Turkish Organised Crime

Germany is the centre of operations for the Turkish syndicates. In the last ten years or so, these groups have become major players in the European organised crime theatre; - It's estimated that over half the lucrative European heroin market is under the control of the Turkish 'mafia', usurping the Sicilian Mafia's traditional front-runner position. They smuggle an estimated 1.5 tonnes of illegal drugs into Germany every year, and in Holland compete fiercely with local Triads for control of what is essentially the "drugs hypermarket" of Europe.

In the 50's and 60's, Turkey was one of the world's largest producers of heroin and opium. In 1971, however, after a lengthy period of intense pressure had been applied by the United States (who believed the vast majority of heroin being sold on its streets was of Turkish origin) poppy cultivation was outlawed. The ban succeeded to an extent, but the 'babas' (the Turkish godfathers) merely re-organised themselves- using its refining and distribution networks to broker Golden Crescent heroin from Afghanistan and Pakistan. Initially, close links were established with other organised crime groups- in particular the Sicilian Mafia. During the seventies and early eighties much of their heroin was moved into the West through Bulgaria by arrangement with corrupt government officials; and, it has been alleged, the KGB. 'The Bulgarian Connection' has been blamed for the 'Heroin explosion' experienced by Europe in the late seventies and early eighties; - West Germany, with only twenty-five known heroin addicts in 1975, reported 623 deaths from heroin overdose just three years later. West Berlin's deaths from heroin overdose shot up from almost zero in 1973 to 84 by 1977. This trend was echoed in most other Western European counties. In addition, many political and terrorist groups became involved- much of the profits from this enterprise went to the likes of the Palestine Liberation Army (PLO) and the Kurdish rebels of eastern Turkey; giving credence to the idea of KGB involvement. Bulgaria remains an important part of the Turkish crime syndicates' distribution network.

The Bulgarian connection and much of their activities pre-1980's were accomplished with the help of a close partnership with the Sicilian Mafia; In recent years though, the desire for expansion (at the expense of other organised crime groups like the Triads and La Costa Nostra), has meant Turkish organised crime has raised its profile and has struck out on its own. They have started to expand into other traditional organised crime areas- protection, illegal gambling, extortion and money laundering. This has also led to open conflict with these rival groups; and combined with animosity between rival Turk and Kurdish gangs in the Turkish community has resulted in an explosion in violence - particularly at a gang/street level.

Published by arrangement with the Delta Green Partnership. The intellectual property known as Delta Green is TM and is a COPYRIGHT of the Delta Green Partnership, who have licensed its use here. The contents of this document are COPYRIGHTS of the respective authors, excepting those elements that are components of the Delta Green intellectual property.