I have never been too fond of its use.
Ma·fi·a
/ˈmäfēə/
noun
an organized international body of criminals, operating originally in Sicily and now especially in Italy and the US and having a complex and ruthless behavioral code.
any organized group using extortion and other criminal methods.
noun: mafia; plural noun: mafias
a closed group of people in a particular field, having a controlling influence.
noun: mafia
"the conservative top tennis mafia"