Criminal network resilience: The evolution of a camorra clan in response to police intervention

Criminal networks constantly operate under the threat of law enforcement interventions designed to disrupt their activities. The concept of resilience is often applied to understand how these networks persist over time and adapt to external pressures. This study examines the response of a Camorra clan heavily involved in drug trafficking, to police interventions that led to the arrest of multiple members. By analyzing network metrics and other descriptive statistics, the study explores structural changes within the clan and the turnover strategies employed to maintain its functionality. Tracking network modifications over time provides insight into how the clan adapts to disruption while sustaining its criminal operations. Given the clan's initial structure and environmental context, a high level of resilience was anticipated. However, findings reveal that the criminal network undergoes significant downsizing following a large-scale police intervention, with its structure severely altered. Despite these challenges, remaining members strategically shift their focus toward their most profitable activity—street-level drug dealing—as a means of preserving the clan's continuity. • The study examines how the Di Lauro clan, a Camorra group, adapted to law enforcement pressure after large-scale arrests. • The clan sustained drug trafficking but faced major structural changes after law enforcement intervention. • The clan prioritized continuity in drug trafficking by reallocating resources and recruiting new members. • High turnover at lower ranks and stable leadership reflect a strategic response to law enforcement disruption.