Return PolishForums LIVE
  PolishForums Archive :
Archives - 2005-2009 / Law  % width 21

Organised Crime - Mafia Business in Poland


szkotja2007 27 | 1,498  
14 Nov 2007 /  #1
Everyone I talk to about small businesses in Pl talks about organised crime - mafia types. How bad is this in Poland ? Is it just protection type rackets, local "tax" type things. How much of a hassle is it when starting up a business ? Any particular areas worse than others ? I am thinking of the Gdansk bay area in particular.
hello 22 | 890  
14 Nov 2007 /  #2
Organized mafia that harass Polish businesses is a BIG problem in Poland. It seems the businesses in the best locations (like shopping stores, currency exchanges, all kinds of agencies, even law offices) are prone to mafia and are expected to pay a fee to be "protected" by them. Sometimes even legal companies force the company owners to pay them to be "protected" - if they don't, they may have their business arsoned or even worse.

The Polish police must do something about that - but the problem is that the police is said to be corrupted too.
plk123 8 | 4,142  
14 Nov 2007 /  #3
just have enough $ to grease a lot of palms and you should be in business. lol
OP szkotja2007 27 | 1,498  
14 Nov 2007 /  #4
but the problem is that the police is said to be corrupted to

Yes, I heard that too. I suppose to a certain extent its just accepted then ?
Grzegorz_ 51 | 6,149  
14 Nov 2007 /  #5
are prone to mafia and are expected to pay a fee to be "protected" by them.

BS. Something like that happens only in cases of brothels, night clubs involved in illegal things etc. Generally small crime pays to bigger crime.
hello 22 | 890  
14 Nov 2007 /  #6
BS? Then what can you say about guard companies that have sprung like mushrooms in Poland? Some if not most of them were established by the former milicja officers. Some of them even blackmail the owners if they don't want to renew their services...

I think it's a Polish sensation on the world's scale that there are so many guards seen in businesses or stores (not to mention banks). Go to an expensive store in a city downtown and you are likely to be invited by a guard... One private guard or more per one store or city business location is weird...
randompal 7 | 306  
14 Nov 2007 /  #7
government=legal mafia. whenever you hear of government busting a mafia ring it just means that they are rubbing out the competition...
Grzegorz_ 51 | 6,149  
14 Nov 2007 /  #8
I think it's a Polish sensation on the world's scale that there are so many guards seen in businesses or stores (not to mention banks).

You're trying to be funny ?
smooth_jazz 7 | 71  
14 Nov 2007 /  #9
Everyone I talk to about small businesses in Pl talks about organised crime -

I don't know but you could ask davidpeake, I know he own's his own business in Poland.
hello 22 | 890  
14 Nov 2007 /  #10
You're trying to be funny ?

No, but sometimes I think you have never been abroad and only know other countries from articles. Go to a store (even the biggest and most expensive) in the US and you won't notice a guard starring at you as if you wanted to steal something.
Lukasz 49 | 1,746  
14 Nov 2007 /  #11
BS. Something like that happens only in cases of brothels, night clubs involved in illegal things etc. Generally small crime pays to bigger crime.

I agree with G

I dont pay any money for mafia (I m business owner), and all business owners I know dont do it I think it is mostly problem of (like G) other illegal busniesses.

I have to admit that in 90's it was real problem for small business owners ... but now it isnt
Grzegorz_ 51 | 6,149  
14 Nov 2007 /  #12
No, but sometimes I think you have never been abroad

Sometimes I think that you've been eating too much American food.
BubbaWoo 33 | 3,506  
14 Nov 2007 /  #13
it cracks me up that the alcohol is kept in a closed section in many supermarkets... its almost as if they expect people to steal it...!
OP szkotja2007 27 | 1,498  
14 Nov 2007 /  #14
OK - so I am getting mixed picture from the forum.
The friend I spoke to in PL does import/export and so has dealings with the docks. Harbours and docks throughout the world are known for scams etc I suppose.

The other person I spoke to had their own plumbing business and after installing a new bathroom the customer just said "thanks" and didnt pay him. When he asked again he got a visit from some people.

Maybe its not as bad as I first thought.
Grzegorz_ 51 | 6,149  
14 Nov 2007 /  #15
No one says that there's no crime in Poland but there's a difference between usual crime and saying that business owners have to pay some "tax" to mafia.
Wroclaw 44 | 5,379  
14 Nov 2007 /  #16
The other person I spoke to had their own plumbing business and after installing a new bathroom the customer just said "thanks" and didnt pay him. When he asked again he got a visit from some people.

That was just a scam to get a free bathroom. Some 'heavy' laying down the law.

In the past it was bars and night clubs. Other groups dealt with cars.
Lukasz 49 | 1,746  
14 Nov 2007 /  #17
No one says that there's no crime in Poland but there's a difference between usual crime and saying that business oners have to pay some "tax" to mafia.

exactly
BubbaWoo 33 | 3,506  
14 Nov 2007 /  #18
Other groups dealt with cars.

did i ever mention car thefts in poland back in the 9Os...?
randompal 7 | 306  
14 Nov 2007 /  #19
yah yah, we've all heard the stories
BubbaWoo 33 | 3,506  
14 Nov 2007 /  #20
oh, sorry... have you heard it all before...?
z_darius 14 | 3,965  
14 Nov 2007 /  #21
Go to a store (even the biggest and most expensive) in the US and you won't notice a guard starring at you as if you wanted to steal something

Ever been to China Town in NYC? When you have a chance, take a stroll along Canal Street.

Archives - 2005-2009 / Law / Organised Crime - Mafia Business in PolandArchived