US Group Finds Threat in OC

Organized crime groups from Russia, Asia, Italy, the Balkans, the Middle East and Africa have grown increasingly transnational in the past 20 years and operate across US borders, according to the report from the Congressional Research Service (CRS).

“Though organized crime has arguably always been transnational, it was not until the 1990s, following the Cold War and the spread of globalization, that the transnational nature of organized crime surged and criminals expanded their operations across increasingly open borders,” the report notes.

Economic, Security Threats Described

On the economic front, damage could come from organized crime groups operating cigarette trafficking rings or scams to evade taxes. Crime groups’ frauds and scams involving certain commodities, credit, insurance, stocks, securities and investments could further weaken the financial markets.

The national security threat, according to the CRS, stems from terrorist groups raising money by either partnering with organized crime groups or by copying their profitable crimes.

Despite the threat, the CRS points out  that the FBI changed its focus to counter-terrorism after the terrorist attacks on the US in 2001, and noted that for example, the FBI used about 35 percent fewer field agents on organized crime cases in 2004 than it did in 2000. The tide changed last year, however, when then-Attorney General Michael Mukasey reconvened the Organized Crime Council in April 2008 after a 15-year hiatus, the report stated, and suggested that Congress consider how resources are allocated.

The CRS also noted that Congress might consider new enforcement tools against international organized crime, such as expanding law enforcement’s extraterritorial jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute criminals. Congress may also want to consider encouraging domestic and international crime-fighting cooperation with other countries, the report stated.

The report also notes there are various bills before the 111th Congress that would aid in the fight against organized crime, including a public corruption bill that would expand the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, as well as several bills aimed at combating money laundering.

-- Beth Kampschror