'Mobsters' charged in New York

Vincent "Chin" Gigante: behind bars since 1997

The FBI is claiming a major breakthrough against organised crime with the indictments of more than 70 alleged members of New York's biggest mafia family.

The roundup of members of the infamous Genovese family followed a daring investigation by a young detective who infiltrated the family and spent two years posing as a mafia associate.

The Genovese family - the largest, the most powerful and the most secretive organised crime group - has been dealt yet another severe blow

FBI

Praising the officer for putting his life on the line, the FBI's assistant director in New York, Barry Mawn, said it was "one of the most successful and significant undercover operations in law enforcement history".

A total of 73 people have been charged with crimes including extortion, robbery, loan-sharking, fraud, counterfeiting and gun-trafficking.

The FBI has long regarded the Genovese family as one of its biggest challenges.

Vincent Gigante in earlier, if not happer, days

A 20-year campaign against organised crime had almost destroyed other mafia families, but the Genoveses flourished because they avoided violence, preferring threats and intimidation, US Attorney Mary Jo White said.

She said the family - described by the FBI as America's largest, most powerful and secretive organised crime group - had made $14 million illegally between 1998 and 2001.

They flourished despite the 1997 jailing of Genovese boss Vincent "Chin" Gigante for racketeering. He was convicted despite his plea of insanity.

But the Genoveses were eventually infiltrated by the young undercover officer, who sat in on weekly mob meetings, and won the family's confidence by appearing to make money from illegal cigarette sales and other crimes.

"We have once again been able to look at the mob from both the inside as well as the outside," Mr Mawn said.

The detective, who has not been named, helped to prevent some crimes, officials said, including a plot to steal $6 million from the New York Times.

Big fish

Among those arrested are three "capos", or mafia bosses.

If found guilty the suspects could face life imprisonment and fines of up to $1m.

As for the undercover officer, he has reportedly been moved to another state because his life is still in danger.

His exploits parallel the work of Joseph Pistone, a detective who posed as mobster Donnie Brasco to bring down much of the Bonanno crime family in the 1970s.

A book and a film were based on that case.

This time, the cop - reportedly known as "Big Frankie" held regular meetings with his gangster contacts at Rigoletto's Restaurant in the Bronx.

The charges brought on Wednesday were the second major blow this year to the Genoveses - the largest of New York's five mafia families.

In April, 45 alleged gangsters were arrested, 33 of whom were accused of being Genovese members and associates.

A number of those charged on Wednesday were already in custody.