Gangsters and politics shake hands in Taiwan

Amazing allegations out of Taiwan. I dont know enough about the source to know what axe is being ground, but the argument fits with Lutetia Paoli's. It's politics stupid! Attempt to manipulate a leadership election in a Taiwanese political party by "organised crime"...but was there a mainland Chinese angle?

Dutch media owner reveals youthful dalliance with IRA

If I can find the full interview, I will post it.

From Chinese factory to UK households – realities of the trade in legal highs

Extract from a new book: Drugs 2.0: The Web Revolution That's Changing How The World Gets High, by Mike Power is published by Portobello Books (

UN Details How Cheap Cocaine Base Plagues South America

Piece from In Sight Crime on new UNODC report

Cocaine flows through Sahara as al-Qaida cashes in on lawlessness

There's not a lot of evidence in the article for the al Qaeda assertion, but plenty of evidence that there are many who will take part for the money.

TE SAT 2013 Terrorism Situation and Trend Report

Europol terrorism report

Murder victim was the leader of a criminal gang

Brief insight into a Lithuanian gang operating in Ireland and possibly elsewhere in Europe.

Seven Croxteth Crew gang members jailed for total of 113 years

More news from the front line in my home city: Liverpool. Judges comment: “In this case drug dealing was not used as an end in itself but funding the gang’s principal  activity of feuding.”

Transnational Organised Crime in East Asia and the Pacific

New UNODC Report

Police seize £12m worth of cocaine in Essex

Members of a gang from the North West of the UK arrested in Essex under operation Titan