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Crime Syndicate in Eastern Europe

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• An increasingly aggressive crime syndicate calling itself the “TRIAD” has formed three inter-linking cells located in Chisinau, Kiev, and Minsk. Its strength and the variety of its criminal activities have been growing at an alarming rate over the past year. Extortion, kidnapping, human trafficking, and drug distribution have been the center of their attention.

• In the past 3 months, the TRIAD has focused on extorting money from European businessmen seeking to invest in the region. Kiev reports at least six such incidents in the past 60 days; Chisinau, four; and Minsk, three. Two German businessmen were killed in a failed extortion event and a Russian businessman gravely wounded.

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• EU officials have expressed both private and public alarm over the situation. Several potential investors have withdrawn proposals for development in the region.

• Of equal concern has been recent efforts in the past 30 days by the TRIAD to intimidate public law enforcement officials. A number of woundings and 2 deaths have been reported among government officials in the three capitals.

• While the TRIAD formerly was a loose cooperative arrangement among groups in the three capitals, recent police investigation has uncovered a plan to create a central command all to “coordinate” and “direct” activities in drugs and human trafficking. The aim of the TRIAD will be to overwhelm the various governments and negate any efforts to control the TRIAD.

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• Key officials are to meet in the next 24 hours with representatives from all three nations to consult.

• You have been assigned to analyze the situation and provide a recommended course of action within 2 hours.