The uncertainty of the trade was such that nobody supplied guarantees for the whole sequence of transactions, from source to retailing, lest they should share Manzella's fate. Protection was supplied on an ad hoc basis for specific transactions. … In general, protection was as fragmented as the market itself. In fact, its complexity demanded that each operation-importing from sources, refining and exporting to consumer markets-be performed by independent groups. Each of these groups included mafiosi as well as others.

Diego Gambetta, The Sicilian Mafia The Busi…, loc. 641