What is the banana crime family?

The term "Banana crime family" might refer to a misunderstanding or a colloquial way of discussing the historical involvement of major banana companies like the United Fruit Company in various unethical or legally dubious activities, including manipulating governments and exploiting labor.

For example, Sam Zemurray, a key figure in the banana industry and often associated with the United Fruit Company, was involved in significant political manipulations, including organizing a coup to overthrow the Honduran government. This venture was aimed at securing and enhancing his business interests in the region, which revolved around the cultivation and sale of bananas. His actions were part of a larger pattern where large corporations exerted control over political developments in Central American countries to benefit their agricultural interests, primarily bananas 1.

This kind of corporate behavior, which included bribery, manipulation of governments, and monopoly practices, earned companies like the United Fruit Company the nickname "The Octopus" because they had their "tentacles" in various aspects of Central American economies and politics. These activities might be humorously referenced as actions of a "banana crime family" implying a level of organized, systemic corruption and manipulation usually associated with organized crime families.