'Ndrina

The 'ndrine enjoy a high degree of autonomy – they have a leader, the capobastone, and independent staff.

By and large, the 'ndrine consist of men belonging to the same family lineage, under the command of the capobastone.

[1][2][3] Salvatore Boemi, Anti-mafia prosecutor in Reggio Calabria, told the Italian Antimafia Commission that "one becomes a member for the simple fact of being born in a mafia family," although other reasons might attract a young man to seek membership, and non-kin have also been admitted.

As a result, a few blood families constitute each group, hence "a high number of people with the same last name often end up being prosecuted for membership of a given 'ndrina."

Since there is no limit to the membership of a single unit, bosses try to maximize descendants.