According to The Sun, grandmother gangsters are becoming increasingly dangerous players in the criminal sphere. They run drug cartels, controlling families with an iron grip, and remain in the shadows, invisible to the police. Modern reality shows that elderly women are increasingly becoming true mafia bosses.
Criminologists interviewed by The Sun claim that grandmother gangsters often run family businesses. When they give orders, it is framed as a family duty rather than a criminal command. Refusal is seen as betrayal, not rebellion against authority. For example, 65-year-old Deborah led a criminal group that sold cocaine worth £80 million (8 billion rubles) in just eight months before her arrest. This gray-haired woman is not the only one holding high positions in the criminal world, threatening the safety of the UK and other countries.
From a respected citizen secretly controlling the drug trade to a cat-loving grandmother managing a multimillion-pound cocaine empire, women are increasingly taking on important roles at various levels of the criminal hierarchy. And they are doing so quite successfully.
According to Europol's report "Serious and Organized Crime Threat Assessment in the EU for 2025" (2025 EU SOCTA), there is a rise in crime and a change in the "DNA of organized crime," where women are increasingly playing key roles in global criminal networks.
Many of these influential figures use their femininity to evade police attention for decades. They operate from the shadows, representing some of the most dangerous players in the criminal environment.
Criminologist Alex Iszatt noted in an interview with The Sun that women gangsters have always been part of organized crime, but their influence has not always been obvious. This misconception has been exploited for selfish purposes. In family businesses, elderly women often occupy central positions. Their power is based not on physical violence but on complete control over family loyalty, their shared history, and obligations.
“When she asks for something, it is perceived as a family duty. Refusal is considered betrayal. This creates a dependency that is much stronger than fear. Shame, guilt, and the threat of severing ties become tools of control,” emphasized Iszatt.
Deborah Mason, also known as the "Queen Bee" or "Gangsta Debs," tightly controlled her family. She involved her sister, three daughters, son, and their partners in the drug trade, organizing the transportation of cocaine across the country—from Bradford to Bristol.
This grandmother generously paid her relatives, each of whom earned over £1,000 (about 100,000 rubles). Meanwhile, she enjoyed a life of luxury, vacationing in Dubai and Bahrain. Her Bengal cat named "Ghost" wore a Gucci collar worth £400 with a nine-carat gold tag.
In her apartment in Tufnell Park (North London), greedy Mason received benefits, spending the funds on designer items purchased with illegal earnings. From April to November 2023, she managed to organize the transport of a ton of cocaine, with a market value of £80 million.
However, the Metropolitan Police halted her illegal activities, and members of her criminal group were arrested. In July of last year, they were sentenced to 20 years in prison at the Royal Court of Woolwich in London.
“Instead of caring for her loved ones, Deborah Mason involved them in her lucrative criminal enterprise, resulting in all of them ending up behind bars,” commented prosecutor Robert Hutchinson.
Grandmothers "do not hide"
Mason even pretended to be surprised when the police arrested her during a morning raid, telling officers: “Me? No way! Come on now!”
Another notable figure in the drug trade is Morag Yorston, who led a criminal group that flooded the streets of Dundee with heroin and cocaine.
From July to October 2018, as part of Operation "Boost," police seized six kilograms of heroin and one kilogram of cocaine, worth over £380,000 (39.8 million rubles), as well as £12,000 (1.3 million rubles) in cash.
In 2020, Yorston was sentenced to five years and 11 months in prison, but her arrest was only possible after she returned to the UK from Bulgaria, where she had fled to avoid punishment.
In the following year, when Yorston was in prison, police seized assets worth over £100,000 (10 million rubles) from her.
Chief Inspector Scott Fotheringham noted: “Operation Boost was a complex and lengthy investigation, during which it was established that Yorston played a significant role in an organized crime group seeking to bring suffering to our society.”
Despite her unassuming appearance, with a short haircut and modest scarf, Yorston does not fit the image of a typical drug lord. Former criminologist Alex Iszatt believes this helps her remain unnoticed.
“As women age, they become less noticeable, especially to law enforcement. Police attention is still focused on young and aggressive men, creating a blind spot for older women. They do not need to hide; they can act openly as they are not perceived as a threat,” he added.
“This allows them to manage large cash flows, control logistics, resolve internal conflicts, and keep the business running while maintaining the image of a respectable individual,” concluded Iszatt.
Margaret Haney, known as "Big Megs," was both a respected figure in the local community and an influential personality in the heroin trade.
This grandmother from Stirling (Scotland) organized marches against pedophilia in her hometown but was later sentenced to 12 years for making hundreds of thousands of pounds selling heroin with her daughter, son, and cousin.
“Two things can be true at the same time. You can be a drug dealer selling substances that can kill people and still be a loving grandmother and a good person,” said Haney's granddaughter, Cassie, after her death from cancer in 2013.
What could have pushed this seemingly respectable grandmother into criminal activity? Was money her only motive?
“Motives are not limited to greed or the desire for power. Many of these women have spent years in the criminal environment, learning how criminal groups operate while remaining in the shadows,” noted criminologist Alex Iszatt.
“When men end up in prison or lose their positions, women often become the only ones capable of controlling the situation. For some, seizing power is a matter of survival or protecting family interests. For others, it is a chance to assert their authority in a system they have long supported while remaining in the shadows,” he added.
The "Godmothers" of the Mafia
Assunta Maresca, known as "Pupetta" ("Doll"), is a former beauty queen who became a mafia boss. At 18, she shot Antonio Esposito, who ordered the murder of her husband. In court, she stated: “I would do it again.”
Having solidified her position in the criminal world, ruthless Maresca became the first "godmother" of the Camorra—a powerful Italian mafia group known for drug trafficking, money laundering, and extortion.
Another formidable figure is Maria Licciardi, known as "Bloody Mary." She controlled the Secondigliano Alliance, a cartel involved in counterfeiting designer goods and drug trafficking.
Licciardi, who died in 2021 at the age of 70, was reportedly responsible for 100 murders. At that time, a war between drug gangs raged on the streets of Naples, and bloody corpses could be seen daily.
“It is not surprising that the number of elderly women ending up in prison is growing. But this is not due to a sudden increase in elderly female criminals. Law enforcement is beginning to realize that women can hold power,” concludes Alex.
“They are often compared to men who openly use force. But many women know how to gain loyalty through psychological pressure. They employ manipulation, emotional rewards, and calculated instability to keep people dependent and submissive, creating organizations that are far more resilient than those run by impulsive and selfish individuals,” he says.
“Although violence is still present, it is often hidden from view and not displayed openly. Its purpose is to protect leadership and maintain control. In such conditions, the focus shifts from dominance to continuity and risk management,” adds the criminologist.
This restrained leadership style allows grandmothers from mafia groups to hold high positions in the criminal hierarchy worldwide. Despite their harmless appearance, it is better not to mess with these women.
