The Soviet fur mafia was a major organized crime uncovered in the Soviet Union in 1970s as a result of Operation 'Cartel' by KGB. It was operating around several "underground" furrier factories in Kazakh SSR. The case ended in prosecution of some 500 people, with 3 top tsekhoviks (owners of illegal factories) receiving death sentence.[1][2][3][4][5]

In the Soviet Union fur trade was a major source of hard currency.

The case started in 1972 by an accident when during an investigation of a robbery in Moscow when several fur coats were uncovered without proper manufacturer's tags.[2][5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Martin Mccauley, The Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union, ISBN 1317867831, 2014, pp. 374-375
  2. ^ a b Андрей Колесник, Бандитский СССР. Самые яркие уголовные дела, ISBN 5457056236, [1]
  3. ^ Фархат КИНЖИТАЕВ, "Взгляд через годы" Industrialnaya Karaganda, 18-06-2013
  4. ^ Станислав Малоземов, Елена Малоземова, "Охота на пушного зверя", Novoe Pokolenie (НОВОЕ ПОКОЛЕНИЕ), Kazakhstan
  5. ^ a b Эрик АУБАКИРОВ, "Как Караганда рассорила КГБ и МВД" Express K (Экспресс К), № 94 (17933) от May 31, 2014