National Threat Assessment 2008. Organised Crime - Politie

7
Reflections
7.1 Introduction
In this chapter we will distance ourselves somewhat from the actual criminal
phenomena that were the subject of this NTA 2008 and that were discussed
in the previous chapters. We will discuss themes that surpass the actual specific
criminal phenomena and are (therefore) typical of Dutch organised crime.
In many ways these themes form both the preconditions for various types
of organised crime to flourish and the Achilles heel of criminal organisations.
It concerns the following subjects:
• intertwining of criminal circles and legitimate society;
• technological developments;
• globalisation and internationalisation;
• the Netherlands and other countries.
7.2 Intertwining of criminal circles
and legitimate society
The intertwining of criminal circles and legitimate society has recently been the
focus of a great deal of attention, both in terms of publicity and policy. Special
attention is being paid to the involvement of the property sector in organised
crime and the investment of criminal proceeds in property. The Holleeder trial
may not have caused this attention, but it did stir it up.
In the subreport Criminele afscherming en verweving (Criminal Concealment and
Intertwining), which was written for NTA 2004, a long passage was used to be
specific about ‘intertwining’. We will not quote that entire passage here, but will limit
ourselves instead to providing a few clues: “When people talk about ‘intertwining
and entanglement of criminal circles and legitimate society’ they are referring to a
certain relationship or link between serious and organised crime on the one hand
and the business community or the government on the other hand”. “Intertwining
of criminal circles and legitimate society is described here as a more or less
permanent situation in which organised crime has gained a position of power within
branches, sectors or the government”. “Intertwining refers […] to ‘collaboration’ or
‘authority over’. The collaboration takes place between two parties, one of which
consists of (members of) a criminal organisation (i.e. criminal circles) and the other of
(people working for) legitimate businesses or agencies (i.e. legitimate society).”
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