AllMovie

Although the Mafia had its beginnings in Sicily, it eventually spread its tentacles all over the world. Organized crime originally owed its success to providing services that appeal to human weakness. Gambling, illegal drugs and alcohol, and trafficking in humans were among its pursuits. To enforce its hold over prized territory, the mob resorted to extortion and violence. The law responded with harsh measures, but organized crime, now engaged in a number of respectable activities, still thrives. This episode on the Russian Mafia is part of a five-volume series that chronicles the history of organized crime, using archival film footage, photographs, journals, personal accounts, and commentary by historians.