Every country has its own criminals, I agree. Serbia had its own, and possibly still does, although not even close to the powerful organizations of the past. You mentioned Arkan. He truly was one of them. Organized crime was crushed in 2003, in the Sabre operation, after the assassination of prime minister Djindjic.
Considering the Albanian mafia, it is in top 3 world criminal syndicates now. And definitely the most powerful one in Europe. It operates almost everywhere, and is not bound to national borders of Albania or Kosovo. That is the danger I am talking about.
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The Rise and Fall of an Albanian Organized Crime Ring
03/29/06
New York Skyline & FBI Seal
Their names sound like they were lifted straight from a TV crime drama: “Big Frank,” “Nicky Nails,” “Louie,” “Fat Angelo.” But these guys weren’t fictional. They weren’t Italian mobsters, either, as their names suggest. They were real-life members of an Albanian organized crime enterprise in New York that called itself “The Corporation.” And for a time, the syndicate prospered.
Following a massive investigation by the FBI and the latest round of convictions in early January, however, The Corporation is now largely out of business and most of its leaders—including ringleader Alex “Allie Boy” or “Uncle” Rudaj—are behind bars.
The organization didn’t start from scratch. Many of its leaders had worked with established crime families in New York. But as other syndicates were decimated by criminal convictions, The Corporation moved in, muscling aside its competition through violence and intimidation.
We got wind of the crime ring in June 2001, when gang members beat a member of the Astoria gambling scene in Queens, sending a message that The Corporation was now in charge. Two months later, heavily-armed members of the syndicate stormed a rival gambling parlor and shut it down.
“We had a sense they were an organization, but we were surprised at how aggressively they challenged New York’s Italian organized crime families,” said the FBI case agent assigned to the investigation. “They started taking territory, beating up ‘made men.’ In recent years, the FBI has done such a good job going after Italian organized crime there was almost no one left to challenge them or fight back.”
At one time, the syndicate owned a massive network of gambling parlors and gambling machines. Agents estimate that it controlled at least 50 video poker machines throughout Queens, the Bronx, and Westchester County. Each machine pulled in at least $700 a week, or about $1.8 million a year altogether. A single dice game could bring in an additional $67,000 a week. “They were choking on money,” the case agent said. The Albanian ring eventually branched out into extortion, debt collection, and loan-sharking.
Up to a dozen New York agents actively worked on the case over the past five years. So far, more than 20 members and associates of the organization have been charged with various crimes. More than 10 have pled guilty, six have been convicted, and another defendant still faces trial. Some face up to life in prison.
The FBI is still looking for another fugitive linked to the organization, Miri Patani. Anyone with information about Patani or Albanian Organized Crime activities—or similar crimes—is urged to contact the New York field office.
Resources: FBI Organized Crime webpage | Department of Justice Press Release
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In the article below, the FBI gives its perspective on the Balkan criminal organizations. As you see, there is no mention of other nationalities, except for Albanians. Balkan crime means Albanian mafia. Nothing else.
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History of Balkan Organized Crime
Organized crime in the Balkans has its roots in the traditional clan structures. In these largely rural countries, people organized into clans with large familial ties for protection and mutual assistance. Starting in the 15th century, clan relationships operated under the kanun, or code, which values loyalty and besa, or secrecy. Each clan established itself in specific territories and controlled all activities in that territory. Protection of activities and interests often led to violence between the clans. The elements inherent in the structure of the clans provided the perfect backbone for what is considered modern-day Balkan organized crime.
Many years of communist rule led to black market activities in the Balkans, but the impact of these activities was limited to the region. When communism collapsed in the late 1980s and early 1990s, it led to the expansion of Balkan organized crime activities. Criminal markets once closed to Balkan groups suddenly opened, and this led to the creation of an international network. Within the Balkans, organized crime groups infiltrated the new democratic institutions, further expanding their profit opportunities.
Balkan criminal organizations have been active in the U.S. since the mid-1980s. At first, these organizations were involved in low-level crimes, including bank robberies, ATM burglaries, and home invasions. Later, ethnic Albanians affiliated themselves with the established LCN families in New York, acting as low-level participants. As their communities and presence have become more established, they have expanded to lead and control their own organizations.
There is no single Balkan “Mafia,” structured hierarchically like the traditional LCN. Rather, Balkan organized crime groups in this country translated their clan-like structure to the United States. They are not clearly defined or organized and are instead grouped around a central leader or leaders. Organized crime figures maintain ties back to the Balkan region and have established close-knit communities in many cities across the nation.
Albanian organized crime activities in the U.S. include gambling, money laundering, drug trafficking, human smuggling, extortion, violent witness intimidation, robbery, attempted murder, and murder. Balkan organized crime groups have recently expanded into more sophisticated crimes including real estate fraud.
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http://www.fbi.gov/page2/march06/albanian032906.htm
http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cid/orgcrime/balkan.htm
Last edited by AmusedToDeath; 06-08-2008 at 11:58 AM.
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06-08-2008, 03:43 AM
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