Plenary session 1 The threat an EU perspective Troels Oerting Assistant Director, Europol Transatlantic Symposium Lisbon, Portugal 17-19/05/11
2011 OCTA
Layout of the Presentation Criminal Hubs Organised Criminal Groups Trends & Threats Needed Response
Hubs and feeders
North-West Criminal hub (1) Centre of gravity The Netherlands, Belgium Principal EU centre for drug production: o Synthetic drug production, especially ecstasy (MDMA) o Herbal cannabis production Principal EU coordination centre for drug distribution: o Heroin from the Balkan Route o Cocaine from Latin America stockpiling o Qat for Somali diaspora in Northern Europe o Export of expertise cannabis grow shops and drug synthesis o Illicit drug exchange heroin for synthetics, etc. Coordination centre for final stage of illegal immigration to destinations including the UK and Nordic countries. Transit point for trafficking in human beings from MS and from outside the EU. Sea ports are entry points for counterfeit goods largest volumes through Rotterdam, also Hamburg and Bremen. Waste, including toxic waste, e-waste and deregistered vehicles, is trafficked to West Africa and Asia via sea ports in North West Europe. 5
North-West Criminal hub (2) Facilitating Factors Proximity to the most profitable destination markets the UK, Germany, France, Nordic countries Well developed commercial and passenger transport container ports and airports Production capacity (synthetics and herbal cannabis) Established diaspora communities with links to drug sources Prominent OCG clusters Turkish origin, including 2nd/3rd generation EU nationals (heroin) Dutch (heroin, synthetics, herbal cannabis) Moroccan origin, including 2nd/3rd generation EU nationals (heroin, cannabis resin) Lithuanian (especially synthetics and cocaine) 6
North-West Criminal hub (3) Inter-hub dynamics Lithuanian groups transport cocaine from Latin America via West Africa and the South West and North West hubs, and supply amphetamine precursors (BMK) Heroin from the SE and, to a lesser extent, SW hubs Cocaine from the SE hub, and to and from the S hub Synthetics, especially ecstasy and amphetamine, to Turkey and the Middle East via the SE hub Herbal cannabis exported to the NE hub and Russian Federation Flows of trafficked human beings to and from other criminal hubs Emerging issues Increasing use of light aircraft to traffic drugs, cash, firearms and precious stones Expansion of hub to parts of Germany (cannabis cultivation, sea ports, etc.) 7
North-East Criminal hub (1) 8 Centre of gravity Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Kaliningrad exclave (Russia) Focus for transit of illicit commodities to and from the FSU: Drug trafficking o o o Heroin from the Black Sea Route via Iran, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Ukraine Transit point for cocaine supply via the EU to the Russian Federation Supplier of synthetic drug precursors (e.g. BMK) to EU producers o Trafficking of amphetamine and ecstasy to the Russian Federation and Nordic countries o Synthetic drug production for EU and FSU markets (amphetamine and methamphetamine) Transit point for FSU and Asian illegal immigrants en route to EU MS Source of victims of trafficking in human beings for exploitation in other MS Origin of payment card fraud offences committed in the EU Transit point for genuine smuggled and cheap white cigarettes from the Kaliningrad exclave; location also of illegal cigarette factories
North-East Criminal hub (2) Facilitating Factors Proximity to the FSU, source of illicit commodities and precursor chemicals, and cocaine and heroin markets Commercial transport infrastructure, especially the sea ports of Kaliningrad and Klaipeda Considerable resources available to indigenous, particularly Lithuanian, criminal groups Russian as a criminal lingua franca Prominent OCG clusters Lithuanian multi-commodity, with an international reach, often displaying high levels of violence; cooperation with Albanian speaking OCGs in trafficking heroin from Central Asia to Western Europe Estonian armed robberies in MS; distribution of counterfeit euros 9
North-East Criminal hub (3) Inter-hub dynamics Lithuanian groups are engaged in cocaine transport from Latin America via West Africa and the South West and North West hubs; they also supply amphetamine precursors (BMK) to the North West hub Herbal cannabis is imported from the North West hub Historically involved in counterfeit euro production, Lithuanian groups now source counterfeits from producers in the Southern hub Emerging issues Use of small utility aircraft to facilitate illegal immigration and to traffic synthetic drugs and victims of THB for sexual exploitation across the eastern borders of the EU With Estonia s adoption of the euro on 1 st January 2011 it is expected that counterfeit distributors such as Lithuanian OC groups will take advantage of Estonians relative lack of familiarity with the new currency 10
South-East Criminal hub (1) Centre of gravity Bulgaria, Romania and Greece Heroin travels from the Black Sea Route via Iran, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Ukraine to Romania. Bulgaria the most targeted EU entry point for heroin from the overland Balkan Routes. Consignments then cross the Adriatic via Greece or pass through the Western Balkans Cocaine via the Balkan Routes or Adriatic and Black Sea ports; transit point for maritime shipments from Latin America, overland trafficking from West Africa via the Balkan Routes, and cocaine destined for Italian OCGs. Large scale amphetamine production for the Middle East market Indoor and outdoor cannabis cultivation for EU markets Focus for illegal immigration to the EU, especially at the Turkish/Greek border Has historically provided THB victims for exploitation in other MS, especially children for sexual exploitation and use in criminal offences, and facilitates the transit and distribution of victims from outside the EU. Increased engagement in payment card fraud, especially in Bulgaria Increased transport of cheap white cigarettes along the Balkan Routes; subsequent storage in Greece Prominent in the production of counterfeit euros Laboratories for counterfeit documents Transit point for weapons from the Western Balkans 11
South-East Criminal hub (2) Facilitating Factors Situation at the convergence of North-South and East-West trafficking routes Proximity to criminal logistics and groups in the Western Balkans and the FSU Commercial transport infrastructure on the Black Sea, Adriatic and Mediterranean Prominent OCG clusters Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (OMCGs): in recent years, Hells Angels Motorcycle Club (HAMC) has established charters in the region Albanian-speaking criminal groups supply cannabis to South East Europe, and traffic heroin and cocaine through the region Roma and other itinerant OCGs traffic women for sexual exploitation, and children for sexual exploitation and use in property offences 12
South-East Criminal hub (3) Inter-hub dynamics Drugs: heroin and cocaine transit the region en route to the Southern and North West hubs; synthetics, especially ecstasy, transit en route to Middle Eastern markets Illegal immigrants destined for the North East hub pass through the South Eastern EU border Increasing trans-hub movements of victims of THB from Bulgaria and Romania to Germany and the Nordic countries by Roma OCGs, amongst others Toxic waste is trafficked to the SE hub from the S hub Emerging issues Convergence of several trafficking routes is creating a bottleneck for illicit commodities in Hungary The planned accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen Zone will potentially release the pressure of illegal immigration on the Turkish-Greek border 13
Southern Criminal hub (1) Centre of gravity Southern Italy Distribution centre for cocaine from Latin America Landing and transit zone for illegal immigration, especially from the South East hub (Greece) Entry point, transit zone and location of sexual and labour exploitation of trafficked human beings Principal location for the production of counterfeit euros Key distribution point for counterfeit goods Base for some of the most powerful and best resourced criminal groups active in the EU Facilitating Factors Indigenous OC groups considerable resources, high levels of cohesion and international reach Commercial and passenger transport infrastructure sea and airports Proximity to the Balkan Routes for illicit commodities 14
Southern Criminal hub (2) Prominent OCG clusters Italian, including: Ndrangheta drug and weapons trafficking, extortion, infiltration and control of public contracts, money laundering and reinvestment of criminal proceeds to acquire entrepreneurial companies and business enterprises, property crime, crimes against persons and offences relating to illegal immigration Apulian (including Sacra Corona Unita) - crimes against persons, drug trafficking, extortion, usury, property crime, counterfeiting, money laundering, infiltration of public contracts, cigarette smuggling, illegal gambling Camorra - international drug trafficking, extortion, usury, counterfeiting, illegal gambling, infiltration of public contracts, reinvestment of illicit funds to acquire entrepreneurial companies and business enterprises, illegal waste management Cosa Nostra - infiltration of public contracts, extortion, reinvestment of criminal proceeds to acquire entrepreneurial companies and business enterprises, illicit drug trafficking, usury, property crime, crimes against persons Chinese - illegal entry of counterfeit goods through the Italian ports is facilitated by close cooperation between Chinese and Italian OC groups. Both Camorra and Ndrangheta have established extensive contacts with Chinese OC groups importing counterfeits; facilitation of illegal immigration; property crime (robbery and extortion); drug trafficking. Albanian speaking cooperating with Apulian crime groups in drug trafficking, key drug supplier to Ndrangheta, and active in trafficking of women for sexual exploitation Nigerian THB for sexual exploitation, facilitation of illegal immigration, drug trafficking (cocaine, heroin and cannabis), payment card fraud, property crime, illegal exportation of 15 currency
Southern Criminal hub (3) Inter-hub dynamics Transport of illegal immigrants from the SE to the S hub Toxic waste is trafficked to the South East hub from the Southern hub Counterfeit euros produced in the Southern hub are supplied in particular to criminal groups active in the North East, South East and South West hubs Emerging issues Heroin trafficking by means of container shipment direct to Mediterranean ports from Iran and Pakistan The establishment of violent street gangs originating from Latin America. Gangs such as the Latin Kings are cooperating with their Latin American affiliates with the aim of developing their role in cocaine trafficking to the EU Apulian OC s increasing involvement in drug trafficking has led to it adopting a more cooperative stance towards non-indigenous OC groups. On this basis it now has the potential to increase its international reach 16
South-West Criminal hub (1) Centre of gravity Spain and Portugal Leading role in cocaine and cannabis resin transit, storage and distribution Increasingly a transit zone for heroin from South West Asia Consistent flow of illegal immigration from Latin America; reduced flow from North Africa Transit zone and location of sexual and labour exploitation of trafficked human beings Entry point for counterfeit goods, especially textiles Facilitating Factors Commercial and passenger transport infrastructure especially sea container and air freight Cultural links with Latin America and West Africa Proximity to North African trafficking routes 17
South-West Criminal hub (2) Prominent OCG clusters Spanish and Portuguese cocaine and cannabis resin trafficking, exploiting cultural ties with Latin America and proximity to North Africa Criminal groups of mixed nationality or ethnicity (Colombian/Spanish, Spanish/Moroccan, Colombian/Moroccan, Spanish/Romanian, Spanish/British) so structured for the effective management of different stages in drug or human trafficking chains Dominican Republic cocaine trafficking and violent crime (kidnapping); assessed to have a high growth potential. Romanian THB for sexual exploitation West African cocaine trafficking, distribution of counterfeit euros and THB for sexual exploitation Italian bank robberies with firearms Russian/Georgian illegal immigration, identity document counterfeiting and money laundering, extortion Pakistani heroin trafficking Turkish heroin trafficking 18
South-West Criminal hub (3) Inter-hub dynamics Cocaine and heroin transit the region en route to the North West hub in particular Counterfeit euros produced in the Southern hub are supplied to criminal groups active in the South West hub Emerging issues Increased cocaine trafficking via the Balkan Routes and increased demand from Russian and Chinese market may impact upon supply through the South West hub The establishment of violent street gangs originating from Latin America. Increased use of light aircraft for drug trafficking from Morocco to the Iberian peninsula Turkish OC activity in Morocco may point to a greater role for the South West hub in heroin trafficking in the future 19
Layout of the Presentation Criminal Hubs Organised Criminal Groups Trends& Threats Needed Response
Criminal Groups: Distribution
Albanian Speaking OCGs Main criminal activities Poly-drug activities (Heroin, Cocaine, Synthetic and Cannabis); Facilitation of illegal immigration; Distribution of counterfeit banknotes; Weapons trafficking; Property crimes Common characteristics International dimension (expatriate communities); Family/clan based structure; High capacity to use violence (THB, burglaries); Use of EU groups as drug couriers; High corruptive potential in the Balkans Cooperation with other OCGs: Lithuanian OCGs (trafficking from Central Asia to Western Europe); Criminal organisations in source areas for drugs; Drug profits also supporting former KLA members and organisations Recent and emerging developments Increasingly polycriminal; Expected to further their interests in the EU, especially in light of the projected Schengen implementation in Bulgaria and Romania
Nigerian/West African OCGs Main criminal activities Facilitated illegal immigration, THB, falsified/counterfeit documents, Polydrug trafficking, Internet facilitated frauds, Credit card fraud, Counterfeit euro distribution Common characteristics Strong international dimension, Flexible structure (loose international network of cells), Important role of women, Flexibility of routes and trafficking methods, Use of EU citizens for low level tasks (e.g. as drug couriers) Recent and emerging developments Increasing presence in source and transit countries for illicit drugs, Growing sophistication and international influence as a result of cooperation with established criminal organisations (e.g. OMCGs, Russian OCGs)
Lithuanian OCGs Main criminal activities Trafficking of amphetamine and ecstasy to the Russia, Scandinavia and the Baltic States; Trafficking BMK to the North West hub; Cigarette smuggling; Distribution of counterfeit euro; Property crimes (vehicle theft and armed jewellery robberies) Common characteristics Strong international dimension, bridge between Russian and indigenous organised crime; Use of corruptive influence; Use of violence (armed robberies); High level of technical expertise (vehicle thefts, synthetic drug production); Substantial financial resources increase their recruitment, retention, infiltration and investment capacities Cooperation with other OCGs With Albanian speaking OCGs in heroin trafficking; With Baltic and Ukrainian criminal groups in cigarette smuggling Recent and emerging developments Increasingly polycriminal; North East hub serves as a transit point for supply to the Russian Federation, with Lithuanian OCGs engaged in transport from Latin America via West Africa and the South West and North West hubs
Chinese OCGs Main criminal activities Counterfeiting, Facilitation of illegal immigration, THB (labour and sexual exploitation), Falsified/counterfeit documents, Money laundering, Facilitation of illegal gambling Cooperation with other criminal groups Close cooperation with Italian OCGs (Camorra and Ndrangheta) Common characteristics Diverse structures (Youth gangs, Mafia-type criminal associations,triads), Code of silence (intensely closed social system), Use of violence (especially towards fellow members of diaspora communities), Capacity for corruptive influence
Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs Main criminal activities Drug trafficking (Cocaine from the South West criminal hub and the Balkans, Synthetic drugs from the North West hub); Weapons trafficking; Extortion and property crime (theft) Common characteristics Strong international dimension, established transnational network; Hierarchical and rigid structure; High levels of internal and external violence; Ready access to firearms; Capacity for corruptive influence; Large capacity for territorial expansion Cooperation with other OCGs Links with Moroccan groups in the supply of cannabis resin Recent and emerging developments Expansion into South East Europe, with potential for involvement in drug trafficking via the Balkan Routes; HAMC: Attempts to establish a chapter in Morocco (expanding influence to source areas for drugs); Continued and even increased involvement in cocaine trafficking in the EU in the near future
Roma OCGs Main criminal activities THB (including sexual exploitation and child trafficking for the purpose of forced begging), Fraud, Property crime (especially pick pocketing and burglaries), Extortion, Drug trafficking Common characteristics Extremely mobile (historically itinerant), Patriarchal culture in which male members of the family have absolute control on women and children Cooperation with other criminal groups Consolidated links with Eastern European criminal groups Recent and emerging developments Increasing low level drug distribution Given the size of Bulgaria's and Romania's Roma communities, the planned expansion of the Schengen area is likely to prompt a further increase in THB by Roma OCGs
Italian OCGs Main groupings Cosa Nostra (Sicilian mafia), Ndrangheta (Calabrian mafia), Camorra (Neapolitan mafia), Apulian mafia Common characteristics High capacity to detect and best exploit new illicit scenarios; Control of territory in areas of origin, control of economy in other areas of influence; World-wide network of connections; High infiltration capacity; Sophisticated money laundering techniques Criminal activities Infiltration of public contracts, extortion, money laundering, drug trafficking, usury, property crime, crimes against persons, counterfeiting, illegal gambling, illegal waste management, weapons trafficking, facilitating illegal immigration, cigarette smuggling Cooperation with other criminal groups Polish, Lithuanian, Romanian, Bulgarian, Moroccan and West-African distributing counterfeit Euros; Chinese OCGs importing counterfeits; other national groups in drug trafficking, money laundering, and in control of major public contracts); Albanians and North Africans and recently Indian criminals in low level tasks relating to drug trafficking and sexual exploitation, illegal immigration and THB Areas of operation Centre of gravity in the Southern criminal hub; influence extends to Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, France, UK, Switzerland, the Western Balkans, Latin America, the US, Canada, Brazil, Australia, and China Recent and emerging developments Increasingly sophisticated techniques for ML; Apulian groups acquired international scope thanks to their interest in drugs markets and cooperation with non-indigenous groups; Ndrangheta expected to expand their international activities
Turkish OCGs Main criminal activities Heroin and cocaine trafficking; exchange of heroin for synthetic drugs produced in the North West hub; Facilitation of illegal immigration; Distribution of counterfeit banknotes Common characteristics Traditional controllers of trafficking routes through presence in Western Balkans and diaspora communities in EU; Criminal service providers (supply and transport of illicit commodities for OCGs of various nationalities and ethnicities); Own transport companies facilitate illicit commodity trafficking Cooperation with other criminal groups Iranian OCGs (brokers between Afghan heroin producers and Turkish OCGs); Albanian speaking OCGs in heroin trafficking Recent and emerging developments Turkish OC activity in Morocco (greater role for the SW hub in heroin trafficking in the future?); Increasingly polycriminal; Turkey = nexus point for migrants likely to be exploited by Turkish OCGs; the Black Sea region is likely to be a focus of this activity
Moroccan OCGs Main criminal activities Cannabis cultivation and resin trafficking, Cocaine trafficking, Heroin distribution, Property crime, Facilitating illegal immigration, Producing counterfeit ID documents Common characteristics Small horizontal cells (no more than 10 members), Extensive networks of relationships Cooperation with other criminal groups Supply of cannabis resin to OMCGs, Cooperation with Albanian speaking OCGs in Italy, Cooperation with Dutch OCGs Recent and emerging developments Greater prominence of suspects of Moroccan origin in the production and distribution of synthetic drugs in the North West criminal hub
Russian OCGs Main criminal activities Drug trafficking; THB; Weapon smuggling; Distribution of counterfeited goods and production of counterfeit medicines; Trade in stolen vehicles; Cybercrime; Fraud; Money laundering Common characteristics International dimension; Hierarchical groups as well as loose affiliations (networks of businessmen interested in accumulating profit); High level of technical expertise (fraud, cybercrime); Capacity to establish and exploit legal business structures; Capacity for corruptive influence; Minimal violence (avoiding attention of the authorities) Cooperation with other criminal groups Lithuanian OCGs (synthetic drug precursors, heroin, cheap cigarettes and illegal immigrants); EU citizens, particularly from the Baltic States, are recruited as drug couriers by Russian criminal groups; EU criminal groups for the creation of legal business structures for money laundering Recent and emerging developments Activities in the EU increasingly difficult to detect using traditional law enforcement methods
Layout of the Presentation Criminal Hubs Organised Criminal Groups Trends & Threats Needed Response
Global economic crisis Citizens into closer proximity to OC Increasing corruption $ocial tol ranc, moral r lativi$m: communities more tolerant of illicit commodities (especially counterfeit goods) Rising unemployment and reduced salaries: Individuals more likely to be recruited by OCGs Businesses more vulnerable Financial constraints on law enforcement
Knowing co-operation of specialists Cooperation of specialists in the transport, financial, real estate, legal, typographic, IT, chemical and pharmaceutical sectors Specialists can be: Part of the OCG External professionals (corrupted or blackmailed) Certain OCGs provide specialist services to other OCGs
Increasing diversification New/alternative routes New/alternative Modi Operandi New/alternative group structures New/alternative alliances Multi-commodity, poly-crime Create new illicit markets
Increasingly collaborative atmosphere Traffickers share loads, spreading risks and costs Barter: illicit commodities are exchanged rather than purchased with cash Less turf wars Strategic distribution of AoI
Service provider profile of OCGs OCGs act as indispensable intermediaries between clients and victims. Decreasing violence vs. victims Extreme care of clients Diversified offer Unfair competition in legitimate business
Penetration in private sectors Privatised state assets (Eastern Europe) Real Estate Constructions Power plants Telephone companies Financial institutions Transport Cash intensive businesses Gambling
SCAN System & the ECIM Cycle 39
SCAN System & the ECIM Cycle 40