The Czech Republic: A Crossroads for Organised Crime

In the last 15 years the Czech Republic has witnessed an intense intermingling of cultures and activities of crime and, specifically, of organised crime. The multiplicity of organised crime groups currently active on Czech territory have different origins and thus differing cultural backgrounds and organisational structures. Within the boundaries of the Czech Republic, the local underworld meets with criminal groupings from the former Soviet Union, the Balkans, Italy and other European countries, as well as Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa to create a new, highly developed crime industry. The territory of the Czech Republic has thus evolved into a veritable ‘crossroads of crime’. Though much organised crime is domestically produced, the newcomers have introduced ‘modern’ and aggressive methods of illegal work on the Czech criminal scene, dramatically changing the practices, structure and turnover of illegal markets. Today, domestic and international organised crime actors increasingly cooperate with each other, constantly looking for new sources of profit.