Aren't a considerable number of guys in criminal organizations in France,particularly Marseilles, Corrsica,and possibly among the French Canadian members of the Cotroni clan actually of Italian descent?
Thats exactly correct, Havana.
France has several very significant organized crime groups to call their own, especially operating in the south of the country.
As far as the Cotroni clan went, more than a few of their membership tied their connections back to France, among several other countries. Cotroni himself was always closely affiliated with the France underworld.
After all, how to you think the Cotroni brothers became so big in narcotics? They were among the most significant international traffickers in the world for decades. Hence, "The French Connection."