Russian Ravers and the Mafia Mix-up in Goa

SANJAY_DEL

It was Goa's worst kept secret - and has now hit the mainstream media. Outlook magazine(January 29, 2007) has exposed the explosive situation on the ground in Goa.

http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp...9&sid=1&pn =1

" In Goa, the Russian "invasion" is no secret.The Russian mafia's gameplan seems simple: buy up properties in Goa to set up businesses—restaurants and hotels—that double up as bases for its illegal drugs and arms trade.
Chartered tourism has been used by the syndicates to smuggle in and out drugs and contraband.
Agitated citizens of Goa say that the state and central governments need to wake up to the gravity of the situation."

Makes for some disturbing reading.

Vigile

How do they know it's mafia? Do the Russians that visit wear Tony Soprano shirts? Do they put "mafia" as their job titles in their visa aps?

Seriously. I live in Russia and learned about Goa because it's a popular tour destination for Russians.

Here's a fact that the rest of the world has yet to figure out: Russians have a lot of money now; a whole lot of it. Moscow is the most expensive city in the world and St Pete where I live is #10. They drive hummers here, Mercedes SUVs, housing is booming, they dine in expensive restaurants and they have cash in reserve to spend on vacation property and overseas investments.

Just because a Russian has money does not mean that he/she is mafia.

And, it's not a nightmare that Russians are coming to Goa. Russians just happen to be a lot of fun. Yes they drink, dance, and make love. So what? Russian girls are beautiful and their men are generally nice. They are not going to ruin the beaches, they are going to adorn them and add color.

I have nothing against the British, but quite honestly, if I thought that Goa was a British-only outpost, I would have no desire to go there just because it wouldn't sound that interesting to me. That the Russians are ariving makes the place very attractive to me.

Bring 'em on and drop the stereo types.

SANJAY_DEL

Indians and Russians have traditionally got on so well - there is no issue there at all. Many of my friends went to study in Russia and they can't get over the experience.
Apprehensions are being raised only about the drug dealing that some Russian gangs are being associated with.
The last thing we should do is to label every visitor from that country as "mafia".
I have seen pictures of Goan rave parties with gun toting guards standing on the edge, keeping a lookout for police, on the net.

sam_12

I agree with vigile,and moreover whats wrong with the russian invasion,they are India's cold-war allies(spare me the n.a.m),we all know russia and india are the oldest of friends,they supply us with military arsenal,they are hostile to pakistan,they have always backed permanent indian membership of unsc,infact of late they have done really well for themselves and thats all because of vladimir putin,an able leader who was much needed to revive an ailing nation which was grinded into nothingness 15 years back by the u.s,all russia now needs is some fervent nationalism and some baby-boomers to aid there dwindling numbers which I believe is set to fall below sustainable levels,according to a recent study,and they can certainly do without dozy liberals like mikhail gorbachev who fall for the nobel.am really looking forward to putin's visit this 26 jan,I believe he is bringing a big biz delegation as well,the trade between the 2 nations has gone into negative,which is very surprising since the 2 dont have any outstanding problems,and are old strategic partners,russia also has huge energy reserves with which it has recently started flexing some serious muscle,russian investment in india is anyday welcome in any form,I just wish they werent so xenophobic

SANJAY_DEL

Yes, we are ready to sell them tea, and buy more MIGs... but do we need a drug cartel operating out of Goa?

sam_12

dont act holier than thou,we all know what goes on in goa,and it has nothing to do with the russians

capt_mahajan

And just because he is Russian does not mean that he cannot be mafia.

No one in the article, is saying that all Russians are criminals.


Outlook is not a rag,does not fabricate stories and it has quoted authorities on this.

And your remark on "British outpost" doesn't make sense. I for one, would rather have a goa full of britishers, or timbuktooans, than criminals.


And sam12, are you saying that political affliations between countries justify allowing criminals in?

The Russian mafia is around in a lot of places outside Russia. Russian prostitutes throng south Korean ports with Russian 'minders', and there have been instances in India too.

If indeed they are expanding in Goa, the least we should be doing is not welcoming them.

sam_12

the russian mafia or the italian mafioso,I dont care,I believe the I.B can take care of them

the intelligence is not made up of snoozers who dont know what sort of fdi is coming in the country,they are well equipped to handle the dreaded russian mafia which quite frankly I believe is nothing but a figment of imagination,the cold war is over guys get over it,russia is no longer disintegrating and widespread anarchy is less prevalent,its 1 of the resurgent economies of the world.

Vigile

As I asked in the original post, how do they know they are mafioso? Have they been convicted?

You seem to be jumping to the same conclusion that the article writer did. Criminals? I'll give them the benefit of the doubt until I start to see a list of convictions.

Hopefully they don't have to withstand trial in the the court of your type of public opinion.

Vigile

Exactly Sam. This is no longer the Russia of the 1990s. It is not run by thugs. The same law and order exists here that exists in W Europe. What little mafia there is left is stuck extorting the kiosks and laundering a few dollars in the strip joints just like the mafia in any other major city.

My brother in law is a banker in Moscow and he laughs at the idea that Russia is still run by the mafia. I have friends here in St. Pete that own retail businesses (one a chain of shoe stores and another a cell phone chain), neither one must deal with any form of mafia in their businesses.

Put a dollar or two in a Russian's pocket though and I guess it's still guilt by association.

capt_mahajan

Vigile, read the article, and my post again, is all I can say.

Further discussion is meaningless.

Vigile

I did and I remain skeptical.

In any case, I don't wish to come here and create an argumentative tone on what I'm finding to be a wonderful online community. I live in Russia, I'm married to a sweet Russian girl. I have Russian family who I love. The article appears to me to be making unprovable assumptions which have the potential to taint the public's view of the entire Russian community in Goa so I said my piece. I'll let it rest now.

capt_mahajan

Vigile, neither the article or I generalised and said that all Russians were criminals.
After maybe six or eight trips to your country I certainly know better than that.

ps: on re-reading my posts, maybe I didn't make this clear enough. Apologies.

Nick-H

The article is about people in Goa who are associated with crime in Russia. This makes it a complete waste of time to discuss those who are not!

It is like associating the average British tourist with certain criminals who made the 'escape' to Spain at one time.

I don't think the articles helps itself.... 75% of charter flights originate in Russia? with mention of Russian guides and prostitution all, more or less, in the same article?

I'm sure the article did not say that all Russsians in Goa are criminals, but I didn't find it very clear either. It wouldn't have impressed me, had I been Russian!

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Vigile

Exactly Nick, which is one of the major problems I had with the article.