Posted on 07/05/2004 10:52:15 AM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
"Russian organised crime", says Greg " rolled out ,if you like, in the last decade since the implosion of the Soviet Union , and now it's a worldwide threat and phenomenon".
"What we have to realise", suggests Greg, is that "the Russians are just experts at operating in a repressive regime. They come to a country like the United States or Australia and its so simple for them". He goes on to expand on Russian pre-eminence in "standover tactics of sheer brutality , with economics and business sense". Apparently they are immensely skilled in banking, finance and I.T., He gives a great example of this business sense when outlining a $6 billion oil tax scam recently mounted in America.
Greg Wilson reckons that "Russian organised crime has its origins going back about 80yrs" with Lenin and the Bolsheviks. He suggests that the Bolsheviks needed money to run the revolution , but the party couldn't be seen doing any black marketeering, money laundering or other dirty work so they came to an accommodation with others. Since then , the key date is the breaking up of the Soviet empire in 1991 when many people from the USSR became more geographically mobile.
Eoin asks whether Russian organised crime was present in Australia. Mr Wilson assures him that they're here , and a number of Australian policing bodies have belatedly started showing interest.They have a strong presence in Sydney and the Gold Coast. "These are a very sophisticated people " says Greg, "they enjoy a good life". It's logical really - if you like it here , so will people from Russia with criminal skills.
(Eoin begins by asking Greg Wilson where he first became interested in organised crime from the former Soviet Union...)
Greg Wilson , author
(Audio in RealMedia format ) | Requires RealPlayer
It has also much to do that unlike West, Latin America and Asia, most Russian bosses have PHDs.
The guy who wrote this needs to go back to high school.
It appears to be a transcript of an audio broadcast. I'd cut them some slack.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.