German Police: The Russian mafia began its expansion in Germany
The Russian mafia has begun actively expanding its presence in Germany.
This was stated by the head of the Federal Criminal Police Office, Holger Münch, in an interview with Die Welt am Sonntag, Deutsche Welle reports.
“We are seeing the dynamic development of Russian–Eurasian organized crime. Now it has begun to spread to the West,” Münch explains.
According to him, the Russian mafia is also active in types of offenses that are “unpopular” for organized crime, such as theft or store robberies. One of the most dangerous phenomena, according to Münch, is “thieves in law.” The mafia leaders who gather in Germany are not only Russians, but also Abkhazians, Georgians and Turkmens.
According to police, there used to be about 20,000–40,000 people in Germany associated with such organizations. Now, says Münch, it is approximately a “five-figure number” because the criminals stay hidden. The mafia, he added, has built a strong network of contacts in the former Soviet Union as well as in German prisons.
“Eight to ten percent of the prisoners in German prisons are either Russian-speaking or immigrants from the Russian Federation. It’s about 5,000 people,” Münch said, adding that these prisoners represent a significant “potential for recruiting” for the mafia in Germany.