The organized crime enterpriseCounterfeiting and organized crime are inextricably linked. This consideration derives from the evidence gathered during several investigations and also from a simple glance at the dimensions nowadays reached by the counterfeiting trade. Starting from this last aspect and following also the approach proposed by several reports, the actual size and diffusion of counterfeiting would simply not be possible without the involvement of organized crime. The experience gathered from investigators not only fully confirms this involvement but also proposes a more worrisome picture on the role played by organized crime as the real manager of this illicit activity. Why would organized crime be so interested in counterfeiting? The reply is immediately clear if we take a look at both the profits that can be gained and the risks that are run. The profits are simply huge, and in some cases they have been estimated to be higher than those attainable with drug trafficking. On the other side, the risks are pretty low, at least in the majority of the countries, especially if compared with other so called “serious crimes”. The profit/risk ratio is clearly in favor of this criminal activity but this is only a part of the story. Easy money at low risk means also easy money to fund other illicit activities managed by the criminal organization, while counterfeiting itself is also a good method used to launder money deriving from other crimes. Counterfeiting becomes the perfect criminal activity because it is often not properly investigated; it allows criminals to gain a lot of money with it, it funds other illicit trafficking and let them even launder their dirty money. It’s exactly what criminals are looking for |
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