from Italy to Canada

While the ‘Ndrangheta family is still headquartered in Calabria, they have established territories across the world. They reportedly operate in dozens of countries and regions, but they have a more significant presence in Canada, Australia and Europe.

In the Greater Toronto Area, the ‘Ndrangheta is operated by a group of ‘ndrine known by law enforcement as the “Siderno Group,” per the National Post. The branch has allegedly played a major role in the organization’s functions — including drug trafficking operations — since the 1950s.

Another area that has become a focal point of the ‘Ndrangheta family is Australia, where the “Honoured Society” has operated for around 100 years, per Stuff. The group has allegedly connected the Italian and Australian operations, specifically in drug trafficking and money laundering.

Since the ‘Ndrangheta family was established in Calabria, they have reportedly expanded their territories across Europe — including Germany, France, Switzerland, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands. In addition to those countries, the ‘Ndrangheta reportedly also operates in the U.S., South America, West Africa and Asia.

They have estimated incomes of 10s of billions of dollars

The ‘Ndrangheta family has allegedly made billions of dollars through various illegal activities — primarily trafficking cocaine across the world. In 2014, The Guardian reported that the organization had earned more money in 2013 than massive companies Deutsche Bank and McDonald’s combined.

The outlet reported that the organized crime group earned an estimated €53 billion — approximately 3.5 percent of Italy’s gross domestic product — from drug trafficking, illegal waste dumping, embezzlement, arms sales, gambling and counterfeiting goods.

While the exact worth of the ‘Ndrangheta family is unknown, in 2021 Forbes estimated that they have an approximate net worth of $72 billion.

Interpol has arrested hundreds of members of the ‘Ndrangheta organization

While the ‘Ndrangheta family has been notoriously difficult to infiltrate because of the loyal familial ties, several international organizations have arrested and convicted hundreds of members over the years.

In 2010, Operation Crime focused on the ‘Ndrangheta and resulted in the arrest of approximately 305 members, per the Department of Justice. In addition to the arrests, the operation also allowed authorities to have a better understanding of the group’s structure.

Another major takedown took place in 2023 when a court convicted 207 members of the ‘Ndrangheta family for a variety of charges ranging from drug trafficking to extortion. The Italian trial marked a major milestone for authorities, as it was one of the largest mafia trials to date, per Reuters.

In 2020, INTERPOL launched the I-CAN project to collaborate with nearly two dozen countries to both raise awareness about the ‘Ndrangheta family and target the organization. As of January 2025, the I-CAN program has resulted in 158 members of the ‘Ndrangheta being arrested across the world.

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