The Russian Mafia has been selected as the last blog page about organized crime groups in the United States today and in my opinion is one of the most interesting and influential groups that plagues our American society today. Many facets and smaller sections of the Russian mafia are named after the country they hail from for example the Ukrainian mafia, simply is called the Ukrainian Mafia. All of the former states that were part of the Soviet Union have organized crime facets that have infiltrated the United States and all facets were originated out of Moscow, where the first groups of thieves joined together. Since the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union the different groups from each of the former U.S.S.R have created considerable worldwide power and influence. The Russian Mafia are active in virtually every country in the world, more so in the ones with considerable wealth. So the United States has become an opportunity for these criminals to exploit our government and laws to their financial benefits. This organization is highly monitored by law enforcement in our country and is considered one of the worst organized syndicates in the world. Their territories are limitless and financial support from different syndicates is extremely hard to trace, which makes them very dangerous to our country.
Organized crime has plagued Russia since the Czars were in power. Mainly the first forms of these groups’ crimes were thievery, banditry, and pornography. Early in the syndicate’s history, rules were to be followed and a code to abide by was set. One rule that was set and in most cases around the world, with any organized group of criminals is not to cooperate with authorities of any kind and to do so, could be punishable by death. During the Second World War some of the inmates in the Russian prisons made deals with the government, to fight in the armed forces in exchange for reduced sentences. When these men came back from the war they were surprised to find out that the syndicate did not approve of this service and rewarded them with death. When the soviet economy took a downhill turn is when the Russian Mafia really began to formulate and take serious power. They took control of the black market in Eastern Europe, which created a huge market and window of opportunity to create serious income and this allowed them increase their power and size. One of the major events that helped to spark the organized crime development in Russia was the legalized private entrepreneurship act in 1988, which allowed free trade in the countries and provinces. This however did not implement any securities or regulations I this new economy. Monopolies were formed and corruption was rampant throughout Russia. As the slow decline of the Soviet Union was becoming more of destruction, the organized crime flourished. People of all back rounds and trades began getting involved with this crime wave because there was no other means of supporting themselves and families at that time. In 1993 nearly 80% of the banks in Russia were owned by the mafia. Also in 1993 1400 people were murdered in Moscow alone due to the overwhelming criminal wave sweeping through the country. Innocent people were killed and any means necessary were taken by these groups to gain a profit. The new Russian organized criminal was born, one with a business approach, reinforced by violence and murder.
Some of the illegal activities that the Russian Mafia engages in to manipulate a financial profit are arms trafficking, counterfeiting, drug trafficking, extortion, human trafficking, illegal immigration, kidnapping, murder, prostitution, racketeering and contract killing. This list describes the major crimes that these syndicates commit, and does not represent the entire body of how corrupt and terrible these groups really are. Any source of illegal activity that will net a profit, they will engage in. Around the world the Russian Mafia has had tremendous influence on the different countries and has made several well known associations with other organized criminal enterprises such as the Italian Cosa Nostra, the Chinese Triads, and Latin American drug cartels. Similar to the other foreign organized crime syndicates, the Russians have migrated to the larger populated cities in the United States due to the large concentration of wealth located in those cities. The first Russian mafia organized crime boss that was prosecuted by the United States government was Vyacheslav Yaponchik, who operated the New York based Russian Mafia out of New Brighton Beach, in Brooklyn. The U.S district attorney convicted him of extortion and struck the first blow into their criminal world. The Russian mafia is believed to have several large legitimate businesses around the world in which they share with other organized criminal groups such as the Latin drug cartels, where they launder their illegitimate funds.
The Russian Mafia is one of the most ruthless and violent organized crime groups in the world and their influence in the United States is an ever-growing problem in this country. Law enforcement officials believe that the criminal element that has been growing for the last 30 years could be worse than that of the Italian Cosa Nostra. This could affect our society dramatically and have an irreparable effect. The Russian mafia has not established the amount of legitimate businesses that the Italians did and do not have the abilities to corrupt officials and law enforcement but certainly are gaining strides in intentional ties and the development of their international businesses that directly fund and support their organizations.
lnews.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/special.../russian_mafia/70485
books.google.com/books?isbn=1555533744...
www.cbsnews.com/.../main4094344.shtml
What is the way in which their money is laundered; do they own banks here in the U.S. too? I would be surprised if they could still 'flourish' here, as I can't as much as drive w/o my seat-belt without being followed and fined! I bet the CIA/FBI have their activities monitored.
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