ACCESSION
NUMBER:355782
FILE ID:EUR408
DATE:08/04/94
TITLE:TOP RUSSIAN COP WARNS OF GLOBAL CRIME SPREE (08/04/94)
TEXT:*94080401.PFE
*EUR408 08/04/94
TOP RUSSIAN COP WARNS OF GLOBAL CRIME SPREE
(Moscow SWAT team on first-ever U.S. visit) (610)
By Jim Shevis
USIA Staff Writer
Washington -- The head of an elite Moscow police team, nearing the end of a
three-week visit with U.S. law enforcement agencies, says international
cooperation is needed to halt the global spread of organized crime.
"Organized crime knows no borders," Colonel Vladimir M. Ponomarenko told an
August 4 news conference at the Russian embassy.
"Criminals plan and commit crimes in foreign countries, including the United
States, and therefore cooperation with law-enforcement groups in other
countries is valuable," Ponomarenko said through an interpreter.
Ponomarenko, the deputy chief of the Moscow Regional Organized
Crime-Fighting Department, a unit within the Russian Ministry of Internal
Affairs (MVD), added: "It would be irresponsible to underestimate the
proliferation of organized criminal activity by Russians on the territories
of both the former Soviet Union and the United States."
1
Ponomarenko led the four-man delegation -- members of a special-forces SWAT
(Special Weapons and Tactics) team -- on its visit with police forces in
San Francisco and Las Vegas, Nevada, and with federal law enforcement
agencies in Washington, D.C.
During their U.S. visit, the Russians shared organized crime information
with their American counterparts and took part in a series of
specialized-weapons team training exercises and demonstrations.
"We have shared case-specific information about organized crime activities
involving Russians and Americans in Russia and the United States as well as
in a variety of other countries," Ponomarenko said.
The Moscow SWAT team represents Russia's top specialists in hostage rescue,
dignitary protective services, organized crime-fighting, government and
police force corruption, drug interdiction, and witness protection.
Its members exchanged intelligence about murder for hire, illegal arms
trading, counterfeiting, credit card and other financial fraud in meetings
with their counterparts at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Secret
Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, U.S. Marshal's Service,
Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Department of Justice.
The first of its kind, the exchange flowed from last month's meeting in
Moscow between FBI Director Louis Freeh and Russian Interior Minister
Viktor F. Yerin.
Following the meeting, Freeh and Yerin issued a joint statement stressing
the need to share information about criminal activities and the "desire to
develop technical cooperation between the MVD and U.S. law-enforcement
agencies."
At the time, Freeh and Yerin expressed deep concern that international
organized crime constitutes a major threat to both their countries.
"Two or three years ago, it would have been impossible to imagine such close
cooperation," Ponomarenko said. "Times are changing."
"The trip was mutually beneficial for our delegation and for our American
colleagues. We think along the same lines -- we both want to do a good job
in fighting crime, and providing peace and stability in our streets so
people can have a normal life and do business.
"I think our cooperation in the future will be more effective because we
were able to meet each other, and look in each other's eyes," Ponomarenko
said.
In a question period after the briefing, Ponomarenko was asked about
Russia's rising crime rate -- an issue that is a major topic of political
and social concern in the federation today.
"It's true that the crime rate is growing compared to the previous period,"
he said, "but the crime is primarily directed toward businessmen who are
conducting illicit business."
Other members of the Moscow delegation were Lieutenant Colonel Gennady I.
Zhuritsky, SWAT team leader; Captain Eduard V. Bodantsev, and Lieutenant
Alexander N. Zhastavny.
NNNN
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
