FBIS3-19199 "drweu049_a_94003"
FBIS-WEU-94-049 Document Type:Daily Report 14 Mar 1994
AUSTRIA

Interior Minister Proposes Crime-Fighting Measures

AU1103112194 Vienna DER STANDARD in German 11 Mar 94 p 5 AU1103112194 Vienna DER STANDARD Language: German Article Type:BFN [Report signed "voel": "Smuggling of People Is a Thriving Business"] [Text] Vienna -- At the security meeting entitled "The International Threat," which was held on Thursday [10 March] on the occasion of the Security and Safety fair in Vienna, Interior Minister Franz Loeschnak reported on new types of organized crime: The smuggling of refugees, mafia-type blackmail, and economic crimes. According to Loeschnak, 5,000 to 10,000 people are "smuggled" into Austria illegally every year. Further tens of thousands, mainly from African countries, are transported by gangs to other countries via Austria. Loeschnak stated: "This is a thriving business." Up to $10,000 is being charged per person. Another type of crime is also spreading in Austria, namely the extortion of money through blackmail. Loeschnak believes that "at least every third, but maybe even every second" citizen from Turkey and the former Yugoslavia is being blackmailed by organized gangs to pay protection money. Austrian companies that are carrying out orders abroad are also faced with blackmail. Loeschnak claimed that they are "paying without hesitation" so as not to endanger their workers abroad. The climax of these criminal machinations has not yet been reached, and the international threat has reached a "considerable extent." Loeschnak spoke of "very sophisticated" econmic crime where "big chiefs" of international concerns illegally "embezzle hundreds of millions of schillings, German marks, or dollars." Loeschnak mentioned several measures to be taken by the executive bodies to get the situation under control. The establishment of special units are an initial step. In the sphere of drugs, specialist have been active for years. This must be extended to economic crimes, the smuggling of refugees and of cars. To achieve success in the fight against organized crime, "suitable tools" are needed. Loeschnak mentioned the so-called bugging campaign, "no matter whether big, medium-sized, or small," and the state's regulation of evidence. "We should not develop any philosophies or principles in this respect. This is not important. What we need are suitable instruments." In this respect, the interior minister clearly supported membership in the European Union, because international cooperation against cross-border crime must be intensified.