Liverpool Echo investigation into illegal cigarette trade in Liverpool. This must be going on across Europe. Note that alcohol is also involved in the counterfeit trade.

Washington Post article on the Haqqani network. “money from trucking, extortion and racketeering. The fighters conduct kidnappings, collect illegal taxes and shake down Afghan shopkeepers for protection fees.” They seek to control three of the Eastern provinces of Afghanistan, based in Khost.

More a matter of demanding a cut than actually producing the bootleg DVDs.

Tale of the Kensal Green Boys [KGB] a street gang and their links to UK-based Turkish organised crime.

If you ever read Solzhenitsyn’s “First Circle”, there is a novel begging to be written in this story. Chinese prisoners slaving to create virtual reality characters or obtain artefacts to sell online. Gold farming, it is called. Wonder what the true story is and how much has been inverted here for a quick headline. is … CHINA USED PRISONERS IN LUCRATIVE INTERNET GAMING WORK

Comment piece on differing attitudes to crime and punishment in different places at different times.

Telegraph article on KPMG report on fraud against public sector by criminal gangs. Links to other articles too.

Big changes coming in UK fraud investigation. Improvement or complete sweeping under carpet? You decide! Let me know in the comments section!

guardian names Saif al Adel as acting leader. Article questions role of al-Zawahiri. Who knows? I’ll see what else is out there.

Supreme Cort [as in England and wales] now agrees with European Court that ACPO guidelines are unlawful. scottish system of retention likely to be adopted. Isnt it time we brought back some form of legal education for ACPO members?