RESOURCE MATERIAL SERIES No. 54

TOPIC 2CURRENT SITUATION OF ORGANIZED CRIMES(EXCEPT DRUG TRAFFICKING)
Chairperson
Co- Chairperson
Rapporteurs
Assistant Members

Advisers

Mr. Abdul Wahhab Sarkar
Mr. Yutaka Nagashima
Mr. Alberto Rama Olario
Mr. Surasakdi Chungsanga
Mr. Pham Ba Khiem
Ms. Kuniko Hokin
Mr. Ken Umemura
Mr. Masahiro Tauchi
Mr. Ryosuke Kurosawa

I. PREFACE
Topic two is the discussion of “theCurrent Situation of Organised
Transnational Crime (except illicit drugtrafficking)” happening in the respective
participating countries. Transnational
crimes to be discussed and analysed
include 1) illicit firearms trafficking, 2)
smuggling of illegal migrants, 3) illicit
trafficking of women and children, 4) illicit
trafficking of stolen motor vehicles, 5)money laundering, 6) transnational
economic crimes. We also aim to look into
the current trends and manifestations ofsuch crimes, the types and names of groups
involved, and the size and extent of theirorganisations.
II. CURRENT SITUATION
A. Illicit Firearms Trafficking
Among the participating countries,
Japan and the Philippines manifested themost apparent problem. Japan is a
destination of illicit firearms, mostly
handguns, from several countries. In thelast five (5) years, from 1992 to 1996 a totalof 7,261 firearms were seized by theJapanese Police, 2,392 of which came fromthe U.S.A. (accounting for 32.9%), 1,352

230(Bangladesh)(Japan)(Philippines)(Thailand)(Vietnam)(Japan)(Japan)(Deputy Director, UNAFEI)(Professor, UNAFEI)from China (18.6%), 657 from thePhilippines (9.5%), while the rest camefrom several other countries.
A total of 1,702 authentic handguns wereseized in 1995, and over 90% of this number
were of foreign manufacture. This shows
the importance of stopping the smugglingat the country borders. Smuggling routes
have increased to include Russia, China,
South Africa and Peru in addition to theUnited States and the Philippines.
Smuggling is also being done by fishingboats entering small unopen ports. The
smuggling methods have become clever,and include use of foreign mail.
In 1997, from January to November 708
handguns were also confiscated by theJapanese police from Boryokudan
members (an organised crime group in
Japan) accounting for most of the firearms
illegally shipped to Japan. This seizure
however was a decrease of 28.3% fromprevious years confiscation from
Boryokudan groups, indicating that thegroups have managed to skillfully handle
their illicit firearms trafficking.
Firearms trafficking in the Philippines
on the other hand, is a two-way activity.

108TH INTERNATIONAL SEMINARREPORTS OF THE SEMINAR

FIGURE 1
COUNTRIES OF PRODUCTION OF SEIZEDHANDGUNS IN JAPAN

Spain
213
(2.9%)

Others1,462(20.1%)
USA
2,392(32.9%)

Germany214(3.0%)

1992〜1996
7,261(100%)

Belgium259(3.9%)
Italy
342(4.7%)
Brazil370(5.1%)

Philippins
657(9.1%)

China
1,352(18.6%)TABLE 1SEIZED HANDGUNS FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS FROM PRODUCINGCOUNTRIES IN JAPAN
Year
USA
China
Philippines
BrazilItaly
Belgium
Germany
Spain
Others
Total

1992
407
233
86
73
66
41
38
33
313
1,290

1993
469
297
103
56
91
33
37
23
247
1,356

1994
489
311
140
71
82
54
46
67
253
1,513

1995
591
304
169
91
81
75
48
50
293
1,702

1996
436
207
159
79
22
56
45
40
356
1,400

Total
2,392
1,352
657
370
342
259
214
213
1,462
7,261

Ratio(%)
32.9
18.6
9.1
5.1
4.7
3.6
3.0
2.9
20.1
100.0

231

RESOURCE MATERIAL SERIES No. 54

FIGURE 2
HANDGUNS SEIZED BY THE JAPANESE POLICE
From Boryokudan

From Others

1993

1995

2,100
1,800

Total Number

1,500
1,200
900
600
300
0

1992

1994

1996

TABLE 2TABLE 3

COUNTRIES OF SHIPMENT OFSMUGGLED HANDGUNS IN JAPANSEIZED HANDGUNS FROMDIFFERENT GROUPS IN JAPANYear
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 Total
Total
27
60 64
9 14 174
USA
15
43
2
2
8
70
Thailand61
61
Philippines
19
6
16
Argentina
77South Africa
1
2
4
7
Russia2
1
3
Others
1
5
1
3
10

Year
1992 1993
1994 1995 1996
Total Number
1,450 1,672 1,747 1,880 1,549
From Boryokudan 1,072 1,196 1,242 1,396 1,035
Ratio(%)(73.9%) (71.5%) (71.1%) (74.3%) (66.8%)
From Others
378
476
505
484
514
Ratio(%)(26.1%) (28.5%) (28.9%) (25.7%) (33.2%)

Note: 174 handguns seized on the charge ofsmuggling during last five year.

Crime groups and even ordinary
individuals smuggle illegal firearms mostly
from the U.S.A. to the Philippines throughairports and seaports of the country. Thisis done by simply misdeclaring or nondeclaring, and mixing or hiding firearms
in cargo consigned to fictitious names andaddresses. They also dismantle the gunparts and hide them among metal items or
machinery legally shipped into the country.
Clandestine shipments of high powered232

firearms, intended for rebel groups fighting
the Philippines Government, is also done
through the long coastline of the country
from the north to the south. The otheractivity is the shipment of locally madefirearms in the Philippines intended forsome Asian countries particularly Japan,
Taiwan and Hong Kong. The illicit
trafficking is done aboard ocean-goingvessels plying the Philippines and thesecountries.
Illicit firearms trafficking in the otherparticipating countries of the Asia-Pacificregion is also apparent in Korea, whereorganised groups bring in firearms

108TH INTERNATIONAL SEMINARREPORTS OF THE SEMINAR
intended for local crime syndicates. The
modus operandi of smugglers includes
disassembling of the parts of the firearms
and contraband and hiding them in othermaterials such as VCR’s, vacuum cleaners
and irons. Aluminium containers are used
to evade X-ray detection at the airports.
In India, the problem is manifested by
the on-going strife in the Kashmir Region,
where illicit firearms are coming in via theland borders between India and Pakistan,and from sea and air routes inside India.
The most recent and brazen illicit firearms
trafficking in India was the Purulia arms
drops case, where a Russian made Antonov
26 aircraft air-dropped 300 AK 47/56 rifles
and 20,545 rounds of ammunition, dragnov
sniper weapons, rocket launchers and nightvision devices in the Purulia Village in West
Bengal State. The aircraft was bought in
Latvia for US$2 million and chartered bya Hong Kong registered company named
CAROL Travel Company. The firearms
were picked-up in Bulgaria by a syndicatecomposed of one (1) British, five (5)Latvians and an India national. Similarcases also happened in the Punjab andNorth East States of India.
In Pakistan, the country is a destination
for illicit firearms coming from war-torn
Afghanistan. Bangladesh and Malaysia
likewise has problems of illicit firearms
smuggling facilitated by crime groups
engaged in drug-trafficking and gunrunning for local crime syndicates.
Thailand particularly is being used as atranshipment point for firearms intended
for Tribal Warlords in the Golden Triangle
area bordering Myanmar and Laos, forwarring factions in Cambodia.
The other countries of Nepal, Fiji, Tonga,
Papua New Guinea, Madagascar, Mongolia
and Vietnam have little or no reported
incidents of illicit firearms trafficking
involving transnational crimes.

However in Turkey and Saudi Arabia,
incidents of illegal firearms trafficking isvery much apparent due to its proximity
to strife torn areas of the Middle East.
Turkey particularly has problems of thisnature because of the on-going problems
with the PPK, an organised crime groupin Turkey, engaged in drug-trafficking.
They are also very active in illicit firearms
trafficking to protect their illegal drug
business. While in Saudi Arabia, firearms
arms entered the Kingdom through its
boundaries carried by illegal immigrants.
Most of the weapons are pistols, machine
guns, shot guns and TNT. Some of thesefirearms fell into the hands of terrorist andcriminal elements who uses them for bankrobberies.
In the Latin America Countries ofC o l o m b i a , Ve n e z u e l a , M e x i c o a n d
Nicaragua, firearm trafficking is also very
apparent mainly due to the high profile
drug production and drug trafficking inthese countries, particularly Colombia and
Mexico. Nicaragua was once a strife-torncountry due to its internal civil war andillicit firearms poured into the country. In
addition, Mexico and Colombia are facing
an internal insurgency problem. Mexico in
the Chiapas Region and Colombia by leftist
and rightist rebel groups. Only Venezuela
has manifested slight problems in firearms
trafficking due to its relatively stableeconomy and peace and order conditions.
B. Smuggling of Illegal Migrants
Among the participating countries of the
108 th seminar, serious cases of illicit
trafficking of migrants were reported bypresentors from the Asia-Pacific region likethe Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand,
Nepal, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan
towards developed countries or regions like
Japan, the U.S.A. and the Middle East. The
Latin America countries of Mexico,
Colombia, Nicaragua and Venezuela also
reported illegal migrant trafficking

233

RESOURCE MATERIAL SERIES No. 54
towards developed countries and regions
like the U.S.A. and Europe.
Economic adventurism is the common
motive for these illegal migrants to ventureout of their native countries. They are theso-called “economic aliens” who seek better
lives away from their impoverishedhomelands. The other type of illegal
migrants are the so-called “political aliens.”
They flee from their native countries due
to persecution because of their different
political, religious, cultural views or
because of war. These unfortunate people
are easy prey of transnational crime groups
who provide the incentive to travel abroad
by facilitating their papers andtransportation. It has been reported thatthe price for moving an alien from Southern
China, particularly the Fujian Province toJapan is US$20,000 and to the U.S.A.,
US$33,000. To find these fees, illegal
migrants borrow money from relatives orfriends but more usually from thesmuggling syndicates at extraordinary
rates set by them. As a result, both theimmigrants and their family members may
become indentured workers or forced toturn to crime to repay debts.
In Japan, Boryokudan crime groups
facilitate the entry of illegal migrants incollaboration with Chinese crime groups
such as “Snakeheads.” The number ofarrested illegal immigrants and thenumber of incidents (cases) from 1995 to1997 in Japan is as follows. In 1997, 90%of the arrested were Chinese and most ofthem came from the Fujian Province ofMainland Chaina.
TABLE 4
NUMBER OF ARRESTED ILLEGALIMMIGRANTS
Arrested Illegal Immigrants
Cleared Cases

234

1995 1996 1997(Jan.-Sep.)
350 670
1,070
15 28
51

Cases of illegal migrants from thePhilippines, Malaysia, Thailand andVietnam were reported to have been lured
to Japan, Hong Kong, Europe and the
Middle East hoping to find high paying jobs
and better lives. In the transport of theseillegal migrants, transnational crimegroups collaborate with their counterpartsin the countries of destination and along
the routes to facilitate the transport ofthese illegal migrants. Some haplessvictims have been said to suffer enormous
difficulties and some have died in mishaps
while being transported by the syndicates.
One such incident happened in the Malta
Sicily Channel (Italy) when 200 people,
including 170 illegal migrants from India,
drowned while crossing the channel insmall boats. Many were also reported tohave died while being transported acrossmountains and the Swiss Alps just to reach
their destination in the Western European
countries.
In the Republic of Korea, illegal
immigration comes mainly from China. In
1994 through 1997, 2,667 Chinese entered
the Republic of Korea illegally through sea
routes. It is estimated that there are 40
groups engaged in facilitation of illegal
immigrants who pay 40,000 to 50,000
Chinese yuan per head to the syndicates.
Another modus operandi employed in the
Republic of Korea by the syndicates is toarrange marriage of Chinese illegal
entrants to Korean nationals to obtainresidential registration cards.
In the Latin America countries, Mexico
comes out as the most prominent, as
exemplified by the never ending influx ofillegal Mexican migrants to the U.S..
Colombia, Nicaragua and Venezuela also
this problem where citizens leave theircountry to look for more economic
opportunities in the U.S. and Europe.
The countries of Mongolia, Fiji, Papua

108TH INTERNATIONAL SEMINARREPORTS OF THE SEMINARNew Guinea and Madagascar havereported fewer cases of problems of illegal
migration, at least in the context oforganised migration facilitated byInternational Syndicates.

brides” schemes prevalent in European
countries and Australia, featuring 30-day
trial marriages. When the trial marriage
fails, these girls resort to prostitution to
make ends meet and survive.

In Saudi Arabia and Turkey however,these two countries are destination pointsof illegal migrants from neighbouring wartorn countries. In the case of Saudi Arabia,
illegal migrants from Iraq and some poorer
countries from Asia and Africa find havens
in the desert Kingdom. It is estimated that
there are about 100,000 illegal immigrants
staying in the country from Yemen,
Ethiopia, Erithria and Somalia. Turkey
likewise has a great number of illegal
migrants or refugees from Northern Iraq
and some neighbouring countries.

In the other participating countries like
Mongolia, Fiji, Madagascar, Saudi Arabia
and Turkey, the participating presenters
reported no significant incidences.

C. Illicit Trafficking of Women andChildrenIn the Asia-Pacific region, illicit
trafficking of women and children aremostly apparent in developing countries
like Bangladesh, Nepal, Philippines,
Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam. Women
victims in these countries fall prey to crimegroups offering them high paying jobs inother countries like India, Japan, Hong
Kong or some Middle East Countries andeven Europe. However, some of the women
who come under the control of the
syndicates are sold to other crime groups
and forced into prostitution. Some victims
are somewhat fortunate enough to be soldonly as maidservants in such countries as
the Middle East and Europe. In
Bangladesh, fifty-five women wereconfirmed to have been victimised during
the period from January to September
1997.
In the Philippines, syndicates recruit
would be victims as cultural dancers ordomestic helpers but end up as prostitutes
once they reach their country ofdestination. Others fall prey to “mail order

However, in the Latin America countries
of Colombia, Mexico, Nicaragua and
Venezuela, incidents of illicit trafficking of
women were very apparent, mostly forprostitution activities. Colombian womenare favorite objects of organised crimegroups and many arrests were registeredin such countries as Japan, Hong Kong and
the Philippines.
Trafficking of children cases were also
reported in Bangladesh where seventy (70)children were victimised during the periodof January to September 1997. In
Bangladesh and Pakistan, children who
were illegally shipped to some Middle
Eastern countries, were reported to be
utilised as camel boys.
In the Philippines and Thailand, young
boys are the object of European andAustralian Paedophiles who visit who visit
these countries looking for childprostitutes. International syndicates
advertise these countries in the“Spartacus” magazine as locations forcheap, perverted sex.
D. Illicit Trafficking of Stolen Motor
VehiclesThis crime activity is prevalent is suchcountries as Japan and U.S.A. where
vehicles are stolen and shipped to countries
like China, Philippines, Russia, Thailand
and Vietnam. Hong Kong has incidents ofvehicles being stolen and shipped to China
aboard fast crafts called “Dai Fei”. Russian235

RESOURCE MATERIAL SERIES No. 54
Mafia Groups facilitate this illegal tradein Japan and Europe for shipment to
Russia and former Soviet Union countries,
while the Chinese Triads facilitate thisbusiness in Hong Kong and Japan forshipment to China. Japanese crime groups
collaborate with Russian Mafia in these
activities. In the Philippines, stolen
vehicles from Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan
and the U.S. found their way into thecountry through ocean-going vessels andwere smuggled to Philippines seaports ordropped at the high seas to be picked-up
later by smaller boats.
In Pakistan, cases of stolen vehicles
occur in the cities and urban areas, to bebrought to tribal areas by local tribal crimegroups demanding redemption of thevehicles in exchange for cash. Unredeemedvehicles are transported across the
Pakistan borders to be sold to otherneighbouring countries.
Stolen motorcycles from Japan aremostly shipped to China, Hong Kong, theMiddle East, the Philippines, Russia,
Thailand, and Vietnam.
E. Money Laundering
Among the participating countries,
money laundering is most apparent in thedeveloped countries where transnational
crime groups are actively operating. Hong
Kong rates high in this category due to thehigh profile activity of the Hong Kong
Groups. Mexico, Colombia, Pakistan,
Turkey, Thailand, the Philippines andIndia come close due also to organised
crime group activities engaged in highly
lucrative illicit businesses such as drugtrafficking, illegal gambling, trafficking of
firearms, stolen vehicles and othereconomic crimes like credit card fraud,bank frauds and money counterfeiting.
Other participating countries, where
economic stability and progress is still236

wanting, like Vietnam, Nepal, Bangladesh,
Mongolia, Fiji, Tonga, Papua New Guinea
and Madagascar, have little or no
significant reports of money launderingcases. Nicaragua and Venezuela havereported some incidents mainly comingfrom organised crime groups engaged in
drug trafficking in these countries.
Of the countries mentioned, only Japan,
Colombia, Hong Kong, Madagascar, Mexicoand Pakistan have anti-money launderinglaws, while the others are still drafting ordeliberating on their respective laws
governing money laundering.
In Pakistan, money laundering comes in
the form of placement, where physicaldisposal of each illegal proceed is made.
Layering is another form where separationof illicit proceeds from their source iscreated by complex layers of financialtransaction designed to disguise the audit
trail and provide anonymity. Integration on
the other hand is the provision of apparent
legitimacy to criminally derived wealth.
There is also the so-called “Hawala” scheme
in India and Pakistan where money isgiven to a person in one country, andintended for a beneficially in anothercountry. His associates in the other country
disburses the money to the recipient, ofcourse with a fee or percentage.
In many countries, laundered money
finds its way to business investments like
hotels, night-clubs, travel agencies,
construction businesses and other big
business activities.
F. Transnational Economic Crimes
Again, these types of crimes areprevalent in the more developed countries
like Hong Kong, India, Japan, Mexico, theRepublic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, andTurkey. It is also prevalent in developing
countries like the Philippines, Thailand,
Malaysia and Colombia, where

108TH INTERNATIONAL SEMINARREPORTS OF THE SEMINAR
transnational crimes groups operate.
Among this type of crimes, credit cardfraud is mentioned as the most popularcrime among participating countries. In thePhilippines, an international syndicate wasrecently busted engaging in credit cardfraud. Their modus operandi involved such
schemes as skimming methods, courierintercept methods, cardholder andsyndicates and the merchant-syndicate
method. In Japan, foreign organised crimegroups are engaging in credit card fraudand counterfeiting pre-paid cards forpachinko, telephones and cheques.
Incidents of credit card fraud have become
prevalent and surfacing even in suchcountries as Tonga and Vietnam.
In Japan, transnational economic crime
is not only perpetrated by the Boryokodan
but also by another Japanese organised
crime group known as “Sokaiya”. The latter
operates in the stock market businesswhere, after obtaining rights as
stockholders, they demand undue gains
from enterprises by throwing the general
meeting of stockholders into confusion.
However, the activities of Sokaiya ispresently domestic nature, but it is possible
in the future it will become transnational.
In Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines
and Turkey, currency counterfeiting is alsoprevalent with many arrests registered. It
is however, observed that present trends
indicate a downward activity of currency
counterfeiting, while activities in othereconomic crimes such as credit card fraud,bank frauds and other sophisticatedcomputer-technology frauds are on the
upswing.
G. Other Crimes
Peculiar crimes being perpertrated bytransnational crime groups as reported by
the participating countries include thefollowing:(1) Maritime fraud or phantom ship fraud.
The Philippines and Thailand haveexperienced these types of fraud whereships loaded with goods mysteriously
disappear in transit, and consignees
turn out to be ficitious.
(2) Illegal Transport of internal organs.
International syndicates kidnappedchildren and used their internal organs
for sale in big hospitals in Europe andthe U.S.A.
(3) Smuggling of rare and endangered
animals. India, Vietnam, Madagascar
and Thailand have cases reported onthese activities. Tigers in India andThailand are being killed for theirbones and hides, and smuggled toChina and Hong Kong. Elephant tusks
in India are likewise the object ofinternational smugglers. In Vietnam,
smuggling of animals includes raresnakes, pangolins, monitions, wild
ducks and turtles.
(4) Smuggling of cultural assets, religious
artefacts, antiques, precious metals.
international syndicates induce thetheft of valuable cultural assets of suchc o u n t r i e s a s I n d i a , Vi e t n a m ,Philippines and Thailand. In thePhilippines, religious artefacts fromchurches, mummies from tribal grave
yards, antiques from museums andprivate homes are being stolen and soldto foreign buyers for resale to big
museums in the U.S. and Europe.
Thailand also has cases of Buddha
images being stolen and sold to foreign
smugglers.
III. ORGANISATION OF MAJOR
TRANSNATIONAL CRIME GROUPS
A. Japan
Boryokudan is estimated to have 80,100
members including associates, with 44,700

237

RESOURCE MATERIAL SERIES No. 54
official members. There are three (3) majorgroups, Yamaguchi-Gumi, Inagawa-kai
and Sumiyoshi-kai. Each group has adistict territory or “Nawabari” andpractices the “Jonokin” or tribute system.
Members are governed by the quasi-blood
relationship or “Oyabun” and “Kobun” andentry into the organisation is made after
an initiation ceremony or “Sakazukigoto”.
The group is characterised by highcriminality and violence, often engaging in“Turf-War” to settle disputes.
Its traditional sources of income are
the following:(1) location fee (protection money)(2) drug trafficking(3) gambling(4) bookmaking
A new source of income is derived fromintervention in civil affairs, corporate
racketeering and “Sokaiya”. They recently
have ventured into legitimate business byinvesting their illict proceeds into
legitimate businesses.
B. Hong Kong
The Chinese Triad, 14K, Bamboo Gang,
SUN YEE ON, WO GROUPS engages indrug trafficking, firearms smuggling,
smuggling of illegal migrants, stolen
vehicles, and economic crimes. They
operate in mainland China, Hong Kong
Taiwan, Japan, Philippines, Thailand andMalaysia.
C. India(1) DAWOOD Gang: operates in theBombay area. Has a membership of
4,000 to 5,000. Engages in extortion,
contract killing, film financing, drugtrafficking, smuggling in computer
parts and firearms.
(2) Arun Gawli Gang: Has 200 to 300 gangmembers engaged in protection money
and contract killings. Leader is an active
politician in Maharashta province.
(3) Aman Nail Gang: Operates in the Dadar
area of Bombay. Has a strength of 200

238

criminal gang members.
(4) Chota Rajan Gang: Operates in the
Maharashta, Karnataka, Uttar pradesh
and Delhi area. Has a membership ofabout 800.
D. Philippines
Indentified transnational crime grouppersonalities:(1) Alfred Tionko : Fil-Chinese, drug
traficking(2) Lawrence Wang : Fil-Chinese, drug
traficking(3) Relly Barbon Gang : Kidnap for
ransom, robbery(4) Solido Group : Bank robbery, drug
traficking(5) Paracale gangs : Bank robbery, drug
traficking(6) Andres Manambit Group : Kidnap for
ransom, drug traficking(7) Chen Ting Lun : Chinese Triad, drug
traficking(8) Chen Chi Chuing : Chinese Triad, drug
traficking(9) Wei Kuen Keung : Chinese Triad, drug
traficking(10) Wong Kuen Alan Tong : Chinese Triad,
drug traficking(11) Choo Yeh Leong : Chinese Triad, drug
traficking(12) Yan Po Weng : Chinese Triad, drug
traficking
E. Colombia(1) Madellin Cartel: Drugs, firearms
trafficking(2) Cali Cartel: Drugs, firearms trafficking
F. Mexico(1) Arrellano Brothers: Drug trafficking(2) Rapael Caro Quintero: Drug trafficking(3) Juares Cartel: Drug trafficking(4) Amado Carillo “lord of the sky” : Drugtrafficking
G. Former Soviet Union(Russia)(1) Russian Mafia: Drugs, illegal migrants,

108TH INTERNATIONAL SEMINARREPORTS OF THE SEMINAR
prostitution, firearms trafficking, stolen
vehicles trafficking, economic crimes(2) MVD; 8,000 criminal groups in Russia
with approximately 100,000 members,
operate in over 50 countries.
H. Thailand(1) Kun-Sa or Jang See Fu Syndicate:Engaged in drug trafficking and war
arms smuggling.
I. Turkey(1) Hursit HAN crime group.
IV. ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSION
Organised crime is first of all a domestic
problem and when unchecked, it assumes
a transnational character. Encouraged byapparent success in domestic crime, they
graduate into large scale and transnational
scenarios by collaborating with counterpart
crime groups in other countries. Profit
motive is the biggest inducement fortransnational crime groups. Activities
entered into like drug trafficking, illegal
migrant smuggling, women trafficking(prostitution), firearms smuggling andeconomic crimes, brings in enormous, easy
monetary incomes. Their accumulation of
wealth translates into more power andclout as the transnational crime syndicates
can now engage in corruption of public
officials, invest in profitable businesses
whether legal or illegal. The dimensionsof the accumulation of wealth, power,
influence and capabilities of organised
transnational groups have in recent years
transcended beyond imaginable means.
Ironically, victim countries have abetted
the growth and expansion of thesetransnational organised crimes groups
through their continued poor economic
conditions and status. Vivid examples ofthese are the illegal trafficking of migrants,
and the trafficking of women and children
who, in their desire to escape the poverty
in their native homelands, have become

willing or unwilling victims of these crimegroups. On the other hand, richer or moredeveloped countries, are targeted for the
ready market and opportunities that exist
for illegal drugs, illegal fire arms, stealingof motor vehicles, the entry of illegal
migrants, prostitution, gambling andfavourable atmosphere for the commissionof transnational economic crimes.
Most ironic of all is the sad reality that
despite the advance of the current trend oftransnational organised crime, government
policies of most of the countries of Europe
may have encouraged and created afavourable climate of growth for thesegroups. As Dr. Savona, emminentcriminologist and professor from Trento
University in Italy has observed,“theCurrent trend of globalisation of themarket (i.e., European common market)
seems to have induced the criminalorganisation to develop also globally intheir operations and have in fact
concentrated in two different directions,specialisation and diversification.” 1 In theEuropean context, Dr. Savona mentionedthat the Russian Mafia have successfully
adopted these globalisation strategies,
ironically aided and enhanced by the openmarket policies of the European common
market nations.
In the Asia Pacific context, Mr. Lau,
Director of Crime and Security of the Hong
Kong Police, has likewise observed therapid globalisation of crimes perpetrated
by transnational organised crime groups
operating in the Asia and Pacific region,l i k e t h e C h i n e s e Tr i a d , J a p a n e s e
Boryokudan and other groups. He
contends that to effectively fight thetransnational crime group in the next
millennium, new strategies, new concepts,
adoption of multi-agency approaches andmore international efforts in co-operationand co-ordination must be made to insure
1

108th Crime Prevention Seminar presentation,
UNAFEI, Tokyo Japan

239

RESOURCE MATERIAL SERIES No. 54
victory against crime. Incidents ofinternational crime group members
escaping arrest and prosecution with haveto be resolved by effective and stronger coordination and co-operation among
nations.
Since the dimensions of the problem
have become globalised, governments of thedifferent nations of the world should now
realise that the threat of thesetransnational organised crimes is very
apparent and increasingly becoming
bolder, and that countermeasures to thethreat must be immediately put in place.
As Mr. Dimitri Vlassis, Crime Prevention
and Crime Justice Officer at UN Office at
Vienna, mentioned in his lecture at
UNAFEI, the international community
cannot afford to allow the situation todeteriorate further. It must take measures
now and proceed to practical action basedon agreement and founded on its collective
political will.
As a conclusion, the following issues
should be given special emphasis:(1) Governments of affected countries must
effectively identify the problems posedby transnational organised crimegroups, by looking into theirorganisation, scope and extent of theiroperations.
(2) Government policies, laws and practices
must be looked into to develop up to dateand effective countermeasures against
the operation of transnational organised
crimes.
(3) Inherent weaknesses in the economic
and political conditions of affected
countries should be addressed, so as not
to become a continuing prey to thesecrimes groups.
(4) Stronger and efficient international,
regional and bilateral co-ordination andco-operation among nations must be
enhanced to thwart and negate theactivities of transnational organised
crimes.
(5) Political will among the community of240

nations to implement thecountermeasures against transnationalorganised crimes must be affirmed andpursued.

108TH INTERNATIONAL SEMINARREPORTS OF THE SEMINAR
APPENDIX A
Li Yung Chung Case
A deputy chief justice of a regional court,
faces investigation for suspected
involvement in the release on bail of drug
suspect Li Yun Chung, accused ofarranging the biggest shipment of heroin
ever seized in the United States.
In November 1994 the US government
requested extradition of 20 criminal
suspects living along the border of Burma,
China and Thailand who were underindictment in a federal court in New Yorkfor heroin trafficking, In combating
Southeast Asian organized crime groups
and heroin trafficking syndicates, the Tiger
Trap Operation was set up with cooperationfrom the Office of Narcotics Control Board,
Burma and US government to extradite
those criminal suspects to the UnitedStates.

smuggling 486 kilograms of heroin-thelargest heroin seizure in US history - into
Oakland, California was first arrested in
Thailand. He was freed on bail sevenmonths late and fled to Burma. In May,
three months after Li fled, Burmese
authorites handed him back Thailand. On
June 5, he was sent to the US to stand trial.
Li, part of Khun Sa’s heroin trafficking
networks, spent large amount of money tobribe high ranking officials. He jumped bailin Thailand and made a beeline forneighboring Burma. However, with good
co-operation among Thai, Burma and theUS, finally Li was arrested and sent into
custody. Extradition is an important tool
to allow prosecutors in any country to try
all the people involved in trafficking
syndicates, not just the smaller people who
may just carry the drugs or sell the drugs
on the street.

In February 1997 Li Yun Chung, who iswanted by the United States on charges of241

RESOURCE MATERIAL SERIES No. 54
APPENDIX TWO

cooperation to use fake cards in japan

242