Grandmothers in Crime: The Rise of Female Gang Leaders

Across the United Kingdom, an unexpected trend is emerging in the realm of organized crime: grandmothers are taking the lead as crime lords. These women, often disregarded as typical candidates for such roles, are now at the forefront of significant drug operations. According to Europol’s 2025 EU Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment, the landscape of organized crime is evolving, with women increasingly assuming prominent positions in gang networks.

One notable figure is Deborah Mason, also known as “Queen Bee.” Mason led a family-run crime network that flooded the UK with nearly £80 million worth of cocaine. While managing this vast operation, she was reportedly receiving £50,000 annually in state benefits. Mason’s criminal activities involved recruiting family members, including her sister and children, to distribute drugs across the country. In 2022, she was sentenced to 20 years in prison for her role in this extensive drug operation, which earned her relatives upwards of £1,000 daily.

Mason’s case mirrors that of Morag Yorston, a notorious drug dealer from Dundee. Yorston’s crime syndicate inundated the streets of Dundee with heroin and cocaine. In 2018, law enforcement seized £380,000 worth of narcotics from her network, leading to her imprisonment for five years and eleven months in 2020. She had attempted to evade justice by fleeing to Bulgaria but was ultimately returned to the UK to face charges.

In Stirling, another grandmother, Margaret Haney, operated under the guise of a community champion while peddling heroin. Known as “Big Mags,” she led anti-paedophile marches but secretly earned £250,000 a year through drug sales alongside her family members. Haney was convicted and received a 12-year sentence, highlighting the dual lives these women lead.

The psychology behind these family-run criminal enterprises often involves a complex dynamic of loyalty and obligation. Criminologist Alex Iszatt notes that older women frequently become central figures, wielding authority not through intimidation but by leveraging familial ties and shared history. Iszatt explains, “When she asks for something to be done, it’s framed as family duty rather than a criminal order.” This emotional manipulation creates a strong bond that can surpass fear alone, making refusal feel like a betrayal.

Internationally, the trend of female involvement in organized crime is not confined to the UK. In Italy, Assunta Maresca, a former beauty queen, gained notoriety after killing crime boss Antonio Esposito at just 18 years old. Her actions solidified her position within the Camorra, an influential Italian criminal organization. Similarly, Maria Licciardi, known as “Bloody Mary,” led the Secondigliano Alliance, a cartel infamous for drug trafficking and counterfeiting. Her reign was marked by violence, with reports attributing over 100 murders to her leadership.

Iszatt emphasizes that the increasing arrests of older women in organized crime reflect a broader recognition by law enforcement that power dynamics in these networks can be female-led. As authorities adapt their strategies, the landscape of crime continues to shift, revealing the complexities of familial ties in illicit activities.

As the profiles of these grandmothers-turned-gangsters come to light, they challenge societal perceptions of crime and leadership. The rise of female figures in organized crime not only reshapes the narrative surrounding criminality but also provides insights into the evolving nature of gang dynamics in the modern world.