The FBI's Boston office has disbanded its organized crime squad, marking a significant shift in the once-powerful New England Mafia's influence. The agency is now redirecting resources to combat more pressing threats like terrorism, foreign espionage, and cybercrime.

The New England Mafia's decline is evident in its dwindling numbers, with only about 30 "made" members remaining, compared to hundreds during its 1960s peak. FBI spokesperson Kristen Setera assured that the agency would continue monitoring organized crime through other channels.

The organization's downfall can be attributed to several factors:

• Internal power struggles between rival factions
• Numerous federal prosecutions
• Members breaking the "Omerta" code of silence
• Advanced surveillance technology
• Successful informant operations

The recent death of Luigi "Baby Shacks" Manocchio at 93, the last old-school boss of the Patriarca crime family, further symbolizes the end of an era. The family's decline began after Raymond Patriarca's death in 1984, leading to internal warfare between Rhode Island and Boston factions.

The FBI's success against the Mafia included landmark achievements, such as recording the first-ever Mafia induction ceremony, which helped convict Raymond "Junior" Patriarca and others. However, the agency's relationship with informants, particularly James "Whitey" Bulger, led to controversial episodes.

The Bulger affair revealed corruption within the FBI when agent John Connolly leaked information that led to murders, including that of World Jai Alai president John Callahan. Connolly served prison time for his crimes, while Bulger, after 16 years as a fugitive, was captured in 2011 and later murdered in prison by someone connected to the Patriarca family.

Today's New England Mafia consists mainly of "figurehead people and wannabes," according to former Massachusetts State Police detective lieutenant Steve Johnson, marking the end of one of America's most powerful criminal organizations.

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