Now commanders in northern Iraq's largest city, Mosul, say they've uncovered a network of Mafia-style rackets.

NPR: Iraq Insurgents Borrow from Mafia Playbook

In northern Iraq, insurgents are using Mafia-style rackets and extortion of legitimate businesses to fund deadly attacks on American and Iraqi forces.

NPR: Iraq Insurgents Borrow from Mafia Playbook

Its primary objective has moved beyond conducting turf wars inside jails or propagating racist ideology, however, into running a ruthless Mafia-style organised crime network.

BBC: News Magazine, Washington DC

Mr Torgan believes that Brazil does suffer from a large, mafia-style organisation, though not all of those under investigation may form part of it.

ECONOMIST: Brazil