Posted on 11/07/2003 4:17:50 PM PST by freedom44
The RCMP is working with the FBI in targeting Russian and European organized-crime rings that are trying to flex their muscles by expanding into Canada and the U.S. They have created a task force to curb Eurasian organized crime, which includes members of Russian, Italian and Balkan rings, from gaining a foothold here.
The Mounties said the violent Balkan crime rings are the fastest growing in the world.
"They are getting worse," said RCMP Chief Supt. Ben Soave, of a Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit. "It is just a matter of time before they expand here."
Soave said the Balkan rings are made up of nationals of Albania, Slovenia, Croatia and Kosovo. They are now operating in Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Britain.
"Fighting organized crime is a priority for the force," said RCMP Sgt. Gillies Deziel.
GAINING A FOOTHOLD
"We work jointly with the U.S. in fighting organized crime."
FBI assistant director Grant D. Ashley said Balkan criminals control more than 70% of the European heroin market and are taking over human smuggling, prostitution and white slavery.
"They are beginning to gain a foothold in the U.S.," Ashley said in a statement last week. "Balkan organized crime is an emerging organized-crime problem."
Ashley said Russian crime groups, like the Solntsevskaya and Ismailovskaya, have illegally transferred more than $9 billion out of that country.
He also said the groups are working with the Gambino, Genovese and Luchese Mafia families.
Ashley said police are probing regional Italian Mafia groups like the Neapolitan Camorra, Calabria 'Ndrangheta and Puglian Sacra Corona Unita, who are expanding their operations in North America.
I met this russian chick sr. year college who left me her #/addie in Moscow claiming that she can show me a real good time there cause her father was in Solntsevskaya...
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