VITAL gas supplies to Western Europe are at the mercy of shady middlemen who have taken control of the gas trade between Russia, Ukraine and Turkmenistan, it was alleged yesterday.
Their unregulated business dealings have contributed to a sharp rise in the price of gas in leading markets, including Britain and Germany. Their secretive company, RosUkrEnergo, which has a monopoly of billions of dollars of gas sales to Ukraine, is being investigated by the organised crime division of the US Justice Department.
At the same time Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, is expected to press President Putin to guarantee the security of gas supplies when she meets the Russian leader this week.
Yesterday the British non-governmental organisation Global Witness called for an investigation into RosUkrEnergo and urged the European Union not to enter into any agreements with the leadership of Turkmenistan until there was greater transparency in the gas trade.
The organisation also called on the Kremlin to show leadership on energy security — the theme of Russia’s debut year in its presidency of the G8 — by investigating allegations of wrongdoing in the gas sector.
“Lack of transparency makes it impossible for the people of Turkmenistan and Ukraine, or gas customers in Western Europe, to know who really controls this trade and where the profits go,” Tom Mayne, a Global Witness campaigner, said.
“The EU is forging a long-term strategy on how to source and use energy. But this strategy won’t be credible unless it promotes transparency and good governance in countries which supply Europe’s energy, because instability in these countries could ultimately threaten energy supplies.”
RosUkrEnergo emerged as a key player in the gas trade between East and West following a protracted gas dispute between Russia and Ukraine in January.
Gazprom, the Russian monopoly, cut off supplies to Ukraine on New Year’s Day to force Kiev to pay more for gas, severely disrupting deliveries to the rest of Europe. Russia said that it was phasing out subsidies for Ukraine and other former Soviet republics and accused Ukraine of stealing supplies destined for Western Europe.
Kiev denied this and accused the Kremlin of punishing it for the 2004 Orange Revolution.
Gazprom’s move raised doubts in the West about Russia’s reliability as an energy partner and prompted calls for the EU to reduce its dependency on Russian oil and gas. Gazprom and Naftogaz, the Ukrainian state gas company, reached a new deal on January 4 under which Russia and Turkmenistan supply their gas to Ukraine through RosUkrEnergo.
The Switzerland-based company is owned half by Gazprom and half by Raiffeisen Bank, of Austria. But Raiffeisen is acting on behalf of beneficiaries who have never been identified. The Global Witness report was published three days after the US Justice Department confirmed that it was investigating RosUkrEnergo.
Company executives travelled to America two months ago to discuss its structure with department officials and US authorities have reportedly requested information about RosUkrEnergo from the Austrian Government.
Global Witness said that it also had a letter showing that doubts over RosUkrEnergo’s ownership structure and affiliates prompted its auditors from KPMG International to resign in November. Global Witness named two top Ukrainian officials who had held key positions in RosUkrEnergo. And it identified a group of British businessmen who, it said, had worked with RosUkrEnergo and also played key roles at its equally opaque predecessor, Eural Trans Gas.
It also alleged that President Niyazov of Turkmenistan kept most of his Central Asian nation’s estimated annual gas revenues of $2 billion (£1.12 billion) off the books. “Niyazov keeps most of the gas revenues under his effective control in overseas and off-budget funds,” it said. “Most worrying of all, it seems that no money from the sale of Turkmen gas even makes it into the national budget.”
Global Witness alleged that Mr Niyazov kept $2 billion in the Foreign Exchange Reserve Fund at Deutsche Bank, of Germany, in an account that he alone had access to.
“It is hard to reconcile Deutsche Bank’s role in managing Turkmenistan’s money, which is under Niyazov’s effective control, with the long-term interest of Germany in promoting stability in Central Asia,” it said.
A spokesman for the European Commission said: “It is important to improve transparency in energy markets.” EU leaders agreed last month to push ahead with a common European energy policy to ensure security of supplies, particularly from Russia and Central Asia. The EU leaders decided to combine forces after Gazprom cut off gas supplies to the Ukraine. One senior Commission official said at the time: “Russia has got its jackboot on Europe’s gas pipe.”
(Times Online 25-04-2006)
08 April 2006
Money laundering in the Netherlands
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimated money laundering at 2-5% of world GDP but few others have made an attempt to quantify global money laundering. John Walker (1999) was the first analyst to make a serious attempt at quantifying money laundering and the initial output from his model suggests that $2,85 trillion is laundered globally.
Research by the Utrecht School of Economics and the Australian National University shows that Walker tends to overestimate money generated for laundering in the Netherlands, by about 30-40%. The results indicate that there is Є 8 to 14 billion from crime generated in the Netherlands of which 44% will stay in the Netherlands for laundering. This means that money laundering from crime in the Netherlands amounts to Є 3.2 to 4.2 billion per year, with the most likely estimate to be Є 3.8 billion. The remaining Dutch criminal money will be placed somewhere else. In addition, criminal money from abroad will also flow into the Netherlands. There is also an additional Є 14 to 21 billion that flows into the Netherlands from the top 20 origin countries of generated money for laundering. This means that the amount of money laundering with which the Dutch have to deal accounts for about Є 18 to 25 billion, hence about 4% of the Dutch money demand, or about 5% of the Dutch GDP.
Read the full report 'The Amounts and Effects of Money Laundering' (PDF)
Research by the Utrecht School of Economics and the Australian National University shows that Walker tends to overestimate money generated for laundering in the Netherlands, by about 30-40%. The results indicate that there is Є 8 to 14 billion from crime generated in the Netherlands of which 44% will stay in the Netherlands for laundering. This means that money laundering from crime in the Netherlands amounts to Є 3.2 to 4.2 billion per year, with the most likely estimate to be Є 3.8 billion. The remaining Dutch criminal money will be placed somewhere else. In addition, criminal money from abroad will also flow into the Netherlands. There is also an additional Є 14 to 21 billion that flows into the Netherlands from the top 20 origin countries of generated money for laundering. This means that the amount of money laundering with which the Dutch have to deal accounts for about Є 18 to 25 billion, hence about 4% of the Dutch money demand, or about 5% of the Dutch GDP.
Read the full report 'The Amounts and Effects of Money Laundering' (PDF)
Serious Organised Crime Agency
The Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) is a new law enforcement agency in the UK created 'to reduce the harm caused to people and communities in the UK by serious organised crime.'
It takes over the functions of the National Crime Squad (NCS), the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS), the role of HMRC in investigating drug trafficking and related criminal finance and some of the functions of the UK Immigration Service (UKIS) in dealing with organised immigration crime. SOCA assumed its functions on Saturday 1 April 2006.
The website of SOCA is still a little empty although the annual plan 2006/2007 (PDF) has been put online and gives some more insight in this organisation.
It takes over the functions of the National Crime Squad (NCS), the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS), the role of HMRC in investigating drug trafficking and related criminal finance and some of the functions of the UK Immigration Service (UKIS) in dealing with organised immigration crime. SOCA assumed its functions on Saturday 1 April 2006.
The website of SOCA is still a little empty although the annual plan 2006/2007 (PDF) has been put online and gives some more insight in this organisation.
14 March 2006
Call for Papers: Monsters and the Monstrous
4th Global Conference, Monsters and the Monstrous: Myths and Metaphors of Enduring Evil. Monday 18th September - Thursday 21st September 2006 Mansfield College, Oxford, United Kingdom.
This inter-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary conference seeks to investigate and explore the enduring influence and imagery of monsters and the monstrous on human culture throughout history. In particular, the project will have a dual focus with the intention of examining specific 'monsters' as well as assessing the role, function and consequences of persons, actions or events identified as 'monstrous'. The history and contemporary cultural influences of monsters and monstrous metaphors will also be examined.
Perspectives are sought from those engaged in the fields of literature, media studies, cultural studies, history, anthropology, philosophy, psychology, sociology, health and theology. Ideas are welcomed from those involved in academic study, fictional explorations, and applied areas (e.g. youth work, criminology and medicine).
Papers will be considered on any related theme. 300 word abstracts should be submitted by Friday 2nd June 2006. If your paper is accepted for presentation at the conference, an 8 page draft paper should be submitted by Friday 1st September 2000 Full announcement
This inter-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary conference seeks to investigate and explore the enduring influence and imagery of monsters and the monstrous on human culture throughout history. In particular, the project will have a dual focus with the intention of examining specific 'monsters' as well as assessing the role, function and consequences of persons, actions or events identified as 'monstrous'. The history and contemporary cultural influences of monsters and monstrous metaphors will also be examined.
Perspectives are sought from those engaged in the fields of literature, media studies, cultural studies, history, anthropology, philosophy, psychology, sociology, health and theology. Ideas are welcomed from those involved in academic study, fictional explorations, and applied areas (e.g. youth work, criminology and medicine).
Papers will be considered on any related theme. 300 word abstracts should be submitted by Friday 2nd June 2006. If your paper is accepted for presentation at the conference, an 8 page draft paper should be submitted by Friday 1st September 2000 Full announcement
13 March 2006
Conference: Crime, Justice and Surveillance
A TWO-DAY International Conference hosted by the Centre For Criminological Research, University of Sheffield in association with www.surveillance-and-society.org on Wednesday 5th and Thursday 6th April 2006.
In the UK the last decade has seen an unprecedented deployment of surveillance technologies and practices in the name of crime control. Drug testing, electronic monitoring, DNA testing and video monitoring have all expanded rapidly. Actuarial practices based on risk assessment and offender profiling have become central to proactive based policing strategies that ‘target the criminal and not the crime', and intelligence gathering has been put at the heart of policing. In addition multi-agency partnerships, which integrate police, probation, education, social services and health departments in a ‘joined up' approach to crime reduction have led to new practices of information exchange. This is aimed at both identifying potential deviants for pre-emptive intervention and subjecting known criminals to ‘intensive supervision and surveillance' in the community. The criminal record has now been enhanced and expanded with the development of searchable data-base technologies, specialist registers, and facilities to allow access to externally held databases.
These developments are not unique to the UK, and this conference seeks to explore the British experience in the context of developments in Europe and beyond and to consider the social, political and legal issues that arise from the expansion of surveillance. The conference aims to be truly inter-disciplinary and intends to include contributions from sociologists, anthropologists, geographers, criminologists, socio-legal scholars, historians, economists and social scientists researching surveillance practices and technologies.
Full announcement.
In the UK the last decade has seen an unprecedented deployment of surveillance technologies and practices in the name of crime control. Drug testing, electronic monitoring, DNA testing and video monitoring have all expanded rapidly. Actuarial practices based on risk assessment and offender profiling have become central to proactive based policing strategies that ‘target the criminal and not the crime', and intelligence gathering has been put at the heart of policing. In addition multi-agency partnerships, which integrate police, probation, education, social services and health departments in a ‘joined up' approach to crime reduction have led to new practices of information exchange. This is aimed at both identifying potential deviants for pre-emptive intervention and subjecting known criminals to ‘intensive supervision and surveillance' in the community. The criminal record has now been enhanced and expanded with the development of searchable data-base technologies, specialist registers, and facilities to allow access to externally held databases.
These developments are not unique to the UK, and this conference seeks to explore the British experience in the context of developments in Europe and beyond and to consider the social, political and legal issues that arise from the expansion of surveillance. The conference aims to be truly inter-disciplinary and intends to include contributions from sociologists, anthropologists, geographers, criminologists, socio-legal scholars, historians, economists and social scientists researching surveillance practices and technologies.
Full announcement.
09 March 2006
Paedophiles 'trade gold' to hide identities
Paedophiles are using offshore gold accounts as a new method to mask their identities when buying child pornography on the web, an internet watchdog said today.
Individuals are buying gold using specialist websites and then using that as "currency" with illegal websites that have similar accounts.
Read more
Individuals are buying gold using specialist websites and then using that as "currency" with illegal websites that have similar accounts.
Read more
AFU has seized billions of rands since formation
More than a billion rands' worth of suspected criminal assets have been frozen since the formation of South Africa's National Prosecuting Authority's (NPA's) Assets Forfeiture Unit (AFU) seven years ago.
Vusi Pikoli, the NPA national director, has told a parliamentary hearing that this sum indicates the size of what he calls "the criminal economy".
Read the full and related stories
Vusi Pikoli, the NPA national director, has told a parliamentary hearing that this sum indicates the size of what he calls "the criminal economy".
Read the full and related stories
08 March 2006
International Narcotics Control Strategy Report
The 2006 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR) is an annual report by the Department of State to Congress prepared in accordance with the Foreign Assistance Act. It describes the efforts of key countries to attack all aspects of the international drug trade in Calendar Year 2005 and was released March 1, 2006.
Volume I covers drug and chemical control activities. Volume II covers money laundering and financial crimes. Full report.
Volume I covers drug and chemical control activities. Volume II covers money laundering and financial crimes. Full report.
Studying the mafia at university
A course at Roma Tre’s faculty of law on the history and culture of the mafia is proving wildly popular with students
Enzo Ciconte, former member of parliament for the Partito Comunista Italiano between 1987 and 1992, renowned mafia expert, historian and a consultant to the parliamentary anti-mafia committee, is sitting in his small but panoramic office near the Pantheon. In between numerous phone calls, he is vivaciously explaining why running the first course – begun last year – on the birth and development of organised crime in Italy at the faculty of law of the Università di Roma Tre is one of the best things he’s ever been involved in. “I am convinced that the students who take part in the course will bring an anti-mafia approach and a spirit of legality to their profession,” he says. “If students choose a course like this it means they have an ideal or moral motivation that is pushing them, something extra.”
Read the full story.
Enzo Ciconte, former member of parliament for the Partito Comunista Italiano between 1987 and 1992, renowned mafia expert, historian and a consultant to the parliamentary anti-mafia committee, is sitting in his small but panoramic office near the Pantheon. In between numerous phone calls, he is vivaciously explaining why running the first course – begun last year – on the birth and development of organised crime in Italy at the faculty of law of the Università di Roma Tre is one of the best things he’s ever been involved in. “I am convinced that the students who take part in the course will bring an anti-mafia approach and a spirit of legality to their profession,” he says. “If students choose a course like this it means they have an ideal or moral motivation that is pushing them, something extra.”
Read the full story.
01 March 2006
Police swoop on DVD gang
Thousands of pirate DVDs have been seized following an undercover police operation in the city. Plain clothes police officers carried out the operation in the Locksbrook Road area, where one officer was offered a pirate DVD for sale. Following this lead, officers raided a house and seized 4,000 counterfeit DVDs with a street value of around £20,000. Police say only a large organised crime operation can be behind producing a haul of this size.
Among the discs police have seized are copies of films which are still at the cinema in the UK and will not be legitimately released on DVD for months. Titles included Final Destination 3, King Kong, The Chronicles Of Narnia and Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory. During the raid, officers also discovered a processing room with hi-tech equipment to produce discs.
Alongside this, officers found DVDs packaged and ready to sell illegally. Det Sgt Gary Stephens, from Bath CID, said the operation had been a big success. "The indication from a seizure of this size is that organised crime is involved," he said. "This is one point for us to target organised crime. "It also goes to show that pirating DVDs is not always a cottage industry. "We were astonished by the quantity of DVDs that were recovered. "Other equipment seized included thousands of printed inserts, DVD storage spindles and covers for sealing the finished product. "In total there are 13 evidence bags full of items which we believe were destined to be sold illegally."
The seizure comes just days after a new police unit, dedicated to combating film piracy, was launched in London. The Metropolitan Police's Economic and Specialist Crime Command will work jointly with the Federation Against Copyright Theft (Fact) to investigate piracy offences. Top of the new unit's list are the large organisations making vast sums of money selling pirate DVDs. Mr Stephens said: "Our investigation will complement the work of Fact, which is working hard to collate intelligence on crime trends and criminal activity in the area of film piracy offences. "This sort of crime can not only be damaging to legitimate film manufacture and distribution but also linked to more serious crime."
Raymond Leinster, director general of Fact, welcomed the police operation and said: "DVD and film piracy is a crime and these arrests show that the organised crime operations behind much of the piracy are targeting towns and cities across the UK, bringing other criminality along with them. "Avon and Somerset police is working with Fact to identify and arrest those responsible for such crimes." DVD piracy is seen as high profit and relatively low risk compared to other crimes. Piracy can also be more profitable that drug dealing. According to a report by Interpol, one kilo of pirated discs is worth more than one kilo of cannabis resin. Three people were arrested following the raid at the house in Bristol. Two have been bailed pending further inquiries and a third will appear in court at a later date.
28 february 2006
http://www.thisisbath.com/
Among the discs police have seized are copies of films which are still at the cinema in the UK and will not be legitimately released on DVD for months. Titles included Final Destination 3, King Kong, The Chronicles Of Narnia and Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory. During the raid, officers also discovered a processing room with hi-tech equipment to produce discs.
Alongside this, officers found DVDs packaged and ready to sell illegally. Det Sgt Gary Stephens, from Bath CID, said the operation had been a big success. "The indication from a seizure of this size is that organised crime is involved," he said. "This is one point for us to target organised crime. "It also goes to show that pirating DVDs is not always a cottage industry. "We were astonished by the quantity of DVDs that were recovered. "Other equipment seized included thousands of printed inserts, DVD storage spindles and covers for sealing the finished product. "In total there are 13 evidence bags full of items which we believe were destined to be sold illegally."
The seizure comes just days after a new police unit, dedicated to combating film piracy, was launched in London. The Metropolitan Police's Economic and Specialist Crime Command will work jointly with the Federation Against Copyright Theft (Fact) to investigate piracy offences. Top of the new unit's list are the large organisations making vast sums of money selling pirate DVDs. Mr Stephens said: "Our investigation will complement the work of Fact, which is working hard to collate intelligence on crime trends and criminal activity in the area of film piracy offences. "This sort of crime can not only be damaging to legitimate film manufacture and distribution but also linked to more serious crime."
Raymond Leinster, director general of Fact, welcomed the police operation and said: "DVD and film piracy is a crime and these arrests show that the organised crime operations behind much of the piracy are targeting towns and cities across the UK, bringing other criminality along with them. "Avon and Somerset police is working with Fact to identify and arrest those responsible for such crimes." DVD piracy is seen as high profit and relatively low risk compared to other crimes. Piracy can also be more profitable that drug dealing. According to a report by Interpol, one kilo of pirated discs is worth more than one kilo of cannabis resin. Three people were arrested following the raid at the house in Bristol. Two have been bailed pending further inquiries and a third will appear in court at a later date.
28 february 2006
http://www.thisisbath.com/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
