Pubdate: Tue, 11 May 2004 Source: Edinburgh Evening News (UK) Copyright: 2004 The Scotsman Publications Ltd Contact: http://www.edinburghnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1626 Author: Diane King Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?203 (Terrorism) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) 230 GANGS RUNNING ULSTER CRIME SCENE MORE than 230 gangs are now running Northern Ireland's billion-pound organised crime industry, a report revealed today. Even though 60 top-level outfits were smashed or disrupted in the past year, dangerous new groups with global links have moved in to plug the gap. Loyalist and republican terrorists are heavily involved in sophisticated illegal operations stretching from North America to the Far East, the Government assessment confirmed. Massive levels of drug smuggling, counterfeiting and extortion were uncovered in the Organised Crime Task Force's latest threat assessment. The authorities identified 150 local gangs whose rackets are confined to the province. But another 85 units turning over huge profits have established international links and recruited specialists to protect their illegitimate businesses. The numbers represent a huge increase from previous years, but experts insisted this was down to advancements in collecting and analysing intelligence. Northern Ireland Security Minister Ian Pearson, who heads the multi-agency OCTF, said: "We are aware of the challenges we face in the year ahead and we will continue to concentrate our efforts on putting the criminals out of business." The dossier includes evidence of counterfeiting links with Turkey and Thailand as part of a trade worth UKP152 million a year. These so-called intellectual property crimes show the lengths the gangs will go to. Car brake-shoes were discovered made from compressed and painted grass. Meanwhile, tests on fake perfumes found urine. A cannabis route stretching to South Africa was also found, along with illegal cigarettes coming in from China and fake currency from all over Europe. Links with Chinese criminals involved in people-smuggling were detected as well. The IRA is blamed for being heavily connected to a five million litre a year fuel laundering enterprise that helps fund the terror group. Loyalists were also up to their necks in crime, with 70 per cent of extortions last year attributed to them. - --- MAP posted-by: Jackl