Brutal Gangs: The Chechen Mafia
Image Source: YouTube
In the annals of organized crime, few groups stand out as crazy violent as the Chechen Mafia. From its earliest days, the Chechen organized crime syndicate has had a reputation for being the most out-of-control group in Moscow.
Many of the groups that Americans identify as “Russian Mafia” are actually Chechen, and they’re distinguished by the outlandish, over-the-top violence they bring to otherwise routine criminal activities. Here’s a video of Chechen gangsters registering a complaint with their local police:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=iafWvnQqu38
There’s a great story about how the Chechens took over the Moscow underground in the ’90s. Apparently, the traditional Russian mob bosses were alarmed at the newcomers’ success in penetrating their operations, so 24 of the old-fashioned bosses called a meeting with 12 Chechen bosses. Everyone would be allowed to bring one bodyguard to the meeting—which was to be a friendly steak dinner—but no weapons were allowed in the room.
The meeting got off to a slow start, but when the steaks were brought to the table, the Chechens grabbed their steak knives and just went crazy on the Russians. When it was over, forty-eight Russians were dead, and twenty-four very satisfied Chechens escaped at a slow walk.
Next up: The place where there is a murder every hour…
