Who, What, Why: Why do criminals smuggle garlic?

Same old lesson. Bring in a tax and you'll create smugglers, even of garlic!

Surge in Belfast violence blamed on resurgent UVF

Oh joy! UVF leaders implicated in the flag riots and prominent activist suggests that the police are Catholics. Down the road of mean steeples we traipse again...

China’s ten biggest criminal cases of 2012

From the Qinghai daily News, reported by the Danwei website. They almost certainly arent what we would call the ten biggest criminal cases, but its a step forward for China to allow the media to report these areas, because they demonstrate the existence of negative aspects to China's society. Mostly though, crimes that would be recognised as such in the rest of the world.

The United States of Marijuana

Medicinal marijuana in Colorado

22 NI laundering plants shut

Probably red diesel: agricultural fuel. Duty on petrol in UK so high that there must be other networks finding ways of avoiding it. but how and where is it sold?

Camorra boss Antonio Leonardi arrested today

Italian police today arrested Antonio Leonardi, one of the most wanted and most dangerous Camorra bosses. He is considered one of the major drug trafficker in Neaples.

French cannabis coops

Cannabis social clubs in France press for legalisation. Article in French. Its been a while since Ive explored the continental press, for which I apologise. All to do with changing laptops and forgetting bookmarks. Dont suppose this will get into the English redtops, so struggle through!

The 'Ndrangheta: 40 convictions in Lombardy

In the trial following "Operazione Infinito", which has shown the significant presence of the 'Ndrangheta in Lombardy, 40 persons have been convicted.

Manager wanted for ex-mafia assets

In Italy a group of business schools and associations launched a postgraduate course to teach how to become good managers of assets that the government has seized from the Mafia.

Camorra banned from Church

Cardinal Sepe, the Archbishop of Naples, have denied Camorra members the right to be also member of the Church. Cardinal Sepe declared that he had ordered his clergy to ban Camorra members -  unless repetent - from the Church, "even if dead".

Women and the Camorra

Police arrested 48 person (among them, many women) during an anti-Camorra operation this morning. Investigators underlined the increasing importance of women in many Camorrean clans, where they took over the leading positions of their inmate husbands.

Lock Jammers steal cars in a click

telegraph article about a £50 device made in China that can block luxury cars electonic locking system, enabling thieves to open doors and start the ignition.

State-Mafia negotiations on trial

In a few days the trial (preliminary hearings) concerning the alleged State-Mafia negotiations will start. The Italian Government will join the trial as civil claimant.
http://www.antimafiaduemila.com/2012102639482/primo-piano/trattativa-stato-mafia-il-governo-parte-civile.html

Mysterious thefts scupper EU tobacco crackdown

Something not right here...Why should laptop thefts stop legislation? The connection is not obvious.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/mysterious-thefts-scupper-eu-tobacco-crackdown-8227362.html

Reggio Calabria municipality dissolved for mafia infiltration

The municipality of Reggio Calabria has been finally dissolved for mafia infiltration ('Ndrangheta). This is the first time a county seat is dissolved for this reason.
http://www.corriere.it/cronache/12_ottobre_09/reggio-calabria-sciolto_417c842c-1237-11e2-919a-606647d2c25a.shtml

Where the Mob Keeps the Money

by Roberto Saviano
THE global financial crisis has been a blessing for organized crime. A series of recent scandals have exposed the connection between some of the biggest global banks and the seamy underworld of mobsters, smugglers, drug traffickers and arms dealers.


http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/26/opinion/sunday/where-the-mob-keeps-its-money.html?_r=2&pagewanted=all

One person killed and another one injured during a shooting at Terracina

One person has been killed and another one injured during a shooting at Terracina, a beach resort near Rome. The victim is Gaetano Marino, member of a Camorrean clan.
link

Mozzarella and Camorra

Giuseppe Mandara - the head of one of the biggest mozzarella makers in Italy and a major exporter of buffalo mozzarella - has been arrested and assets for 100 million euro have been seized. It seems that the Mandara group was controlled by the Casalesi clan.

http://corrieredelmezzogiorno.corriere.it/napoli/notizie/cronaca/2012/17-luglio-2012/mozzarella-dop-casalesi-arrestato-mandara-maxi-sequestro-100-milioni-2011040607215.shtml

Mafia assets seized in Lombardy and Sardinia

Agents of the Guardia di Finanza confiscated Mafia assets for millions of euro in Milan and in Sardinia.
 http://milano.repubblica.it/cronaca/2012/07/05/news/le_mani_della_mafia_sui_locali_del_centro_anche_il_samarani_caf_sotto_sequestro-38557719/?ref=HREC2-6

Italian National Anti-Mafia Directorate lacks resources

http://www.linkiesta.it/antimafia-dia
The financing for the Italian Anti-Mafia Directorate has been further decreased this year, despite its successes in recovering assets from organized crime.