DATE=1/13/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-225226
TITLE=U-S / RUSSIAN MAFIA (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=MAXIM KNIAZKOV
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U-S LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS SAY THE UNITED STATES AND
RUSSIA COOPERATED ON ABOUT 400 CRIMINAL CASES LAST YEAR IN THEIR
JOINT EFFORTS TO CURB ORGANIZED CRIME. BUT THE OFFICIALS TOLD
AN AUDIENCE IN WASHINTGON TUESDAY THEIR ANTI-CRIME COOPERATION IS
BEING HELD BACK BY THE LACK OF AN EXTRADITION TREATY. V-O-A'S
MAXIM KNIAZKOV REPORTS.
TEXT: FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION OFFICIAL MICHAEL DI
PRETORO WAS ONE OF THE FIRST F-B-I AGENTS TO BE ASSIGNED TO
MOSCOW BACK IN 1994.
HE SAYS TODAY, DESPITE BUMPS IN THE ROAD, LAW ENFORCEMENT
CONTACTS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND RUSSIA HAVE EVOLVED INTO
STEADY COOPERATION.
// ACT ONE DI PRETORO //
WE SHOWED UP IN 1994 -- WE HAD MAYBE 30-35
INVESTIGATIONS THAT WE BROUGHT WITH US TO TRY TO GET
SOME HELP ON. WHEN I LEFT IN THE SUMMER OF 1997, WE HAD
AROUND 300 HUNDRED CASES. PREDOMINANTLY, WHAT WE WERE
DOING IN RUSSIA WAS WORKING EITHER FRAUD OR ORGANIZED
CRIME.
// END ACT //
THESE 300 CASES, SAY U-S JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS, DO NOT
INCLUDE RUSSIA'S REQUESTS TO THE UNITED STATES FOR HELP IN
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS. THEY SAY THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HANDLED
LAST YEAR ABOUT 100 OF THOSE, WHICH REFLECTS A NEW LEVEL OF
COOPERATION BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES.
OFFICIALS SAY THIS PARTNERSHIP GREW OUT OF AN URGENT NECESSITY.
THEY SAY RUSSIAN ORGANIZED CRIME SYNDICATES ARE AGGRESSIVELY
TRYING TO ESTABLISH THEMSELVES ON U-S SOIL. MR. DI PRETORO SAYS
U-S AUTHORITIES KNOW NOWADAYS ABOUT THEM A LOT MORE -- THANKS TO
THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THEIR RUSSIAN COLLEAGUES.
// DI PRETORO ACT #2 //
WHEN WE WERE IN MOSCOW IN NOVEMBER, THE MINISTER OF THE
M-V-D (INTERIOR) DESCRIBED 12-THOUSAND ORGANIZED CRIME
GROUPS IN RUSSIA. BY THEIR CALCULATIONS, UPWARDS OF
60-THOUSAND MEMBERS. OF THAT NUMBER, HE THOUGHT THAT
UPWARDS OF 50 GROUPS ARE OPERATING IN THE UNITED STATES.
FOR US, THAT MAY BE A LITTLE BIT HIGH, BUT WE KNOW
WITHOUT A DOUBT THAT WE HAVE SOME OF THE MORE MAJOR
RUSSIAN ORGANIZED CRIME GROUPS.
// END ACT //
U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THESE GANGS
MORE EFFECTIVELY, HAD RUSSIA AND THE UNITED STATES CONCLUDED AN
EXTRADITION TREATY. THEY SAY IN ITS ABSENCE, INVESTIGATORS HAVE
TO RESORT TO PROVISIONS OF THE U-S IMMIGRATION LAW, WHICH ARE
NOT ALWAYS APPLICABLE.
BUT EVEN THAT WAY, SAYS U-S OFFICIALS, THEY HAVE MANAGED TO
DEPORT TO RUSSIA SEVEN SUSPECTED CRIMINALS OVER THE PAST THREE
YEARS. THE RUSSIANS RECIPROCATED BY SURRENDERING FIVE OTHER
SUSPECTS TO THE UNITED STATES. (SIGNED)
NEB/MAX/PT
13-Jan-98 9:46 PM EST (0246 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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