General term for organized criminal gangs consisting of ethnic Azerbaijanis, primarily active in Russia and former Soviet states. Originating in the early 1980s, they rose to power in the 1990s by taking over heroin trafficking after conflicts weakened Chechen groups. Their activities include drug and arms trafficking, fraud, money laundering, and contract killing. They have expanded into Europe, with notable presence in the Netherlands, Germany, and France.
CRIMENET has extracted 7 linkages for this organization, including 5 cooperative ties across 4 organizations, 2 conflicts across 1 organization and footprints in 5 countries.
Territory: Russia , USA , European Union , Ukraine , Georgia and all other post-Soviet states .
Founding location: Moscow , Saint-Peterburg , Munich , Boston , New York , Los Angeles , Italy
Founding location: Moscow , Saint-Peterburg , Munich , Boston , New York , Los Angeles , Italy
Territory: Russia , USA , European Union , Ukraine , Georgia and all other post-Soviet states .
Founding location: Moscow , Saint-Peterburg , Munich , Boston , New York , Los Angeles , Italy