The Niko Cartel

The Niko Cartel was an organised criminal organisation active in Birkland City from 1998 to 2021. Led by the crime boss Niko; it was infamous throughout the streets of Birkland City.

## Overview

The main crime gang operating in Birkland. The Niko Cartel's businesses include extortion, gambling, union shakedowns, prostitution, and auto theft. Oddly, the gang doesn't deal in drugs as Niko surprisingly is very much against the drug trade, and forbade his men from dealing though several of his underlings most notably his right-hand man Dorian Tyrell have chosen to flout this rule. This is the one of the catalysts behind Niko and Dorian's rivalry in later years as they were originally close friends. The Cartel has several high-ranking members of the city on it's payroll most notably Mayor Carson and Commissioner Green. Thanks to Green being on the take, infiltration of the gang has been largely unsuccessful. An informant named Chico once got inside the Cartel as a hired gun as part of an unauthorized investigation. Chico provided his department with substantial information regarding Niko, but his handler eventually sold Chico out after being given a massive bribe from Niko.

## Rise To Power

in 1998, Niko came from Cuba to Birkland to seek the American Dream. Over the course of the Spring and Summer, Niko had established his cartel and had gone to war with another crime gang in the area led by Arnie The Swede who was the most powerful mobster in Birkland at that time. In Autumn 1998, Niko brought the end to the gang war by murdering The Swede on his own riverboat. As the years passed, Niko established himself as Birkland's criminal kingpin, and his gang rose considerably in population and by the end of the 2000's and the start of the 2010's, it was the largest crime outfit in the city and was famous enough that even cities as far away as New Bordeaux had heard about them.

## Conflict With Tyrell

At some point in time, violent hood Dorian Tyrell joined the ranks of Niko's outfit, and rose up the ranks to become Niko's right-hand man and principal lieutenant. Although, the pair were initially very close friends, the pair eventually fell out with Dorian plotting to kill Niko in order to take over his empire. Additionally, Dorian had ensembled a gang of Niko's men who now owed their allegiances to Tyrell. Tyrell and his men plotted to overthrow Niko and take over Birkland's criminal underworld. Niko didn't think much of Dorian, and tried to keep Dorian in line. When that failed with Tyrell's poorly received play Deflate A Mouse which Niko had put a great deal of money into backing, Tyrell was given a choice by Niko; leave Birkland in a week or be brutally killed.

## Fall Of Niko Rise Of Dorian

The day after threatening Dorian, Niko hosted a big charity gala at his nightclub The Monkey's Paw with his men. Niko and his gang were celebrating because they thought that Dorian had already left town. Dorian however who now possessed the powers of the Bootleg Hulk proceeded to burst the door to the club down as he and his gang entered the club. Niko was outraged at their sudden appearance, and the two crime bosses exchanged words before a violent gunfight ensued between the two crime outfits. Two of Dorian's men are killed in the shootout, but ultimately Dorian comes out the victor with all of Niko's men getting clipped. Niko in a last ditch effort to retain control of his empire fires five shots into Dorian's chest, but they have no effect. Dorian absorbs the bullets with his new powers, and then proceeds to unload the entire magazine right back at Niko killing him and sending his body flying across the bar. With Niko gone, Dorian established himself as Birkland's new kingpin, and whatever remained of The Niko Cartel simply became part of Tyrell's crew including Niko's bodyguard Carlo. Niko and his gang are still remembered by most residents of Birkland, and in 2023 a statue of Niko was elected in Bellview Park (presumably on the order of Mayor Carson). The statue has sadly become a popular dumping ground for the pigeons.

## Known Members

Niko (Don) deceased

Domingo (Chief Enforcer) deceased

Carlo (Enforcer)

## Former Members

Dorian Tyrell (Lieutenant/Second In Command)

Doctor Freeze (Safecracker And Informant) deceased

Caramel Joe (Hitman) deceased

Big Tom (Enforcer)

Chico (Hired Gun) deceased

## Trivia

* Though primarily consisting of Cubans like Niko himself; a great deal of non Cubans were employed in the Cartel such as Dorian, Caramel Joe, Doctor Freeze, and Big Tom. Ironically, all those four were the ones who plotted and eventually succeeded in overthrowing Niko.