Lucky Luciano

Salvatore Lucania is born in Sicily and rises through theft and violence to become a power broker in the American Mafia by the 1930s. He eliminates rivals to consolidate control, earning the moniker 'the boss of all bosses'.

Under the alias Lucky, he expands his influence across the Mafia, orchestrating eliminations to cement his place as the most powerful mob boss. His brutal tactics and strategic alliances reshape organized crime in the era.

Luciano is imprisoned in the United States, but manages to win release by offering his services to military intelligence during World War II. His collaboration helps the authorities with wartime needs, and he is commuted by Governor Dewey. He is then deported to Italy.

Settling in Naples, Luciano builds influence over the underground drug trade. He uses proxies and runs operations covertly from a race track, avoiding direct prosecutions while expanding his network.

Federal narcotics agent Charles Siragusa is assigned to bring Luciano down. He navigates the local network and begins building pressure to dismantle the drug empire.

Luciano's associate Gene Giannini turns informant for Siragusa, hoping to leverage a deal or protection. Siragusa uses the information to map the operation and plan leverage against Luciano.

Giannini attempts to lure Luciano out of the country to Marseille to discuss business. Luciano refuses to engage, signaling his insistence on keeping operations away from direct negotiations.

When Giannini fails to deliver results, Luciano allows him to spend a year in an Italian jail on counterfeit currency charges. The move is meant to pressure him and derail investigations.

Giannini attempts to contact Siragusa through letters passed via his mistress, who has begun an affair with Luciano. Luciano reads their contents and uncovers the double-dealing behind the scenes.

Siragusa's superiors order him to halt the investigation, but Giannini is assassinated on Luciano's orders before he can testify. The incident raises questions about the reach and power of Luciano.

Siragusa accuses higher-ups of protecting Dewey, arguing the commutation was bought. The investigators deny the claim, but the tension between law enforcement and political power becomes public.

By 1962, dozens of Luciano's drug associates are arrested, signaling a major crackdown on the operation. The crackdown disrupts the network and brings many of his lieutenants to trial.

Italian authorities detain Luciano and reveal they have discovered his smuggling scheme. The revelation confirms the extent of his illicit operations and accelerates legal pressure against him.

Under immense stress, Luciano falls ill but momentarily recovers. Police tail him to the airport where a filmmaker plans to interview him for a screenplay about his life, highlighting his notoriety even in retirement.

Luciano collapses from a heart attack at the airport, dying soon after. His death marks the end of an era in organized crime and the last chapter of his life as both a criminal and a public figure.