| It is one short step from parochial affiliations to local mafias that rely on clanship, clientalism, and identity politics. |
| A hundred years ago, similar mafias existed all across the region, they still have a halo surrounding them as if they are fighters for justice. |
| Non-governmental agencies should play a key role in working against forest mafias. |
| Others are just private murderous mafias that thrive in the atmosphere of lawlessness that prevails in large parts of the country. |
| Smuggling, bribery, protection rackets and the rise of criminal mafias are some of the common symptoms of rigidly controlled economies. |
| Large-scale embezzlement required experienced helpers, so criminal cooperatives appeared that tended to develop into so-called mafias. |
