Mexican cellphone scam, often initiated by prisoners, give new twist to 417 frauds. Someone phones you and tells you they have kidnapped a member of your family and demands money and valuables. No-one has been kidnapped, but you hand stuff over, nevertheless.
All those promises that we were only going into Helmand on a drug eradication programme. We knew they were lies at the time, but this, even allowing for Grauniad excess, is crazy. See the previous post on Colombia. We engage in military intervention for one ostensible reason, then change it to another in order to … HAMBURGER HILL: FRONTLINE BASE IN A SEA OF POPPIES BRITISH TROOPS DARE NOT CLEAR
Independent article claims that drugs are exchanged for arms parts in Tajikistan. It gets confused in places, alleging that it is the Russian mafia that is behind everything. Which? Would be my first question. Sounds more like Tajik middlemen and there is no clear evidence given of who they deal with, or that the heroin … DRUGS FOR GUNS: HOW THE HEROIN TRADE FUELS THE TALIBAN INSURGENCY
Arrests in Newtown, Powys, Mitcham and Surrey. First reports alleged/suggested there would be terrorist financing charges, but now looks like “commision, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism”. BBC report quotes someone from “Scotland Yard” as alluding to finance http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7372883.stm
Surprisingly good article by Sean ONeill in the Times. Why are we spending all this money and reducing individual liberty when there’s a much more serious threat than terrorism? Simple answer Sean. It’s your redtop stablemates and the fear they induce amongst politicians. If they got on their high horse about organised crime, the political … WHY ARE WE IGNORING ORGANISED CRIME?
After the previous post, which was clearly a feature, in go the Americans to Gamsher today. Time to compare US and UK counter-insurgency strategies and tactics. Times has a headline: US Marines to stir things up in Helmand: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article3835580.ece “General McNeill said that he would like to see British troops double their six-month tour of … US MARINES SURGE INTO TALIBAN-HELD TOWN
It’s in Sydney. Take your Old Bailey transcripts!
Aberystwyth symposium delegates were asking for examples of prosecution of terror financing offences. Here’s a Spanish example.
Not sure if the Guardian isnt the teensiest bit behind here. Family History buffs have been looking at these for a while. Still, historians of organised crime should have a field day. It must be today that the process of putting files online finishes. Go find your transported ancestors immediately! Then do some proper research … OLD BAILEY OPENS ITS UNSEEN FILES
Breathless headline from the sub editor here. The story is actually about Somali waters, where, according to the last couple of paragraphs of the article, a lot of boats are fishing illegally. On the other hand, there is no reliable government to issue permits. Warlords or the Islamic courts: there’s your choice.
