Groups of persons organized for illegal purposes, such as bootlegging, conducting illegal gambling, loansharking, extortion, etc.; -- a general term encompassing most forms of criminal groups, but especially those that are consolidated into "families" more or less recognizing each other's different regions of operation; sometimes considered synonymous with the mafia or the syndicate.

The unlawful activities of the members of a highly organized, disciplined association engaged in supplying illegal goods and services, including but not limited to gambling, prostitution, loansharking, narcotics, labour racketeering, and other unlawful activities of members of such organizations.

A business operation that supplies illegal goods and services for profit.

underworld organizations