Organized Crime – Yakuza and Russian Mafia

Organized Crime – Yakuza and Russian Mafia
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Organized Crime – Yakuza and Russian Mafia
Organized crimes are deeply rooted in history in almost every part of the world. Crime syndicates have always had a massive influence on various aspects of a country’s wellbeing, economically, politically, and even socially. Japan and Russia are two great countries that are well aware of the existence of crime syndicates and their impacts on a nation’s overall viability. Yakuza, a term associated with organized criminal gangs in Japan (Hill, 2004), has its roots in the 17th century. Russia, as well, has turned to a mafia state following the collapse of the Soviet Union in the 1990s (Galeotti, 2018). There are striking similarities and differences between these criminal factions in Japan and Russia, and their impact on the outside world, the United States in particular, is obtrusive.
The origin of the Russian organized criminal gangs or rather the Russian Mafia can be traced back to the 17th century, where the Soviet Union was dominated by self-centered dynasties that looked down upon the poor, disregarding state policies and eventually leading to emergence of despots (Cheloukhine, 2008). The disdain of the less fortunate and repeated abuse of power led to the advent of organized crimes, widespread corruption, and bribery. By the 20th century, criminals engaged in all sorts of crime including counterfeiting, pickpocketing, robbery with murder, and burglary (Cheloukhine, 2008). The communist regime from 1920 and 1990 somehow suppressed the thieves- in-law, but later reemerged after the downfall of the Soviet Union in the 1990s, with the war operatives and servents of the communist administration dominating (Galeotti, 2018). Yakuza also has its roots in the 17th century, and it came to be from the preexisting outcasts composed of gamblers and wandering peddlers (Hill, 2004). Gambling remains forbidden in Japan, but crimes syndicates made fortunes giving rise to other manifestations of organized crimes such as loan sharking and money laundering.
The Russiam Mafias are more prevalent among the former members of the Soviet Union and have their operations spanning across most parts of Europe (Barnes, 2017). The dominance of Russian Mafias in most European states is inspired by the proximity that allows for convenient immigration. Nevertheless, the entire world has fallen victim to the menace brought about by these crime syndicates taking advantage of the opportunities that globalization provides. The cabals participate in a range of criminal activities: money laundering, drug trafficking, arms dealing, human trafficking, and even stealing of automobiles (Barnes, 2017). In recent decades, Russia has been notorious when it comes to computer hacking and fraud over the internet, and the perpetrators are often the members of the Russian Mafia.
The Yakuza has its operations deeply rooted in Japan, its country of origin. Tokyo and Osaka, major cities in Japan, bear most of the yakuza crime syndicates. Also, the Yakuza are well connected across the border, having a well-established connection with other notorious crime syndicates in countries like Israel, Nigeria, Iran, and some countries ...