Gang de la Brise de Mer
Encyclopedia
The gang de la Brise de Mer is one of the most powerful Corsican criminal organizations
. Based in the Northern Corsica
, the gang controls various activities (racketeering, slots machines traffic, laundering, night clubs, gambling clubs, casinos, etc.) in Corsica, but also in the South of France, in Paris, in Occidental African countries (Gabon
, Mali
, Cameroon
, etc.), and in Latin American countries.
The gang's moniker came from a Bastia
cafe called "La Brise de Mer" (the sea breeze) where they held meetings throughout the 1970s.
The gang is well-known for its spectacular, violent armed robberies in Corsica, France
and the rest of Europe.
The robbery of the UBS bank in Geneva
, Switzerland
in 1990; the attack of a Securipost's trunk in 1991 and the robbery of Air France
Mercure in 1992 are probably the most important robberies of the gang.
The "Brise de Mer" is also suspected of involvement in the murders in 2001 of members of Armata Corsa
, a separatist Corsican armed group.
Around ten families or clans constitute the "Brise de Mer" organization. Its capital is estimated to be between 120 and 150 million Euro
. This money is invested in Corsica and the rest of France, through the running of night clubs, bars, and illegal slots machines. Other investments are casino activities in Africa
, Latin America and Italy
.
Since 2008, several important suspected members of the gang (Richard Casanova, Daniel Vittini, Francis Mariani, Pierre-Marie Santucci...) have been killed during violent conflicts between the various Corsican gangs.
Corsican mafia
The Corsican mafia is the general term used to describe the various criminal groups originating from Corsica. The Corsican mafia is one of the most influential organized crime structures in France, also active in many African and Latin American countries...
. Based in the Northern Corsica
Corsica
Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia....
, the gang controls various activities (racketeering, slots machines traffic, laundering, night clubs, gambling clubs, casinos, etc.) in Corsica, but also in the South of France, in Paris, in Occidental African countries (Gabon
Gabon
Gabon , officially the Gabonese Republic is a state in west central Africa sharing borders with Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north, and with the Republic of the Congo curving around the east and south. The Gulf of Guinea, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean is to the west...
, Mali
Mali
Mali , officially the Republic of Mali , is a landlocked country in Western Africa. Mali borders Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the Côte d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west. Its size is just over 1,240,000 km² with...
, Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
, etc.), and in Latin American countries.
The gang's moniker came from a Bastia
Bastia
Bastia is a commune in the Haute-Corse department of France located in the northeast of the island of Corsica at the base of Cap Corse. It is also the second-largest city in Corsica after Ajaccio and the capital of the department....
cafe called "La Brise de Mer" (the sea breeze) where they held meetings throughout the 1970s.
The gang is well-known for its spectacular, violent armed robberies in Corsica, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and the rest of Europe.
The robbery of the UBS bank in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
in 1990; the attack of a Securipost's trunk in 1991 and the robbery of Air France
Air France
Air France , stylised as AIRFRANCE, is the French flag carrier headquartered in Tremblay-en-France, , and is one of the world's largest airlines. It is a subsidiary of the Air France-KLM Group and a founding member of the SkyTeam global airline alliance...
Mercure in 1992 are probably the most important robberies of the gang.
The "Brise de Mer" is also suspected of involvement in the murders in 2001 of members of Armata Corsa
Armata Corsa
Armata Corsa was an underground separatist terrorist organization in Corsica, today disbanded.Armata Corsa was founded in 1999...
, a separatist Corsican armed group.
Around ten families or clans constitute the "Brise de Mer" organization. Its capital is estimated to be between 120 and 150 million Euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
. This money is invested in Corsica and the rest of France, through the running of night clubs, bars, and illegal slots machines. Other investments are casino activities in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, Latin America and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
Since 2008, several important suspected members of the gang (Richard Casanova, Daniel Vittini, Francis Mariani, Pierre-Marie Santucci...) have been killed during violent conflicts between the various Corsican gangs.