New England Organized Crime » The EU

No Borders or Ethnicity for Organized Crime: Experts

fdvent1 — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 12:04:56 +0000

Organized crime in the Balkans is a relatively new phenomenon, evolving during the wars on the Peninsula in the late 20th century. Economic blockades and weak post-war provided a favorable environment for criminal gangs, according to Assistant Professor Vera Stojarova of the Czech Republic's Masaryk University in Brno. "Although less notorious than Russian or Chinese organized crime, the Balkan region may currently be depicted as one of the most important epicenters of organized crime — a transnational and global phenomenon," Stojarova wrote in a journal article. Stojarova told SETimes that the level of inter-ethnic organized crime in the Balkans is high. "Organized crime groups have a common interest in making a profit, so overcoming ethnic differences is no problem for them," she said. "There is [no role that ethnicity plays in this co-operation]. Serbs are able to co-operate with Albanians or Croats, etc." Albanian Deputy Interior Minister Avenir Peka agrees that organized crime does not recognize ethnicity. As a sophisticated form of criminal activity, it has developed and adapted itself to criminals' new needs in order to circumvent the law. "The wars in the former Yugoslavia not only did not stop the co-operation and co-ordination of the criminal activity in [...] Related posts:

Bulgaria and Organized Crime the War Continues Bulgaria's new government is taking steps to root out the...
Bulgaria PM Vows an all out war of the state in Fighting Organized Crime Boyko Borisov, Bulgaria’s Prime Minister, declared his readiness to go...
Bulgaria Interior Minister: 250-300 Mafia Bosses Plague Our Country Tsvetan Tsvetanov, Bulgarian Interior Minister stated that 250-300 criminal bosses...

Sofia’s Prostitutes Extorted-Police Involved

fdvent1 — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 20:31:19 +0000

A new gang has recently started racketeering the prostitutes who work the streets of Bulgaria’s capital Sofia, brutally beating them if they refuse to pay, according to a media report. A couple of thugs have been demanding between BGN 100 and BGN 300 per week (The Bulgarian Lev is the currency of Bulgaria, 100 BGN equals approximately 68 US dollars) from every escort girl in the Bulgarian capital since last month, the 24 Chasa Daily (one of the largest-circulated Bulgarian daily newspapers) has stated, citing three local pimps and a prostitute. The thugs are extremely violent and do not hesitate to beat the prostitutes, cut their hair off with a knife and threaten to pour acid on their faces, the witnesses have told the Bulgarian paper. Whenever a brothel refuses to pay the gang, police inspections follow within days at the place. Several police officers have allegedly also participated in the gang’s racketeering raids. The pimps have already sent a letter to Bulgarian Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov informing him about the dangerous gang that is reportedly headed by an individual nicknamed Mitko the Blonde. The new gang is also involved in drug selling, the witnesses have claimed. Source: novinite.com addGooglePlusOne(10734, [...] Related posts:

U.S. Citizenship Granted To Bulgarian Mobsters A WikiLeaks document details a State Department cable dated April...
Bulgarian Mafia Boss charged in Tsankov Killing Bulgarian Mafia boss Krasimir “The Big Margin” Marinov has been...
Bulgarian Clan Suspected in Arming ‘Ndragheta In a special operation, codenamed “Vratsa,” Italian authorities have arrested...

“Killer” Testifies about Bulgarian PM Mafia Ties

fdvent1 — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 14:32:15 +0000

The defendant in Bulgaria’s high-profile organized crime case code-named “The Killers,” Vasil Kostov AKA Ketsa (The Sneaker) spoke before magistrates about a meeting between Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, and notorious mafia figures. The Bulgarian National Radio, BNR, informs that during an 11-hour long Court session Friday, held at the Shumen Regional Court, Ketsa had testified about meetings between Borisov, Bulgaria’s organized crime boss Milcho Bonev AKA Bay Mile, and Serbian drug lord Sreten Josic. The defendant said he was part of several such meetings in his capacity of security guard for Bay Mile, who was at the time one of the bosses at SIC corporation (allegedly one of Bulgaria’s two powerful mafia structures, along with VIS, in the 1990s). During one of these meetings, attended by Ketsa in person, Bay Mile, Josic, Stoil Slavov, and other individuals from SIC have discussed how to collect money to make Borisov a key figure at the Interior Ministry by buying him a post and a rank. Before becoming Prime Minister after the summer 2009 general elections, Borisov was Mayor of Sofia and before that – Chief Secretary of the Interior Ministry (editor’s note). Vasil Kostov also told the magistrates that all permits for [...] Related posts:

Bulgarian Shot Dead After Writing Book on Gangsters SOFIA, Jan 5 (Reuters) – A radio presenter who wrote...
Bulgarian Mafia Boss charged in Tsankov Killing Bulgarian Mafia boss Krasimir “The Big Margin” Marinov has been...
Bulgaria PM Vows an all out war of the state in Fighting Organized Crime Boyko Borisov, Bulgaria’s Prime Minister, declared his readiness to go...

Bulgarian Clan Suspected in Arming ‘Ndragheta

fdvent1 — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 14:47:50 +0000

In a special operation, codenamed “Vratsa,” Italian authorities have arrested four Bulgarians and one Italian. In addition to those detained, there is a search warrant for a fifth person, also a Bulgarian national, the Bulgarian 24 Chasa (24 Hours) daily informs. The report is published in several Italian media such as La Repubblica. The four Bulgarians, arrested in the Calabrian town of Crotone, are members of the same family – they are identified as Atanas Iliev, his wife, Vaska Ilieva, their daughter, Rositsa Atanasova, and Iliev’s sister, Donka Ilieva. The name of the person still at large has not been revealed. According to Italian media, the Bulgarians provided weapons to Francesco Lerose, 58, from the town of Mesoraca. The police main lead is that the weapons were destined for the Calabrian mafia clan Ndragheta. The authorities confiscated an entire arsenal of the Russian-made Zoraki, known as the preferred gun of professional killers. 8 of the 13 semi-automatic handguns, detained at the ports of Brindisi and Bari had silencers and were between 6.35 and 7.65-calliber. The Italian authorities began their investigation after a check of the Bulgarians, who came from ferryboats in Brindisi and Bari. The probe revealed that in both [...] Related posts:

U.S. Citizenship Granted To Bulgarian Mobsters A WikiLeaks document details a State Department cable dated April...
Bulgarian Mafia Boss charged in Tsankov Killing Bulgarian Mafia boss Krasimir “The Big Margin” Marinov has been...
Murdered Bulgarian mafia leaders sister and son slain in double homicide Slavka P. Naydenova, 41, the sister of Bulgarian mafia leader...

U.S. Citizenship Granted To Bulgarian Mobsters

fdvent1 — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 11:19:20 +0000

A WikiLeaks document details a State Department cable dated April 21, 2005 which expresses concern over the "direct and increasing impact" on the United States from Bulgarian criminal activity. The document further reveals that the United States gave citizenship to reputed Bulgarian mobsters Dmitrii "the Russian" Minev and Iliya Pavlov both of whom were later killed. According to the diplomatic cable, "high-ranking representatives of businesses believed to be extensions of Bulgarian organized crime and individuals reported to have leading positions in the Bulgarian organized crime world consistently seek legal entry into the United States." The cable alleges that "Bulgarian organized crime groups already operate in the United States, especially in drug-related crimes, human smuggling, and prostitution," and "several Bulgarian groups are believed to smuggle Eastern Europeans to the United States through the U.S.-Mexican border." addGooglePlusOne(10001, "http://newenglandorganizedcrime.com/u-s-citizenship-granted-to-bulgarian-mobsters/"); Related posts: Bulgarian Soccer and Links to the Mafia More State Department cables have been disclosed by WikiLeaks which... Bulgarian Mafia Boss charged in Tsankov Killing Bulgarian Mafia boss Krasimir “The Big Margin” Marinov has been... Murdered Bulgarian mafia leaders sister and son slain in double homicide Slavka P. Naydenova, 41, the sister of Bulgarian mafia leader... Related posts:

Bulgarian Soccer and Links to the Mafia More State Department cables have been disclosed by WikiLeaks which...
Bulgarian Mafia Boss charged in Tsankov Killing Bulgarian Mafia boss Krasimir “The Big Margin” Marinov has been...
Murdered Bulgarian mafia leaders sister and son slain in double homicide Slavka P. Naydenova, 41, the sister of Bulgarian mafia leader...

Wiseguys Riding Bikes?

fdvent1 — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 20:36:21 +0000

Martin "The Viper" Foley is one of the Ireland's best known criminals. He rose from a street drug dealer to be an associate of Martin Cahill, one of Ireland's most notorious criminals. Foley is considered by law enforcement a key figure in the McCormack-Foley crime family from Crumlin in Dublin. He has had several attempts on his life, most recently on January 26, 2008 where he was shot a number of times outside the Carlisle gym on Kimmage Road West in south Dublin city. Now “The Viper” is paranoid about car bombs and hitmen outside his Dublin home after ‘Dapper Don’ Christy Kinahan offered €60,000 ($81,895) to have him whacked. Kinahan is suspected of masterminding a global crime network involved in drug trafficking, arms dealing and money laundering. He was arrested on May 29 2010 at his villa on the Costa del Sol, one of 32 people held in a series of raids in Spain, Ireland and the UK involving 750 police officers. Each morning Foley, who has survived four murder bids already, checks for hidden devices under his car and is now cycling in disguise in an effort to remain anonymous instead of driving himself. And the Viper is [...] No related posts.

Facebook, Another Tool In The Law Enforcement Arsenal

fdvent1 — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 16:57:49 +0000

Law enforcement agencies have long utilized social networking sites for gathering intelligence. In Spain fugitive mobster Salvatore D'Avino from the Giugliano clan of the Camorra was found after his girlfriend posted details and photos on her Facebook profile that she was on the Costa del Sol to give birth to their baby. Source:AGI addGooglePlusOne(9784, "http://newenglandorganizedcrime.com/facebook-another-tool-in-the-law-enforcement-arsenal/"); Related posts: Mobster used Facebook to run empire from jail Colin Gunn, one of Britain’s most dangerous gangsters has been... Italian Most Wanted Mobster Figaro Arrested In Spain Ciro Figaro, a reputed boss from the Mazzarella clan of... Mafia Has Big Presence In Spain Spain has more mafia members than any other country except... Related posts:

Mobster used Facebook to run empire from jail Colin Gunn, one of Britain’s most dangerous gangsters has been...
Italian Most Wanted Mobster Figaro Arrested In Spain Ciro Figaro, a reputed boss from the Mazzarella clan of...
Mafia Has Big Presence In Spain Spain has more mafia members than any other country except...

Brits To Implement So-Called Al Capone Moment

fdvent1 — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 13:45:12 +0000

The Brits are pulling a page from the Italian playbook in their fight against organized crime. We will develop a range of measures to target and disrupt 'front' businesses (for example through revocation of licences) and HMRC [Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs] will use its tax powers to disrupt 'front' businesses identified to have a significant amount of unpaid tax. The point bears a remarkable similarity to the tactics used to imprison America's most famous gangster Al Capone. Companies operating illegally will be targeted by any and all measures open to the Government. U.S. law enforcement inexplicably largely leaves mob front companies alone, and perhaps the Yanks could learn something from the Europeans on how to dismantle organized crime with real conviction. Source:Telegraph addGooglePlusOne(9692, "http://newenglandorganizedcrime.com/brits-to-implement-so-called-al-capone-moment/"); Related posts: A Gift To The Mafia in Green Energy Funds Millions of euros destined to regenerate Europe's poorest regions have... Organized Crime robs $7.4 Billion from carbon trading scheme. Fox news released this story and for anyone who is... Witness claims Mafia invested heavily in Berlusconi housing project Massimo Ciancimino, the son of a Mafia don who was... Related posts:

A Gift To The Mafia in Green Energy Funds Millions of euros destined to regenerate Europe's poorest regions have...
Organized Crime robs $7.4 Billion from carbon trading scheme. Fox news released this story and for anyone who is...
Witness claims Mafia invested heavily in Berlusconi housing project Massimo Ciancimino, the son of a Mafia don who was...

Organized Crime In Bulgaria

fdvent1 — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 12:25:30 +0000

When Bulgaria’s new prime minister, Boyko Borisov, took office, he pledged to stamp out organized crime. A weak judiciary that this month acquitted two men suspected of leading their own street enforcement gang and freed from jail a man accused of being a crime boss are hampering his efforts. It was the latest in a string of acquittals and lenient treatment of people accused of organized-crime offenses in a nation that vowed to root out corruption to earn membership in the European Union in 2007. Some are wondering whether the European Union made a mistake in admitting the country as a member. Two Bulgarian newspapers reported this week that a criminal gang had issued a $550,000, bounty for the assassination of the prime minister, whose security was tightened. In a report released Wednesday, the commission said that the number of acquittals in cases involving high-level corruption, fraud and organized crime “have exposed serious deficiencies in judicial practice in Bulgaria.” Source: nytimes.com addGooglePlusOne(9282, "http://newenglandorganizedcrime.com/organized-crime-in-bulgaria/"); Related posts: Bulgaria PM Vows an all out war of the state in Fighting Organized Crime Boyko Borisov, Bulgaria’s Prime Minister, declared his readiness to go... Bulgaria and Organized Crime the War Continues Bulgaria's new government is [...] Related posts:

Bulgaria PM Vows an all out war of the state in Fighting Organized Crime Boyko Borisov, Bulgaria’s Prime Minister, declared his readiness to go...
Bulgaria and Organized Crime the War Continues Bulgaria's new government is taking steps to root out the...
Special Anti Mafia Court in Bulgaria Begins Bulgaria's anti-mafia court, a controversial institution has been initiated by...

The Mob Makes Inroads In Switzerland

fdvent1 — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 09:43:59 +0000

The Italian Mafia, particularly the ‘Ndrangheta, from the Calabria region of Italy, is becoming more and more active in Switzerland, according to an annual police report published Thursday. The country is mainly being used for money-laundering operations, the report says. Since Italian authorities stepped up pressure on the Mafia at home, their activities are increasing in neighboring countries as Italian police arrested more than 6,500 suspected Mafiosi and seized fortunes believed to be worth up to $20 billion between spring 2008 and autumn 2010. While Italian clans do not control a particularly territory in the country, as they do at home, police believe they do make agreements with one another over certain regions. In addition, the Mafia has reportedly begun to hire Swiss bankers and financial advisers. The Swiss police has also claimed some successes in the past year. Several Mafiosi have been arrested and extradited to Italy, while others have been prosecuted in Switzerland. Source: thelocal.ch addGooglePlusOne(8939, "http://newenglandorganizedcrime.com/the-mob-makes-inroads-in-switzerland/"); Related posts: Swiss Indict ‘Ndrangheta Mobsters The Federal Prosecutors Office in Bern, Switzerland says say they... Organized Crime thrives during economic recession A new report by Italy's small business and shopkeepers' association... Italy: Central Bank Chief Warns Mafia is Hurting Economy [...] Related posts:

Swiss Indict ‘Ndrangheta Mobsters The Federal Prosecutors Office in Bern, Switzerland says say they...
Organized Crime thrives during economic recession A new report by Italy's small business and shopkeepers' association...
Italy: Central Bank Chief Warns Mafia is Hurting Economy The mafia is one of the biggest reasons for...