ocr: Crime is now a formidable problem in Russia, and the police cannot keep up with its rise. Reported murders int the first nine months of1993 rose to 33,798,up - 47% on the previous year. Most murders are the result of inter-gang violence. Muggings in the larger cities are sharply up. Corruption and mafia-style activity are also widespread. Protection rackets, - prostitution, smuggling pperations and drugs are the Russian mafia's sources of profit. Russian crime bossesare beginning to fund similar activities in Western Europe, using banks as fronts. In outlying areas, especially Siberia, Western ...
