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International organised crime

International organised crime

Several or the more well-known international organised crime groups are:

Asian Groups - Asia has been the birthplace of a number of secret societies and crime groups such as the Triads in China and Hong Kong, the Yakuza or Boryokudan in Japan. Vietnamese crime groups and other criminal gangs of smaller immigrant communities also exist. A common theme has been the victimisation of their own communities in the home country or in the West.

Common Asian crime group offences are extortion, drug trafficking, identity fraud and people smuggling.

The Mafia - Popularised through crime novels and Hollywood, the exploits of Sicilian-linked immigrant families in America have become the stereotypical face of organised crime. Often referred to as the La Cosa Nostra, in America the activities of these groups have been significantly curtailed through extensive operations by American law enforcement.

West African Organised Crime - West African organised crime groups have primarily originated in Ghana and Nigeria and are notorious for their involvement in large-scale fraud scams and the movement of illicit drugs. In recent years their activities have also involved other criminal activities such as people smuggling and firearms smuggling. These groups have worked advanced fee fraud scams in New Zealand, and have been involved in importing illicit drugs.

East European Crime Groups - The history of these groups pre-dates the break-up of the Soviet Union and many groups are often identified by law enforcement as ethnically networked groups from within the former USSR.

Their activities include arms smuggling, extortion, violence, money laundering, prostitution, theft and burglaries; and emulating many other organised crime groups.

South American Drug Cartels - With the rapid rise in the popularity of cocaine worldwide, the significance and influence of the South American drug cartels has increased. The wealth and corrupting power of these groups has caused international law enforcement to concentrate significant resources into combating these groups and the drugs they proliferate.


 

Special methods to investigate organised crime

Undercover Programme - Undercover police officers are sometimes deployed to detect serious criminal offending, which is often gang-related. They assume another identity and go into the field for weeks or months. When they have gathered enough information to make arrests, the undercover operation is terminated.

Witness Protection - Witnesses who give evidence against gang members and other serious criminals can sometimes feel threatened or intimidated. The Witness Protection Programme monitors these people's welfare and if need be, helps them create new identities.

Threats - The Threat Assessment Unit investigates threats against police staff, judges and court staff and other investigative agency staff.  They respond to counter-terrorist threats or situations. The unit also collects and analyses potential threats to New Zealand and visiting government politicians and officials.


 

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