Brussels, 19/01/2005 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, Europol published an annual report on criminal trends in 2004. The European Police Office's report details organised crime according to the origin of the criminal organisation, type of crime and country. The report reveals, for example, that Lithuanian and Bulgarian organised gangs lead the way in producing false euro banknotes, while the Dutch are still masters in producing synthetic drugs, and the very hierarchical ethnic Albanian criminal gangs are growing in influence and are the biggest non-indigenous organised crime group operating in Italy and Greece. Europol notes that 'in most Member States, organised crime is dominated by indigenous organised crime groups… Italian organised crime groups are the most widespread indigenous organised crime group'. The Albanians are not the only groups wielding greater influence: Chinese groups 'are expanding their criminal activities in the EU, becoming more involved in the smuggling of precursor chemicals and the production of synthetic drugs… Chinese organised crime groups facilitating illegal immigration are well organised. They control every stage of the illegal immigration process for Chinese immigrants.' Russian organised crime groups 'have an impact on all the EU Member States, being involved in virtually every type of organised crime.' Romanians have 'specialised in trafficking in women and minors for sexual exploitation, forgery of documents, extortion, debit card fraud and property crime.' Bulgarian organised crime groups 'have established themselves particularly in trafficking in women for sexual exploitation, various counterfeiting activities… and debit card fraud.' Kurdish and Turkish organised crime groups specialise in the heroin trade and Moroccans in cannabis.
Europol notes in the report that 'the move away from single types of criminal activity… to diversification into multi-crime activities… is a continuing trend.' Organised crime groups are diversifying when it comes to drugs, for example, becoming more flexible and working together. Structures are becoming more difficult to track down and networks more flexible, making the criminal gangs more difficult to apprehend. 'Illegal immigration is a growing problem within the EU,' explains Europol. 'On a global scale, trafficking in human beings is a EUR 8.5 to EUR 12 billion per year business.' 'Drug trafficking remains the most common form of transnational organised crime in the EU. The Member States remain a major consumer market for all types of illicit drugs,' explains Europol.