UNODC Website relaunch

While navigating through my bookmarks in search of information for the ever-hungry readers of this blog, I discovered that the UNODC link was broken. Further investigation revealed a relaunch of the website of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. Update your bookmarks immediately!

"Slab" Murphy faces Tax Charges

Thomas "Slab" Murphy has been accused of many things in the British and Irish press and this trial will be closely monitored because of his alleged links with the IRA and its funding. The outcome of the trial and possible connected cases may also have an impact on the Democratic Unionists view of their power-sharing arrangements with Sinn Fein.

Triads Run £1billion Scots Cannabis Industry

A Top cop last night told of his fears that Scotland has become a haven for drug-running Triad gangs.
Detective Chief Superintendent Stevie Whitelock, head of intelligence at Strathclyde Police, said: "Organised criminals have turned Scotland into a cannabis greenhouse."

Earlier this year the Strathclyde Police launched Operation League aimed to 'weed out cultivation'.

Home Office Report on UK Drug Trade

The Guardian article includes a link to the Home Office Report as a .pdf file. The study gives estimates of the number of people involved in the trade and is based on interviews with "222 convicted high-level dealers".
In case the article is moved, the report can be downloaded directly here (pdf).
There are other reports that have recently come from the Home Office, according to the Guardian, and ACPO is about to hold its annual drug conference, so the newspapers will have quite a few stories over the next few days.

Previous work on terrorism and organised crime

Tupman's working papers on organised crime are available online at the above URL and two published papers are linked from the SGOC Newsletter issue on terrorism and organised crime

Iraqis joining insurgency less for cause than for cash

Interesting and thoughtful piece from washington Post discussing relationship between Iraqi insurgency recruitment and funding problems and relating them to a number of specific "organised crime" activities. Article warns that the source is flawed and that there is a propaganda element to the account. It does fit with some of Tupman's arguments about the effect of financing problems on terrorism, the need to resort to organised crime and the consequences of resorting to organised crime methods for a violence-using political movement.

Organized Crime Takes Lead in Italy’s Economy

Organized crime represents the biggest segment of the Italian economy, accounting for more than $127 billion in receipts, according to a report issued Monday, the NYT reports.

Canada 2007 OC report

The 2007 Annual Report on Organized Crime in Canada (pdf 2.7 MB) aims to provide an overall strategic picture of organized crime in Canada and give an understanding of the numerous ways organized crime impacts the lives of Canadians. This report, the only comprehensive overview of organized crime in Canada available to the public, highlights a variety of criminal markets and the threats they pose to communities across the country.

Gun control in Japan

The Japanese government adopted legislation Tuesday to toughen punishment for firing or owning guns in connection with organized crime activities, a response to a spate of high-profile shootings by gangsters.

September Issue of the Newsletter

The September 2007 issue of the Newsletter is available here (pdf). A short overview of the content of this issue:

Overview of the Pisa conference and the SGOC panels

Abstracts of the papers presented in Pisa

Pictures from the Pisa meetings

New Executive of the SGOC

Overview of the Turin Young Researcher Workshop on crime and counter crime policies in the Balkans

Conferences to attend

Books to read

Please do not forget to send us articles, announcements, book reviews and other materials that we can include in the newsletter and share with all SGOC members...