An 8 April 2000 TASR article states:

The analysis [by the Slovak Interior Ministry] also says that 31 crimes [in 1999] were seemingly committed by organised gangs and all were cleared up. Exactly 52 mafia gangs were registered by the police, with 580 mobsters involved....The police succeeded to dissolve 13 organised gangs in 1999. However, their findings indicate that new gangs are being formed by citizens of the People's Republic of China and Vietnam.

An 8 June 2000 Sme article states:

In Slovakia there are at present at least three groups of organized crime with pyramid structure and so-called honorable men at the top. It cannot be ruled out that they are linked with some political structures. "They have at their disposal a perfect service from lawyers, economists, and advisers. If we succeeded in convicting those people, the most dangerous groups would disintegrate," Interior Minister Ladislav Pittner said yesterday.

However, preparedness is a huge problem for the Police. Pittner:

"The long-term problem of the best lawyers leaving the team of investigators for the commercial sphere persists. Only one of the investigators who had been sacked from the Police in connection with the investigation of Michal Kovac Jr.'s abduction abroad has come back. The others found better conditions in the commercial sphere. The material-technical equipment of the Police is totally inadequate. Even outwardly, our policemen wear uniforms reminiscent of the old regime, not to mention weapons, communications equipment, and automobiles. Many investigators are using their private computers [at work]." Pittner submitted to yesterday's cabinet meeting a report on the comprehensive program to combat crime and the government approved the allocation of 14.5 million korunas [Sk] in support of crime prevention programs. Even though this money will help the Police, the sum involved is very low.

The Police have benefited from the establishment of the institution of police agents. "Thanks to American help, the first group of Criminal Intelligence officers was trained, which, in turn, has trained others. These officers have uncovered 13 groups of organized crime, which have been eliminated. These groups have a tendency to regenerate very quickly and their remnants mostly join existing or new groups. Of the 33 groups [of organized crime] remaining after the year 1999, we have 26 under intelligence control [pod spravodajskou kontrolou]. Even though information gathered by intelligence means does not have the character of evidence [that can be used in court], it serves as a clue and makes it possible to take preparatory steps," said Ladislav Pittner.

A 4 December 2000 TASR article states:

Slovak police have information of police officers being in league with Kosice crime boss Dusan B., also known as Borza, who was arrested in the Czech town of Usti nad Labem on Thursday [30th November], Slovak Police Chief Jan Pipta told journalists on Monday. An investigation is under way of the extent to which police have been cooperating with the Kosice underworld, he said. Links between organized criminals and both active and former officers are revealed whenever a major criminal group is broken up, Pipta said. A well-equipped internal affairs department was required to deal with this problem, he added.

No additional information on government and police inititatives against organized crime, nor on the infiltration or links between government and organized crime in the Slovak Republic, could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Sme [Bratislava, in Slovak]. 8 June 2000. "Interior Minister Discusses Successes, Difficulties of Combating Organized Crime." (FBIS-EEU-2000-0609 8 June 2000/WNC)

TASR [Bratislava, in English]. 4 December 2000. "Slovak Minister Says Police Frequently Involved in Organized Crime." [FBIS-EEU-2000-1204 4 Dec. 2000/WNC)

_____. 8 April 2000. "Interior Ministry Releases Analysis of Organized Crime." (FBIS-EEU-2000-0410 8 Apr. 2000/WNC)

Additional Sources Consulted

Unsuccessful attempts to contact oral sources

IRB databases

NEXIS/LEXIS

Internet sites including:

Hokkaido University Slavic Research Centre

Ministry of Interior - Slovak Republic

Nathanson Center for the Study of Organized Crime and Corruption

Transparency International

World News Connection