They began to rise when the old political systems started crumbling. Trained professional soldiers simply switching to private security companies – protecting banks, schools, money transfers and important people.
The work fed their families and gave newly formed governments much needed jobs and security, at least in theory. In reality, the private security sector became its own political, criminal and social force.
Reporters from the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) investigation spread out across South East Europe to find out who really controls the industry. Researching court records, tax rolls, business registers and government contracts, the reporters found that some of the most powerful figures in organised crime hide behind security companies to arm thugs and intimidate their foes.
Killers, drug dealers and racketeers operate with impunity across the region, often with the aid of political figures and police officers who are supposed to protect the public. Laws are weak, allowing gang leaders to hire and arm convicted felons who otherwise couldn’t carry a weapon. In Serbia, there are no laws at all regulating the security sector.
The investigation also uncovered chilling material showing the influence security firms exert over everyday life.
In Moldova, a minister was caught on tape rallying heads of security companies to pressure and intimidate the population to back the communist party government. If not, they would lose lucrative government contracts. In Macedonia political parties directly control some security firms.
Bulgaria’s prime minister made his fortune operating private security companies. Two of his early business partners cast a shadow on this past: a government agent now accused of operating an organised crime ring for the past decade, and the head of a private security company whose managers await trial for drug trafficking and racketeering.
Security agencies are Bulgaria’s largest private employer – 130,000 people, one in 11 adult males in the country, work in security-related jobs. It’s also a haven for racketeers and enforcers who records show force their way into the very companies they are hired to protect, taking shares and money from owners by threatening their families and handing out beatings.
See the whole story at: http://www.reportingproject.net/security/