The Teenage Mafia Academy | Crimewave
Summary
TLDRThe video script exposes the grim reality of child recruitment into the Camorra, a Neapolitan mafia clan, where kids as young as twelve are tested for loyalty through violence. It delves into the 'Camorra academy', where children escalate from petty crimes to drug dealing, driven by poverty and a lack of opportunities. The script also highlights the Camorra's manipulation of social media to glamorize crime and the stark contrast between the kids' resilience and the community's struggle with drugs and violence.
Takeaways
- 😔 The Camorra uses social media to recruit children as young as twelve or thirteen, exploiting their courage and vulnerability.
- 🗡️ Children are tested for their loyalty by being asked to commit murder, with the consequence of being killed if they refuse.
- 🏘️ Life in Le Vele di Scampia is depicted as harsh, with children growing up amidst suffering, hunger, and death, which hardens them to life's challenges.
- 💔 The lack of opportunities and jobs in these communities forces children into drug dealing and crime as a means of survival and to support their families.
- 👥 The 'Camorra academy' is a term used by authorities to describe the process where children graduate from petty crimes to selling drugs for the Camorra.
- 💰 The script reveals that children involved in drug dealing can make a significant amount of money, ranging from one to several thousand euros per day.
- 🔫 Gun violence is a part of life for these children, with many owning and using firearms, and the understanding that once a weapon is drawn, it must be used.
- 📈 The Camorra bosses strategically use social media to project an image of power and influence, inspiring and recruiting more children to join their ranks.
- 🚨 There is a clear indication that the state and the Camorra are intertwined, with corruption and criminal activities affecting the community's well-being.
- 🏥 The abandoned spaces meant for children's recreation have been taken over by drug users, highlighting the failure of the state to provide safe environments for youth.
- 🌆 Despite the grim reality, there are individuals like Bruno Mazza who work to reclaim spaces and provide opportunities for children to avoid falling into crime and drug addiction.
Q & A
What is the role of social media in the recruitment of children into the Camorra?
-Social media is used by the Camorra to showcase their strength and influence, which can inspire and attract children to join their ranks. It serves as a platform for interaction where the Camorra can engage with potential recruits, making them feel valued and important.
At what age do the Camorra typically recruit children?
-The Camorra often recruits children as young as twelve or thirteen years old, and sometimes even younger, depending on the individual's willingness and ability to prove their worth.
What is the 'test' that the Camorra uses to assess a child's value for their operations?
-The test involves asking the child to commit murder. If the child successfully carries out the act, they are deemed valuable; if not, they are killed instead.
How do the children in the script justify their involvement in drug dealing and crime?
-The children justify their actions by stating that they are forced into it due to a lack of jobs and opportunities. They claim to do it to build a future and support their families financially.
What is the term used to describe the groups of children involved in criminal activities in Italy?
-These groups of children are referred to as 'baby gangs' or 'paranze'.
What is the significance of the 'Camorra academy' label given to these baby gangs by the authorities?
-The 'Camorra academy' label signifies the process through which children are groomed and trained in criminal activities, moving from petty crimes to more serious offenses like drug dealing.
What is the average daily income for the children involved in drug dealing as mentioned in the script?
-The children involved in drug dealing can make between one thousand to two thousand euros per day, although this can vary greatly.
How do the children in the script view their future prospects without involvement in the Camorra?
-The children feel left out and see limited possibilities for their future without the Camorra. They believe that joining the Camorra could provide them with recognition and a sense of importance.
What is the impact of unemployment on the situation in Scampia and Parco Verde as described in the script?
-Unemployment is a significant factor fueling crime in these areas. The lack of jobs and opportunities pushes young people towards the Camorra and criminal activities.
How does the script portray the relationship between the children and the Camorra bosses?
-The script portrays a complex relationship where the children feel a sense of belonging and importance within the Camorra. Some even view the bosses as figures who provide them with a sense of family and protection that they lack in their own lives.
What efforts are being made to counteract the Camorra's influence and help children avoid criminal activities?
-Efforts such as those by Bruno Mazza, a former Camorra member turned charity worker, involve reclaiming spaces used for criminal activities and converting them into places for learning and skill development, like a cooking school.
Outlines
😈 The Dark Reality of Child Recruitment by the Camorra
This paragraph delves into the chilling world of the Camorra, a criminal organization in Naples, Italy, that recruits children as young as twelve or thirteen years old. The children, referred to as 'baby gangs' or 'paranze,' are tested for their ruthlessness by being asked to commit murder. Those who pass become part of the clan, seeking respect and power on the streets. The Camorra exploits these children's courage and resilience, qualities they believe are lacking in adults. The script reveals the harsh upbringing of these kids, who have witnessed death, hunger, and drug abuse, leading to their hardened exterior and fearlessness, even in the face of death. The paragraph also introduces 'Camorra academy,' a term used by authorities to describe the process by which children graduate from petty crimes to drug dealing, working alongside the Camorra.
💰 The Lucrative and Dangerous World of Child Drug Dealers
The second paragraph exposes the financial allure and perilous reality of child drug dealing within the Camorra's influence. Children aged twelve to thirteen are recruited and tested for their worthiness through acts of violence. The narrative follows Alessia, who interviews young drug dealers earning between one to two thousand euros daily. The children discuss their initiation into the trade at a young age, viewing it as a game. They openly admit to purchasing firearms and using them in their operations. The Camorra bosses monitor the children's activities closely, ensuring their obedience and loyalty. The paragraph also highlights the Camorra's strategic use of social media to intimidate and recruit, portraying a life of power and influence that tragically appeals to vulnerable youths.
🃏 A Glimpse into the Lives of Le Vele's Youth Amidst Crime
This paragraph offers a candid look into the pastimes and struggles of the youth in Le Vele, a neighborhood in Naples. Despite the pervasive crime and drug dealing, the children find solace in activities like soccer, table football, and snooker. However, their conversations reveal the gravity of their situation, with some admitting to engaging in robberies for 'easy money.' The narrative touches on the risks they take, the potential jail time, and their fearless attitude towards the consequences. It also explores the personal stories of the children, including one who started his life of crime at the age of twelve after losing his mother. The paragraph paints a stark picture of a community grappling with the effects of crime and drug abuse, and the seemingly inescapable cycle of poverty and desperation.
🏞️ The Abandoned Dreams and Harsh Realities of Parco Verde
The fourth paragraph shifts the focus to Parco Verde, a place that was once intended to be a recreational haven for local teens but has now become a haven for drug users and dealers. The script describes the appalling state of the area, with drug paraphernalia littering what should have been a safe space for children. It introduces Luca, a man who resorts to selling scrap metal to fund his drug habit, and his interaction with Alessia reveals the complex dynamics of drug use and its impact on families. The narrative also includes the perspective of a former Camorra member, Bruno Mazza, who now works to prevent children from falling into the same trap. His efforts highlight the ongoing battle against the Camorra's influence and the urgent need for change in the community.
🌅 Hope Amidst Desolation: The Resilience of Le Vele's Youth
The final paragraph concludes the script on a reflective note, acknowledging the resilience and spirit of the youth in Le Vele despite their challenging circumstances. The children express feelings of being left out and discuss their aspirations, some of which are influenced by the allure of the Camorra. The narrative captures a candid conversation with a 13-year-old named Manu, who embodies the uncertainty and potential of the community's youth. As Alessia prepares to leave Naples, the children offer a warm farewell, setting off fireworks as a symbol of their shared experiences and the hope for a brighter future. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of understanding and addressing the root causes of crime and the Camorra's recruitment of children, suggesting that with the right support, these youths can rise above their circumstances.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Camorra
💡Recruit
💡Baby Gangs
💡Drug Dealing
💡Social Media
💡Camorrista
💡Le Vela di Scampia
💡Drug House
💡Cocaine
💡Unemployment
💡Influencer
Highlights
Social media plays a crucial role in the recruitment of children into Camorra clans.
Children as young as twelve or thirteen are tested for their willingness to commit murder for initiation into the Camorra.
The desire for respect and power among young Camorristi is deeply rooted in their challenging upbringing.
The Camorra exploits the courage and desperation of youth, viewing them as essential to their operations.
Children in Naples are coerced into lives of crime due to poverty and lack of opportunities.
Drug dealing is portrayed as a means of survival and a path to financial stability for these children.
The term 'Camorra academy' is used by authorities to describe the process of children moving from petty crimes to drug dealing.
A glimpse into the daily operations of a child gang, including their drug house and the quantities of drugs they handle.
The financial rewards of drug dealing are substantial, with children making between one to two thousand euros daily.
The normalization of violence and the use of firearms among children involved in criminal activities.
The Camorra's manipulative tactics in grooming children for their organization, including the use of social media.
The Camorra's influence extends to controlling social spaces and leisure activities for children in their strongholds.
The stark reality of children engaging in high-risk criminal activities for financial gain.
The tragic stories of children who have lost family members and turned to drugs as a coping mechanism.
The devastating impact of drug dealing and usage on the community and the lives of children.
Efforts by former Camorra members to combat drug use and recruitment by providing alternative opportunities for youth.
The systemic issues of unemployment and corruption that fuel the Camorra's influence and operations.
A personal account from a young member of the Camorra, revealing his aspirations and the allure of the criminal lifestyle.
The resilience and sense of community among children in Le Vele, despite their challenging circumstances.
Transcripts
Social media can be very important in a child’s growth
to become part of a Camorra clan.
How old are these kids that you recruit?
Twelve or thirteen.
If they want to be recruited, they need to come to us.
We test them.
We ask them to kill someone.
If they do it, great. If not, we kill them instead.
What a criminal.
Yes, I’d like to be a Camorrista.
When I walk in the streets, they have to look down.
They have to show respect.
Without these kids, the Camorra is no more
because the kids have a courage that adults don’t.
We have experienced everything.
We’ve seen hunger, death, drugs.
We’ve grown up in suffering.
Now our blood is cold.
That’s the thing, we aren’t afraid of anything.
Not even death.
[CAMORRA ACADEMY]
Two armed robberies in 15 minutes,
but it is their age that makes the headlines.
Groups of children called baby gangs or paranze
are terrorizing ordinary citizens around Italy through robberies,
violent attacks, and drug dealing.
In Naples, these baby gangs co-exist
and, in some cases, work directly with the Camorra,
the local mafia made up of individual clans
who run organized crime in the region.
I’m in a notorious Camorra stronghold,
Le Vela di Scampia,
to meet boys using the fake names Ernesto,
Alfredo,
Gennaro,
and Manu,
who make up a child gang that operates in the blocks here.
Hi, I’m Alessia. Nice to meet you.
Do you mind showing me around?
Yeah, let’s go.
Want to go to the rooftop?
Wherever you like! It’s up to you.
Alright, follow me.
And listen to this!
You’re all crazy!
Growing up in Le Vele is great
because here you really understand what life is about.
If you’re Le Vele and we grew up together,
I’ll always be there for you.
We’re a family.
Pull this up, little baby!
But what brings us to make mistakes is that we grew up in suffering.
We’ve seen deaths, drugs, hunger,
our families destroyed due to lack of jobs,
If we’re selling drugs,
it’s because we want to build a future
and help our family to bring the bread home.
We’re forced to do it because there are no jobs. There is nothing.
We have drugs.
We steal.
That’s what we do. That’s our life.
That’s why our hearts turned cold.
A round of applause for us!
We like living this life,
and it’s not for the money, not at all.
We like it. It’s an outlet.
When we do it, we feel excluded from everyone and everything.
We’re in our world.
After graduating from petty crimes,
many of the kids move on to selling drugs,
either buying from the Camorra or working directly for them.
This process has earned these baby gangs
the label “Camorra academy” from the authorities.
The kids want to show me how their operation works.
So after passing through a gate installed by the Camorra,
we arrive at their drug house...
Hello, may I come in?
a family home with a mother and a child present.
Would you like a coffee?
Sorry, boss!
And by the way, if we lose this, we won’t make it back home tonight.
Do you know how much cocaine is on the table right now?
Three hundred grams? Leave it.
Isn’t it actually 700, bro?
This bag is, yeah.
It’s 700, fatso.
I’ll show you something.
You messed everything up!
Give me a little bag.
Hang on, hang on.
Hang on, hang on.
You have to make a little ball of it.
What the hell?!
-Give it here! -I’ll do it. Stop moving.
Don’t move. Let me do it. You’re burning the ball.
Without touching it, stop it.
Don’t burn it.
This is a hell of a piece.
On average, how much money do you make every day by selling this?
Loads of it.
One thousand to two thousand [euros]. We make a lot of money.
And how did you start selling this?
Going out, looking around.
At ten, 13, or 12 years old.
It was like a game to us. It still is.
Who gave you the gun?
We bought it.
Give us 700 euros, and it’s yours.
-Won’t you reassemble it? -It’s unloaded.
Alright, thank you.
Have you ever had to use it?
Yes, of course. Quite often.
Against people?
It’s like this: Once you’ve drawn the gun...
I mean, you can’t go back.
You shoot or you shoot.
Otherwise, why would you draw it in the first place?
If you hurt me, I take this and I hurt you even more badly.
You hurt me with your words, I hurt you with this.
What a criminal, this friend of mine.
An absolute criminal!
Censor him. Mafia, mafia, he wants to be part of the mafia!
Off camera, the Camorra bosses keep a close watch over the conversation.
It can be tricky for them to talk about some things.
We’re like kids in custody!
We are under the masters.
They want to make sure I speak to them, not the kids,
about how the business is run.
Alessia, nice to meet you.
What’s the activity that brings the most income to you?
Drug dealing.
Hashish, marijuana, crack,
cocaine, heroin, kobret [low-grade heroin], all sorts.
How much money can you make per day?
It depends on the numbers. 40, 50, 60, 80 thousand a day.
Thousand?
How old are these kids that you usually recruit?
Twelve to thirteen. It depends.
All ages.
If they want to be recruited, often they come to us.
And we assess whether they are valuable or not.
And how do you know whether this person is valuable or not
for your line of work?
We test them.
We ask them to kill someone.
If they do it, that’s good. If they don’t, we kill them instead.
If they want to do it, who are we to stop them?
It’s also easier for us.
They have to get the measure of you if you want to be a Camorrista.
You need to be valued as a person,
someone clever that has progressed despite the odds since childhood.
You have to do as you are commanded.
If the Camorra asked me to kill someone, I’d do it.
Because if you don’t, they kill you instead.
These Camorra bosses
might be trying to absolve themselves of all responsibility.
But at the same time, they fill their social media
with content promoting their lifestyle
aimed at teens they want to recruit.
I’m meeting an alleged senior Camorrista
from a well-known family in Naples
with a popular social media account.
Even admitting to being affiliated with the Camorra
is a specific crime in Italy.
How does the Camorra use social media?
The Camorra uses social networks to show its strength
because when people see us on the street, they have to fear us.
They have to know that we’ll always be stronger than them.
Do you think this kind of content
inspires other kids to become Camorristi?
Do they see you like an influencer somehow?
Certainly, yes.
Social media can be very important in a child’s growth
to become part of a Camorra clan.
For example, if I post something and they leave a comment,
I surely pay more attention to comments than messages.
If I like the comment, I reply, and so on.
It’s like an inspiration for them and other kids.
Do you think these kids then feel important
because you answer to their comment as well?
Certainly, yes. It has happened before.
What this Camorra member just said to me was surreal.
And I feel absolutely sorry for these kids who find these videos
and then they want to be like this, too.
The only place to socialize in Le Vele is a pool bar...
allegedly run by the Camorra.
Hey, you’re full of balls!
And that’s three—you’ve lost!
Your go.
So you’ve got to have--
Are you looking at my cards?
You were looking at my cards! I saw you!
But you’re holding them like this!
Shit!
-No, what should I do now? -You’ve lost!
No worries, let’s play again.
A seven, right?
So what do you guys do for fun?
We play soccer.
-Or we argue. -Or we play table football, snooker.
Did you say arguing?
To have fun.
Do you come here every day?
Yes.
I am very sleepy.
He said he is very sleepy.
-Do you want some coffee, maybe? -No.
-Why are you sleepy? -I want to go to bed. I didn’t sleep.
Why didn’t you sleep?
Because...
We went looking for trouble last night.
Where did you go?
-Doing robberies. -Getting into trouble.
Where?
Everywhere. Cars, mopeds, bags, money...
Easy money.
In one day, depending on the car you choose,
you can get up to 1,500 euros with a Fiat Panda.
A small 50cc car can get you up to 1,600 euros.
In one or two days, you can bring 2,000 euros home without doing shit,
and you can buy whatever you want.
Scopa with a five. How the fuck did you do that?
But you said it’s easy.
But how is that easy
because there’s so much risk involved in that?
Sooner or later, believe me, we’ll all get caught.
We risk three to four years in jail.
But then you get out and you make twice as much money.
OK.
Are you not afraid that with this lifestyle,
you might actually die?
We’re not afraid of anything, not even death.
No, we know the consequences.
That’s the thing, we aren’t afraid of anything.
Shit!
Shit!
At 12, 13 years old, I did my first robbery.
I was with my friends,
and I only have my father.
I lost my mother four years ago
to a disease.
I’m living with my aunt now.
We did it because we were in a bad place.
We didn’t have the money to get ahead or help our family.
Let’s be honest, what can you do with 20 euros a day?
Drugs and crime
may have given the kids of La Vela a chance to make money,
but it's easy to see the damage it's done to the community.
What did you buy?
I bought a piece of crack.
Have you ever understood why you started doing drugs?
I started to snort cocaine when I was 12 years old.
Here in the suburbs of Naples,
drugs are just something that’s there as you leave the house.
At first, it was with a friend.
You know, a car ride, “Let’s do something different.”
It seemed like a good idea.
I was feeling good.
Then gradually, it became my life.
Without this substance, I can hardly do anything.
I’m sorry.
Hearing about his life puts everything in perspective,
especially when I look at these kids
because this is what they've seen growing up.
It's so hard to escape this when this is your reality.
This is your day-to-day.
And it’s terrifying to think that so many kids
might fall victims of this,
whether it's drug dealing or being a drug user.
Since the destruction of parts of Le Vele,
the majority of Camorra dealing has moved 20 minutes north
to Parco Verde,
now known as the biggest open-air drug dealing square
in Europe.
It is here where former Camorra member
turned charity worker Bruno Mazza
now works to help children avoid drugs and Camorra recruitment.
He wanted to take me to a leisure center,
the only space built for local teens in the past few decades,
now left abandoned and taken over by drug users
who buy in Parco Verde.
There are rooms specifically dedicated to heroin,
rooms to smoke crack.
I’ll show you.
And this was supposed to be for the kids?
This is a playground for children.
But look at that, look. How can they possibly come here?
This is a bottle for crack, look.
They do crack here, look.
These are the heroin bottles and the cocaine.
Look at this syringe here on the ground.
It’s recent, look. This one too.
Is it just the state or also the Camorra?
This is the state’s doing.
But even the Camorra does its part.
The corrupted part of the state
does business with their entrepreneur friends.
But the thing is, you cannot trust any given entrepreneur
because they are maybe friends with the Camorra.
Obviously, where else is the 1,800,000 euros
that was to be invested in here?
They’ve taken all the manholes too.
What do they do with them?
They sell them as scrap metal. They’ve even taken the electricity.
What are you doing in here?
Just smoking a little.
I am clean. I don’t even have a criminal record.
What’s your name?
Luca.
-I’m Alessia. -I’m Luca, hi.
What are you doing here?
Taking some metal to sell it and buy drugs.
How old are your kids?
Ten and twelve years old.
Do they know?
They have a clue.
What do they say?
They have their mother’s spite. It’s her who gave them these ideas.
You do drugs for real, though.
Yeah, but I never did anything in front of them.
They hadn’t realized.
How can the kids not realize?
The kids are little.
His mother-in-law ran him over
because he does drugs
and he hurts his wife and children, so her grandkids.
And he says that during an argument, he was run over by his mother-in-law.
She tried to save you in this way.
Like hell she did.
How many times do you buy per day?
On average, twice a day.
How old are the people you buy from?
Every age, old people and kids.
Sometimes they send a boy to give you the drugs.
Anyone, a child or old person alike.
I see.
Thank you.
When you were a kid and the boss asked you to work for him,
how did you feel?
I felt protected.
He gave me what I couldn’t have with my own father.
He showed me...
he loved me as if I were his own son.
I believed that.
He sort of won me over with the charm of the easy motorbike,
the easy clothes.
Nowadays, the Camorra uses younger kids.
because they believe that they have a courage that adults no longer have.
If there are no jobs or work [for young people] in Parco Verde
or Scampia,
then you can do whatever you want,
even arrest them and put them in jail
for 300 euros a day.
What do you do then?
They get out of jail and start committing crimes again.
Without these kids, the Camorra is no more.
Despite their constant threats and intimidations,
Bruno reclaims and converts all Camorra spaces,
including an ex-cocaine den
that now serves to teach young people cooking skills.
Forty kids died in Parco Verde.
And they did not die of natural causes.
They died in shootings or because of drugs.
This means that we should do something for these kids.
We lack everything.
Unemployment is what fuels crime.
As long as there is unemployment, the Camorra will be there.
The boys I’ve been spending time with
are only a couple of years older than the children Bruno works with.
I want to speak to the youngest of the group, 13-year-old Manu,
about how he's ended up here.
I wanted to speak to you
because I saw all the other kids spoke a little more,
so I thought there might be something worrying you,
and I wanted to know more.
No, I’m just someone who listens more than I talk.
OK.
What sort of possibilities are there for kids at Le Vele?
I don’t know.
Here at Scampia, we feel left out.
What do your parents do?
My father is a greengrocer and my mum is a housewife.
Do your parents ever wonder where do you get your own money?
Yes, sometimes.
And what do you tell them?
Sometimes the truth, and sometimes...
lies.
Maybe if you would open up to them, maybe they will help you out too.
Don’t worry.
Are your parents afraid that you might get involved with the Camorra?
Yes.
Would you like to be a Camorrista?
If I were to become one, I’d be happy.
Because I’d become someone.
Someone that is known.
By everyone.
It’s time to leave Naples,
and the boys from Le Vele want to give me a proper send-off.
-Hi. -Hi!
What are we up to?
Setting off fireworks.
Who the hell is this, a shark?
Before coming here, I was terrified
because the Italian newspapers have demonized these kids.
But actually I realized that there’s no bad kids,
but just awful circumstances.
We’re still young, yet so grown up.
They might have tossed us here in Le Vele,
but we know how to take care of ourselves.
We have the sea. We have the sun.
We’re a family.
We have everything.
Thank you!
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