The Frankfurt mafia is a crime group from Veles, North Macedonia, that was involved in the heroin trade in Frankfurt, Germany, and Vienna, Austria.
 Frankfurt Mafia is from Veles, North Macedonia | |
| Founded | Mid-1990s |
|---|---|
| Named after | City of Frankfurt in Germany |
| Founding location | Veles, North Macedonia |
| Territory | North Macedonia, Austria, Germany |
| Ethnicity | Macedonian |
| Activities | Heroin trafficking, money laundering |
Foundation and activity
editThe crime group was founded in the mid-1990s by people from Veles.[1] The group mainly consisted of Macedonian citizens from Veles.[2] Boris Rhein, Hessen's Interior Minister, stated that the Frankfurt mafia held about 90% of the drug trade market in Frankfurt for a couple of years.[3][4] The Frankfurt mafia controlled 19 out of 24 blocks in Vienna's drug trade using intelligence methods.[5] Per officials, the group had taken control of the heroin trade in Frankfurt and Vienna in a short period of time by violently forcing out rival gangs.[6][7][8]
In September 2010, a leader of the group was killed in a fish restaurant.[9] In an international operation, the Macedonian, German and Austrian police arrested around 400 people in 2010. Per police, 170kg of heroin in Germany and 26.3kg in Austria were seized.[7] Macedonian police launched their operation in Veles and Gevgelija, Sveti Nikole and Skopje. Around 350 police officers took part in raids on the homes, restaurants and cafes. Per the police, there was a large amount of money, drugs and other items.[10] The Criminal Court in Skopje gave the leaders of the group prison and suspended sentences in 2012.[11][12] In a joint operation in 2013, Macedonian and German police arrested around 50 people. Per Macedonian police, three persons remained at large. Macedonian police arrested people in Skopje, Veles, Bitola, Sveti Nikole, Štip and Struga.[13] According to the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime: "Although 450 people ended up behind bars, the group is still active and has simply changed tactics."[2]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Приведени уште пет лица од „Франкфуртската мафија"". Makfax (in Macedonian). 12 February 2011.
- ^ a b "Балканска мафија со политичка поддршка". Radio Free Europe (in Macedonian). 31 July 2020.
- ^ "ВЕЛЕС: Со франкфуртска мафија градат куќи и заработуваат по 15 илјада евра". Telegraf.mk. 21 September 2013. Archived from the original on 26 July 2014.
- ^ "Schlag gegen die Drogen-Mafia! | Regional | BILD.de". 19 September 2013.
- ^ "Апсење осомничени членови на "Франкфуртската мафија", дилери на дрога". Нова Македонија. 10 January 2013. Archived from the original on 18 July 2014. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
- ^ "Police in three countries take on 'Frankfurt Mafia' drug ring". DW. 24 December 2010.
- ^ a b "Huge 'Macedonian-led' heroin ring broken up in Europe". BBC. 23 December 2010.
- ^ "Täter in Mazedonien - Heroin-Ring bei Operation "Fire Alarm" zerschlagen | krone.at". 10 January 2013.
- ^ "Уапсени водачите на „Франкфурт мафијата"". Makfax (in Macedonian). 22 December 2010.
- ^ "Police Swoop on Macedonia Drugs Barons". Balkan Insight. 23 December 2010.
- ^ "Затворски казна за водачите на Франкфурт мафија". Radio Free Europe (in Macedonian). 12 June 2012.
- ^ "Паднаа пресуди за членовите на Франкфурт мафијата". DW (in Macedonian). 12 June 2012.
- ^ "Macedonian Nabs Gangsters Linked to Frankfurt Mafia". Balkan Insight. 20 September 2013.
External links
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