Russian Organized Crime, Essay Example

Russian Organized Crime (ROC) relates to that of international crime syndicates that operate in the USA and elsewhere.  Russia is used loosely as a term to cover all of the Eurasian countries that these gangs originate from i.e. Armenia, Lithuania, and other former Soviet bloc countries. It has been estimated that there are around 15 organized crime syndicates in the USA which fall under the ROC umbrella.  This places a group membership of around 5-6,000 people. In addition to the USA these gangs are reported to have a global reach that spans some 58 countries world-wide. The ROC have been contrasted to the Italian Mafia or Cosa Nostra (Sicily) in that they are well organized, have a firm hierarchy, an internal code of conduct, rules of engagement and an organized method of settling disputes and conflict resolution. (Fig 1 refers) “ROC has engaged extensively in contract murders, kidnaping, and arson against businesses whose owners refuse to pay extortion money. For example, in September 1999, six members of the Gufield-Kutsenko Brigade plead guilty in New York to federal racketeering charges involving terrorizing business owners to extort money.” (James O. Finckenauer, 2007).

Russian Organized Crime activity has witnessed a considerable expansion in the US over the last 20 years. The FBI has been paying close attention to this.  One point made is that “, many of the Russian émigrés who are involved in criminal activity in this country may be career criminals specializing in crime areas having little or nothing to do with Russian organized crime groups.” (fas.org, 2010) The FBI have made a comment on the organization of the crime syndicates stating “FBI Director Louis Freeh stated that over 200 of Russia’s 6,000-odd crime gangs operate with American counterparts in 17 U.S. cities in 14 states” (fas.org, 2010).

References

fas.org. (2010). Organization and Structure. Retrieved 11 22, 2010, from Russian Organized Crime: http://www.fas.org/irp/world/para/docs/rusorg3.htm

James O. Finckenauer, P. (2007). Russian organized crime in the US. Boston MA: National Institute of Justice.