Paul Carbone
Encyclopedia
Paul Carbone was a Corsican criminal involved in the Marseille underworld
from the 1920s till his death in 1943. Associated to François Spirito
, who would become one of the leaders of the French Connection
, Carbone inspired the film Borsalino (film)
which featured Alain Delon
and Jean-Paul Belmondo
.
during 20 years, maintaining close contact with politicians. He owned many brothels (maisons closes), engaged in racketeering on the Riviera
and also in smuggling
of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese between Italy and France. The couple also possessed interests in Paris. They were the first to import opium
from Indochina
and transform it to heroin near Marseille, before sending it to the United States.
During the inter-war period, Carbone and Spirito allied themselves with the mayor of Marseille, Simon Sabiani
. After the February 6, 1934 riots in Paris, Carbone's men cracked down on the dockers
of Marseille on strike
.
During World War II
, both men would engage in Collaboration with Nazi Germany in exchange for turning a blind eye to their affairs.
Carbone died in 1943, his car being struck by a train which the Resistance
had derailed.
Unione Corse
The Unione Corse is a secretive criminal organization operating primarily out of Corsica and Marseilles in France. Unlike the Sicilian Mafia, it has not attempted to gain a foothold in the United States, and thus does not have the other organization's notoriety...
from the 1920s till his death in 1943. Associated to François Spirito
François Spirito
François Spirito was a member of the Marseille underworld in France, associated to Paul Carbone. After the Liberation, he fled to Spain and then South America, where he engaged in heroin trade in the so-called French Connection. He was judged in 1952 for Collaborationism and died in...
, who would become one of the leaders of the French Connection
French Connection
The French Connection was a scheme through which heroin was smuggled from Turkey to France and then to the United States. The operation reached its peak in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when it provided the vast majority of the illicit heroin used in the United States...
, Carbone inspired the film Borsalino (film)
Borsalino (film)
Borsalino is a 1970 gangster film directed by Jacques Deray and starring Alain Delon, Jean-Paul Belmondo and Catherine Rouvel. It was entered into the 20th Berlin International Film Festival....
which featured Alain Delon
Alain Delon
Alain Fabien Maurice Marcel Delon is a French actor. He rose quickly to stardom, and by the age of 23 was already being compared to French actors such as Gérard Philipe and Jean Marais, as well as American actor James Dean. He was even called the male Brigitte Bardot...
and Jean-Paul Belmondo
Jean-Paul Belmondo
Jean-Paul Belmondo is a French actor initially associated with the New Wave of the 1960s.-Career:Born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine, west of Paris, Belmondo did not perform well in school, but developed a passion for boxing and football."Did you box professionally very long?" "Not very long...
.
Life
Paul Carbone and François Spirito met in Egypt, where they created a small empire based on prostitution. Carbone then became the most powerful Godfather of MarseilleMarseille
Marseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
during 20 years, maintaining close contact with politicians. He owned many brothels (maisons closes), engaged in racketeering on the Riviera
French Riviera
The Côte d'Azur, pronounced , often known in English as the French Riviera , is the Mediterranean coastline of the southeast corner of France, also including the sovereign state of Monaco...
and also in smuggling
Smuggling
Smuggling is the clandestine transportation of goods or persons, such as out of a building, into a prison, or across an international border, in violation of applicable laws or other regulations.There are various motivations to smuggle...
of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese between Italy and France. The couple also possessed interests in Paris. They were the first to import opium
Opium
Opium is the dried latex obtained from the opium poppy . Opium contains up to 12% morphine, an alkaloid, which is frequently processed chemically to produce heroin for the illegal drug trade. The latex also includes codeine and non-narcotic alkaloids such as papaverine, thebaine and noscapine...
from Indochina
French Indochina
French Indochina was part of the French colonial empire in southeast Asia. A federation of the three Vietnamese regions, Tonkin , Annam , and Cochinchina , as well as Cambodia, was formed in 1887....
and transform it to heroin near Marseille, before sending it to the United States.
During the inter-war period, Carbone and Spirito allied themselves with the mayor of Marseille, Simon Sabiani
Simon Sabiani
Simon Pierre Sabiani was a World War I hero, businessman, and politician.He served in World War I, incorporated into the XVth corps of the 112th regiment of line infantry, he lost an eye in Douaumont, several times wounded, he directed against the enemy six counter attacks in six hours...
. After the February 6, 1934 riots in Paris, Carbone's men cracked down on the dockers
Dockers
Dockers is a brand of khaki garments from Levi Strauss & Co.Levi Strauss & Co., then specialized in denim, introduced the Dockers brand in 1986. Dockers became a leading brand of business casual clothing for men led by Bob Siegel. In 1987, Dockers introduced a women's line...
of Marseille on strike
Strike action
Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...
.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, both men would engage in Collaboration with Nazi Germany in exchange for turning a blind eye to their affairs.
Carbone died in 1943, his car being struck by a train which the Resistance
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
had derailed.
See also
- Simon SabianiSimon SabianiSimon Pierre Sabiani was a World War I hero, businessman, and politician.He served in World War I, incorporated into the XVth corps of the 112th regiment of line infantry, he lost an eye in Douaumont, several times wounded, he directed against the enemy six counter attacks in six hours...
- MarseilleMarseilleMarseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
- French ConnectionFrench ConnectionThe French Connection was a scheme through which heroin was smuggled from Turkey to France and then to the United States. The operation reached its peak in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when it provided the vast majority of the illicit heroin used in the United States...