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| − | [[Gabal]]’s most prominent criminal organization is called Kumpulan. It is headed by prominent local businessman Myint Khine, who owns a local import/export operation. Khine is 45 years old, and began working for Kumpulan when he was a teenager. Over two decades ago, Kumpulan provided the funds to expand Khine’s business, now called Kumpulan Import and Export. This business today serves as a cover for Kumpulan illegal operations. With warehouses in several cities and towns in Gabal, Khine can hide illegal goods among his legitimate imports. The police are aware of Khine, but he always seems to be one step ahead of the authorities when they raid one of his warehouses. It is highly likely that he has agents scattered throughout the National Police, as well as local governmental officials. These agents let Khine know about the raids well enough in advance for the group to move out the illegal goods hidden among the legitimate imports. | + | [[Gabal]]’s most prominent criminal organization is called Kumpulan. It is headed by prominent local businessman Myint Khine, who owns a local import/export operation. Khine is 45 years old, and began working for Kumpulan when he was a teenager with little future prospect as the mining industry was starting its decline. Over two decades ago, Kumpulan provided the funds to expand Khine’s business, now called Kumpulan Import and Export. This business today serves as a cover for Kumpulan illegal operations. With warehouses in several cities and towns in Gabal, Khine can hide illegal goods among his legitimate imports. The police are aware of Khine, but he always seems to be one step ahead of the authorities when they raid one of his warehouses. It is highly likely that he has agents scattered throughout the National Police, as well as local governmental officials. These agents let Khine know about the raids well enough in advance for the group to move out the illegal goods hidden among the legitimate imports. |
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| − | Weapons confiscated by the Gabal military or police sometimes make it into Kumpulan’s hands, instead of the weapons destruction facility—most likely due to corrupt military and/or police officers. Kumpulan is usually non-violent, but at times, some independent black marketers have been found shot to death as a warning to others. | + | Weapons confiscated by the Gabal military or police sometimes make it into Kumpulan’s hands, instead of the weapons destruction facility—most likely due to corrupt military and/or police officers. Kumpulan is usually non-violent, but at times, some independent black marketers have been found shot to death as a warning to others. Kumpulan also faces the challenge of the South Torbian-based [[Military: South Torbia#Tantoco Cartel|Tantoco Cartel]] trying to expand into Gabal. |
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| − | The poverty faced by many islanders force Gabalian youth into illegal activities in order to survive. This is especially true for the disenfranchised male youth from the ages of 15 to 25. Many of these struggling young males turn to petty crime to survive such as purse snatching, pickpocketing, and simple robbery. The victims are often tourists, who often are the only ones with any money to actually steal. If a young male does not go out on their own, they often find work with the Kumpulan. | + | The poverty faced by many islanders, especially young adult males, force Gabalian youth into crime, which often places them in the hands of Kumpulan. Starting with purse snatching, pickpocketing, and simple robbery, often of tourists, success can lead to increased responsibility in smuggling operations. |
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| − | The major criminal organization is [[Kumpulan]], headed by Myint Khine who owns a local import/export business. Khine is 45 years old and began working for Kumpulan when he was a teenager with few prospects in life. Over two decades ago, Kumpulan provided the funds for his business, Kumpulan Import and Export, that he uses as a cover for their illegal operations. With warehouses in several cities and towns in Gabal, Khine can hide illegal goods among his legitimate imports. The police are aware of Khine, but he always seems to be one step ahead of the authorities when they raid one of his warehouses. It is highly likely that he has agents scattered throughout the National Police as well as any local governmental officials. These agents let Khine know about the raids well enough in advance for the group to move out the illegal goods hidden among the legitimate imports. Weapons confiscated by the Gabal military or police sometimes make it into Kumpulan’s hands instead of the weapons destruction facility—most likely due to corrupt military and/or police officers. Kumpulan is usually non-violent, but at times some independent black marketers have been found shot to death as a warning to others.
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| − | The desperate financial situation by many islanders force the poor, however, into illegal activities in order to survive. This is especially true for the disenfranchised male youth from the ages of 15 to 25. Many of these struggling youth males turn to petty crime to survive such as purse snatching, pickpocketing, and simple robbery. The victims are often tourists, who often are the only ones with any money to actually steal. If a young male does not go out on their own, they often find work with the Kumpulan.
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| − | There are other criminal groups, primarily family units, which conduct racketeering operations to provide a means of support to their large extended families. The families most involved in these local racketeering operations include Finau, Teaupa, Otolose, Malapo, Tei, Katalalaine, and Angina. The South Torbian-based [[Military: South Torbia#Tantoco Cartel|Tantoco Cartel]] is now trying to expand into Gabal.
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| − | Low-level corruption is widespread within the Gabal government. While chromite-mining levels are far less than past decades, some wildcat mining does still exist and competition for the mining rights is fierce. In an extreme case, an Asian chromium mining company made tens of thousands of dollars in payments of “consultancy fees” to the wife of the Gabal Minister of Justice, even though she was not involved in any consultancy work for the company. Some opposition figures have alleged that the Prime Minister has demonstrated undue influence on the judiciary. However, corruption rarely reaches the very top and is severely frowned upon at the upper levels. Huge sums of money have disappeared into the pockets of individual business owners and low-level politicians. Despite this, there is very little political will to fight corruption as it not only permeates village politics and bureaucracy, but is also seen as a necessary way to ensure business conduct.
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| − | Internally, Gabal has a relatively low but rising financially-related crime rate. Petty theft and pickpocketing of tourists constitute the vast majority of crime in the nation. The ethnic Olvanese community, who comprise approximately 5 percent of the population, are commonly victims of a pattern of petty theft, property damage, and assault. Police attributed most attacks on ethnic Olvanese to economic, rather than racial motivations, and note a general trend of theft-related attacks on a few private businesses. Offshore smuggling is less common than in most Pacific Island nations, in part because neighboring nations have greater access to international transportation hubs and less enthusiastic anti-smuggling efforts. Smuggling still occurs in Gabal: the Kumpulan criminal organization conducts smuggling to avoid taxation and runs a significant black market. Many poor Gabalians turn either to Kumpulan or independent smuggling operations to provide basic subsistence.
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| − | Violent crime, while low across most of the country, is relatively high in the urban areas of Gabal, largely a result of disenfranchised and unemployed youth whom congregate in gangs to yield social influence and power. Robbery and assault are the most reported crimes with the homicide rate amongst the highest in the world at 10.4% per 100,000 inhabitants. However, official reporting figures are unlikely to be accurate, as only 1 in every 8 crimes is reported. Petty theft is especially under-reported. Gang membership among youth has skyrocketed as the traditional and formal social institutions have been unable to manage rapid economic growth and decline, increased migration, a 60% unemployment rate and dire poverty. As gang activity has increased, gang members openly walk the streets yielding machetes, knives and, at times, small hand held guns acquired via the smugglers network.
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| − | The desperate financial situation many islanders face, especially in the male ages 15-25 population, has led some to work with the Kumpulan criminal network. Starting with purse snatching, pickpocketing, and simple robbery, often of tourists, success can lead to incrased responsibility in smuggling operations. Rape and violence against women are on the rise. In efforts to acquire money, carjacking, robberies, and kidnapping are common, subsequently impacting business and consumer sentiments and tourism. Internally, the seemingly unending violence pressures inter-tribal relations, fueling turf wars and power struggles among the tribes. However, gang related activity is also viewed as protectionism from police and government corruption, necessitating local support and power as a necessary survival mechanism.
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| − | The under resourced and ineffective Police Constabulary also enables this gang activity. Over the past two years, increased government and foreign assistance have deliberately attempted to professionalize the force and decrease violence in the country. These efforts have yet to be realized but provide a strong framework for progression, including higher penalties for kidnapping and theft, as well as assigning the death penalty for crimes to include rape, robbery and tribe related killings. Although the death penalty was reinstated twenty years ago, there have yet to be any executions regardless of its popularity with the public.
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Gabal’s most prominent criminal organization is called Kumpulan. It is headed by prominent local businessman Myint Khine, who owns a local import/export operation. Khine is 45 years old, and began working for Kumpulan when he was a teenager with little future prospect as the mining industry was starting its decline. Over two decades ago, Kumpulan provided the funds to expand Khine’s business, now called Kumpulan Import and Export. This business today serves as a cover for Kumpulan illegal operations. With warehouses in several cities and towns in Gabal, Khine can hide illegal goods among his legitimate imports. The police are aware of Khine, but he always seems to be one step ahead of the authorities when they raid one of his warehouses. It is highly likely that he has agents scattered throughout the National Police, as well as local governmental officials. These agents let Khine know about the raids well enough in advance for the group to move out the illegal goods hidden among the legitimate imports.
Weapons confiscated by the Gabal military or police sometimes make it into Kumpulan’s hands, instead of the weapons destruction facility—most likely due to corrupt military and/or police officers. Kumpulan is usually non-violent, but at times, some independent black marketers have been found shot to death as a warning to others. Kumpulan also faces the challenge of the South Torbian-based Tantoco Cartel trying to expand into Gabal.
The poverty faced by many islanders, especially young adult males, force Gabalian youth into crime, which often places them in the hands of Kumpulan. Starting with purse snatching, pickpocketing, and simple robbery, often of tourists, success can lead to increased responsibility in smuggling operations.
