gangsters

Gangsters are individuals who participate in organized criminal activity, typically as members of a structured group such as a gang or syndicate. They often engage in illegal enterprises that include protection rackets, extortion, loan sharking, illegal gambling, drug trafficking, and violence intended to intimidate rivals or coerce targets. The term is used worldwide, though its meaning and scope vary by country and era.

The concept rose to prominence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in urban centers, where dense markets and weak governance facilitated organized crime. In the United States, Prohibition (1920–1933) accelerated the growth of syndicates and violent competition. Similar patterns appeared in other countries, with groups organized along ethnic, regional, or ideological lines. Over time, criminal networks have diversified and globalized, forming alliances that cross borders and operate in multiple sectors.

Organizations typically feature a leadership core, with mid-level organizers, enforcers, and operatives who carry out illicit activities. Some groups maintain codes of conduct, secrecy, and loyalty, while others operate more loosely. Common activities include protection and loan sharking, illegal gambling, drug distribution, money laundering, and various forms of corruption or coercion.

Law enforcement responses focus on disrupting operations and prosecuting the individuals and the criminal enterprises as a whole. Statutes such as the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) in the United States have been used to pursue networks rather than isolated offenders. Global crime trends have broadened into cybercrime and transnational trafficking, challenging traditional approaches.

In criminology and journalism, gangsters are studied to understand incentives, organization, social conditions, and the impact of illicit markets. Cultural portrayals in media can shape public perception, highlighting both the harms of violence and the broader workings of organized crime.