[File, Standard]There is a moment in the life of every failed state when criminal gangs stop fearing the government, and the government starts fearing criminal gangs. Those protection groups, born of genuine necessity, later became extortion rackets, gambling syndicates, and smuggling operations. Sicily's Cosa Nostra and Naples' Camorra followed identical trajectories — neighbourhood protection, political alliance, criminal enterprise, and ultimately a parallel state that rivalled the legitimate one in reach, resources, and fear. Port-au-Prince today is a city where gangs control ports, roads, and neighbourhoods. When politicians use gangs, they enter a transaction they cannot exit on their own terms.

Source: Standard Digital March 16, 2026 22:30 UTC