You do not have permission to edit this page, for the following reasons:

This IP address has been blocked from editing Wikipedia.
This does not affect your ability to read Wikipedia pages.
Most people who see this message have done nothing wrong. Some kinds of blocks restrict editing from specific service providers or telecom companies in response to recent abuse or vandalism, and can sometimes affect other users who are unrelated to that abuse. Review the information below for assistance if you do not believe that you have done anything wrong.

The IP address or range 3.85.0.0/16 has been blocked (disabled) by ‪ST47‬ for the following reason(s):

The IP address that you are currently using has been blocked because it is believed to be a web host provider. To prevent abuse, web hosts may be blocked from editing Wikipedia.
You will not be able to edit Wikipedia using a web host provider because it hides your IP address, much like a proxy or VPN.
We recommend that you attempt to use another connection to edit. For example, if you use a proxy or VPN to connect to the internet, turn it off when editing Wikipedia. If you edit using a mobile connection, try using a Wi-Fi connection, and vice versa. If you are using a corporate internet connection, switch to a different Wi-Fi network. If you have a Wikipedia account, please log in.
If you do not have any other way to edit Wikipedia, you will need to request an IP block exemption.

How to appeal if you are confident that your connection does not use a web host's IP address:
If you are confident that you are not using a web host, you may appeal this block by adding the following text on your talk page: ((unblock|reason=Caught by a web host block but this host or IP is not a web host. My IP address is _______. Place any further information here. ~~~~)). You must fill in the blank with your IP address for this block to be investigated. Your IP address can be determined here. Alternatively, if you wish to keep your IP address private you can use the unblock ticket request system. There are several reasons you might be editing using the IP address of a web host (such as if you are using VPN software or a business network); please use this method of appeal only if you think your IP address is in fact not a web host.

Administrators: The IP block exemption user right should only be applied to allow users to edit using web host in exceptional circumstances, and they should usually be directed to the functionaries team via email. If you intend to give the IPBE user right, a CheckUser needs to take a look at the account. This can be requested most easily at SPI Quick Checkuser Requests. Unblocking an IP or IP range with this template is highly discouraged without at least contacting the blocking administrator.

This block will expire on 21:48, 22 February 2026.

Even when blocked, you will usually still be able to edit your user talk page, as well as email administrators and other editors.

For information on how to proceed, please read the FAQ for blocked users and the guideline on block appeals. The guide to appealing blocks may also be helpful.

Other useful links: Blocking policy · Help:I have been blocked
Your IP address is in a range that has been blocked on all Wikimedia Foundation wikis. The block was made by ‪Jon Kolbert‬. The reason given is Open proxy/Webhost: See the help page if you are affected .
- Start of block: 05:35, 21 February 2024
- Expiry of block: 05:35, 21 February 2029
Your current IP address is 3.85.235.113. The blocked range is 3.85.0.0/16. Please include all above details in any queries you make. If you believe you were blocked by mistake, you can find additional information and instructions in the No open proxies global policy. Otherwise, to discuss the block please post a request for review on Meta-Wiki. You could also send an email to the stewards VRT queue at stewards@wikimedia.org including all above details.

You can view and copy the source of this page:

((More citations needed|date=September 2023))
((Short description|Umbrella term for Armenian organized crime groups))
((About|ethnic Armenian organized crime in general, based mainly in Armenia and Russia|the [[Armenian-American]] criminal organization sometimes known as the "Armenian Mafia"|Armenian Power))
((Infobox Criminal organization
| name = Armenian mafia
| founded = 
| founding location = [[Armenia]]
| ethnicity = [[Armenian people|Armenian]]
| membership = 
| territory = [[Armenia]], [[Russia]] and post-Soviet states, [[United States]], [[Australia]]<ref name="australia">((cite web | url=https://mediamax.am/en/news/society/17294 | title=Drugs are trafficked into Australia from Armenia, Sydney paper claims ))</ref>
| criminal activities = [[Extortion]], [[racketeering]], [[assault]], [[contract killing]], [[money laundering]], [[bribery]], [[embezzlement]], [[tax evasion]], [[drug trafficking]]<ref name="australia"/>
| allies = [[Italian-American Mafia]]<ref name="Roots of the Armenian Power Gang">[https://www.policemag.com/373750/roots-of-the-armenian-power-gang Roots of the Armenian Power Gang] Richard Valdemar, policemag.com (March 1, 2011)</ref> <br> [[Mexican Mafia]]<ref name="Roots of the Armenian Power Gang"/> <br> [[Russian mafia]]<ref name="Roots of the Armenian Power Gang"/> <br> [[Lebanese mafia]]<br>[[Greek mafia]]<br>[[Calabrian mafia]]<ref name="australia"/>
| rivals = [[Azerbaijani mafia]]<br>[[Turkish mafia]]<br>[[Pakistani mafia]]
))

The '''Armenian mafia''' (((lang-hy|Հայկական մաֆիա))) is a general term for organized criminal gangs that consist of ethnic [[Armenians]]. In Armenia, the structure is organized in clans called ''yekhpayrutyuns'' (եղբայրություններ, brotherhoods).<ref name=AN>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060709182218/http://www.armenianow.com/?action=viewArticle&AID=1390&lng=eng&IID=1071 "Mean Streets: A rare look at Armenia’s Capital clans"] - An ArmeniaNow Special Report by Vahan Ishkhanyan. March 3rd, 2006, [[ArmeniaNow]]. (Retrieved from the [[WebArchive]], July 9th 2006)</ref>

==International activity==
===Germany===
In 2009 and 2011, the German [[Federal Criminal Police Office (Germany)|Federal Criminal Police Office]] (BKA) launched the investigation against the Armenian mafia in Germany. At that time there was a suspicion of drug trafficking, which could not be proven yet.<ref name=":0">((citation|surname1=mdr.de|title=Armenische Mafia in Thüringen: Landeskriminalamt deckt Drogenhandel auf ((!)) MDR.DE|language=German|url=https://www.mdr.de/thueringen/mitte-west-thueringen/erfurt/armenische-mafia-drogenhandel-aufgedeckt-100.html|access-date=2018-11-27
))</ref> In the meantime, the BKA found that there are at least two Armenian clans in Erfurt at war with each other.<ref>((citation |surname1= FOCUS Online |periodical= FOCUS Online |title= Gewaltexzesse in Thüringen: TV-Reportage zeigt Machenschaften brutaler Mafia-Clans |language= German |url= https://www.focus.de/politik/deutschland/armenische-mafia-in-thueringen-tv-reportage-zeigt-machenschaften-brutaler-mafia-clans-in-erfurt_id_7915352.html |access-date=2018-11-27
))</ref>

On July 13, 2014, two men were badly injured when two clans got into an argument in which shots were fired in [[Erfurt]].<ref>((citation|surname1=Maik Baumgärtner, Axel Hemmerling, Ludwig Kendzia, Martin Knobbe|periodical=Spiegel Online|title=Organisierte Kriminalität in Deutschland: Mafia trifft Mafia|date=2018-11-07|language=German|url=http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/justiz/armenische-mafia-in-deutschland-kooperation-mit-der-ndrangheta-a-1237251.html|access-date=2018-11-27
))</ref> [[Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk|MDR Thüringen]] reported that after several months of investigations, the BKA arrested 31-year-old car dealer Arthur Z. and 26-year-old Karo S. on suspicion of drug trafficking, as during the raids, police discovered 35 kilograms of marijuana.<ref>((Cite web|url=https://www.mdr.de/thueringen/mitte-west-thueringen/erfurt/armenische-mafia-drogenhandel-aufgedeckt-100.html|title=Armenische Mafia in Thüringen: Landeskriminalamt deckt Drogenhandel auf ((!)) MDR.DE|last=mdr.de|website=www.mdr.de|language=de|access-date=2018-12-13))</ref>

The BKA's report on Fatil concluded that Armenian mafia really exists in Germany, possesses considerable financial resources together with other criminal groups from the former Soviet Union and poses a threat to the rule of law.<ref>((Cite news|url=http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/justiz/bundeskriminalamt-bundesweite-ermittlungen-gegen-armenische-mafia-a-1236455.html|title=Bundeskriminalamt: Ermittler fürchten "Gefährdung des Rechtsstaats" durch armenische Mafia|date=2018-11-02|work=Spiegel Online|access-date=2018-12-13))</ref>

On 7 November 2018, German MDR TV prepared to broadcast a 30-minute documentary film called "Godfather in Germany: The Armenian Mafia and Thieves-In-Law” about the existence of an Armenian mafia and its activities. A Berlin court issued an [[injunction]] against parts of this production and barred its broadcast.<ref>((Cite news|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/armenia-backs-berlin-envoy-smbatian-mafia-ties-germany/29590378.html|title=Armenia Backs Berlin Envoy Despite Reported Ties To Mafia In Germany|newspaper=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|date=9 November 2018 |language=en|access-date=2018-12-13|last1=Baumgartner |first1=Pete ))</ref>

Armenian criminal groups in Germany were particularly involved in drug trafficking, counterfeiting, gambling, and the organization of illegal migration.<ref>[https://www.spiegel.de/panorama/mafia-wie-die-armenische-mafia-in-deutschland-vorgeht-a-00000000-0002-0001-0000-000160489407 Wie die armenische Mafia in Deutschland vorgeht]</ref><ref>[https://www.thueringer-allgemeine.de/leben/blaulicht/mafia-schiesserei-in-erfurt-prominente-boxer-tauchen-in-akten-auf-id223526577.html MAFIA-SCHIESSEREI IN ERFURT: PROMINENTE BOXER TAUCHEN IN AKTEN AUF]</ref>

===France===
French Gendarmerie with on-the-field support of Europol targeted suspects across France believed to be part of an Armenian mafia group involved in large-scale poly-criminal activities, including cigarette smuggling, extortion and money laundering.<ref name=":2">((Cite web|url=https://www.europol.europa.eu/newsroom/news/french-gendarmerie-capture-key-members-of-armenian-mafia|title=French Gendarmerie capture key members of Armenian mafia|website=Europol|language=en|access-date=2019-01-19))</ref> Over 27 house searches were carried out in Rennes, Gap, St. Etienne, Nancy, Strasbourg, Haguenau, Reims, Chalon-Sur-Saône, Paris, Nantes, Limoges and Brest. As a result, 21 suspects were arrested, including an individual believed to be a high-ranking member of this mafia group. Some €23 000 in cash was seized at the premises, alongside over 2 000 packs of cigarettes, 23&nbsp;kg of raw tobacco and 6 weapons.<ref name=":2" />

In December 2018, the French police conducted an operation codenamed VORS 69-01 against a criminal syndicate operating in France and [[Belgium]], which included Armenian and [[Georgian mafia|Georgian Mafiosi]]. The syndicate was involved in burglaries, drug trafficking, and document forgery. More than 300 police officers and aircraft were involved in the operation. Among those arrested were 9 Georgian citizens, two of whom were thieves in law.<ref>[https://armenpress.am/eng/news/957759.html SWAT team, air support and 300+ officers crack down on Armenian-Georgian-Azerbaijani organized crime syndicate in France]</ref>

===Spain===
Spain's [[Civil Guard (Spain)|Civil Guard]]  arrested 15 people in an investigation into [[Match fixing in tennis|tennis match-fixing]].<ref name=":1">((Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/46822784|title=Spain arrests 15 people in tennis match-fixing investigation|date=2019-01-10|access-date=2019-01-19|language=en-GB))</ref>  Europol released information that 11 house searches had been carried out in Spain in which 167,000 euros (£151,000) in cash were seized, along with a shotgun. It added that more than 50 electronic devices, credit cards, five luxury vehicles and documentation related to the case were also seized. Forty-two bank accounts have also been frozen.((Citation needed|date=September 2023)) Europol said in a statement that "A criminal group of Armenian individuals used a professional tennis player, who acted as the link between the gang and the rest of the criminal group". Spain's Civil Guard added that "once they got the bribe, the Armenian members went to the places where the matches were being played to make sure the player went through with what they had agreed, making the most of their imposing size".<ref name=":1" />

In 2018, National Police of Spain arrested 129 people from a [[Thief in law]] Armenian criminal organization, and carried out 74 house searches. Among the criminals arrested were 7 Thieves in Law, who were involved into drug trafficking, arms trade, tobacco smuggling, money laundering, corruption in sports bookmaking, and other property crimes committed throughout Europe. The suspects have close ties with tennis, beach volleyball, basketball, and hockey players who were bribed in at least 20 sport matches. The organization also had strong ties with other criminals who live along Europe, and used several dummy companies for their money laundering purposes.<ref>((Cite web|url=https://en.crimerussia.com/criminalauthorities/operation-kus-targets-armenian-and-georgian-mafia-in-spain/|title=Operation KUS targets Armenian and Georgian 'mafia' in Spain|website=en.crimerussia.com|access-date=2019-03-17|archive-date=2018-12-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203074504/https://en.crimerussia.com/criminalauthorities/operation-kus-targets-armenian-and-georgian-mafia-in-spain/|url-status=dead))</ref>((Better source needed|date=September 2023)) According to Pedro Felicio, Chief of EUROPOL´s Economic and Property Crime, that would be "one of the biggest police hits ever to this kind of criminal organizations"<ref>((Cite web|url=https://www.europapress.es/nacional/noticia-europol-felicita-policia-mossos-detencion-siete-ladrones-ley-red-criminal-georgiana-armenia-20180705132745.html|title=Europol felicita a Policía y Mossos por la detención de siete 'ladrones en ley' de una red criminal georgiana-armenia|date=July 5, 2018|publisher=Europa Press))</ref>

===United States===
((Further|Armenian Power))

In September 1995, members of the Armenian mafia were arrested by the FBI in North Hollywood accused of racketeering, extortion and other scams.<ref name="Fuel Ring">[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-09-13-me-45464-story.html FBI Arrests 11 in Black Market Fuel Ring: North Hollywood man, self-described 'godfather' of Russian Armenian mafia, is accused of running organization] Paul Lieberman and Frank B. Williams, ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' (September 13, 1995) ((Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240416022756/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-09-13-me-45464-story.html |date=April 16, 2024 ))</ref>

==References==
((Reflist))

((Organized crime groups in Asia))
((Organized crime groups in Europe))

[[Category:Mafia]]
[[Category:Organized crime by ethnic or national origin]]
[[Category:Transnational organized crime]]
[[Category:Organized crime groups in Armenia]]
[[Category:Organised crime groups in Germany]]
[[Category:Organized crime groups in France]]
[[Category:Organized crime groups in Russia]]
[[Category:Crime in the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Organised crime groups in Spain]]
[[Category:Organized crime groups in the United States]]
[[Category:Gangs in California]]

Pages transcluded onto the current version of this page (help):

Armenian mafia (edit)
Template:About (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Ambox (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Better source needed (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Category handler (view source) (protected)
Template:Citation (view source) (protected)
Template:Citation needed (view source) (protected)
Template:Cite news (view source) (protected)
Template:Cite web (view source) (protected)
Template:Delink (view source) (protected)
Template:Find sources mainspace (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Fix (view source) (protected)
Template:Fix/category (view source) (protected)
Template:Further (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Hlist/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Template:If empty (view source) (protected)
Template:Infobox (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Infobox Criminal organization (view source) (semi-protected)
Template:Infobox criminal organization (view source) (semi-protected)
Template:Lang-hy (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Main other (view source) (protected)
Template:More citations needed (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Navbox (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Organized crime groups in Asia (view source) (semi-protected)
Template:Organized crime groups in Europe (edit)
Template:Pagetype (view source) (protected)
Template:Reflist (view source) (protected)
Template:Reflist/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Template:SDcat (view source) (protected)
Template:Short description (view source) (protected)
Template:Short description/lowercasecheck (view source) (protected)
Template:Small (view source) (protected)
Template:Smaller (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Template other (view source) (protected)
Template:Webarchive (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:About (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Arguments (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/blacklist (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/config (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/data (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/shared (view source) (protected)
Module:Check for unknown parameters (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1 (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/COinS (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Date validation (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Identifiers (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Utilities (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Whitelist (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Module:Delink (view source) (protected)
Module:Disambiguation/templates (view source) (protected)
Module:Exponential search (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Find sources (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Find sources/config (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Find sources/links (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Find sources/templates/Find sources mainspace (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Format link (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Hatnote (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Hatnote/styles.css (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Hatnote list (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:If empty (view source) (protected)
Module:Infobox (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Infobox/styles.css (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:InfoboxImage (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Labelled list hatnote (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Lang (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Lang/ISO 639 synonyms (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Lang/data (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Language/data/iana languages (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Language/data/iana regions (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Language/data/iana scripts (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Language/data/iana suppressed scripts (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Language/data/iana variants (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Message box (view source) (protected)
Module:Message box/ambox.css (view source) (protected)
Module:Message box/configuration (view source) (protected)
Module:Namespace detect/config (view source) (protected)
Module:Namespace detect/data (view source) (protected)
Module:Navbar (view source) (protected)
Module:Navbar/configuration (view source) (protected)
Module:Navbar/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Module:Navbox (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Navbox/configuration (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Navbox/styles.css (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Pagetype (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype/config (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype/disambiguation (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype/setindex (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype/softredirect (view source) (protected)
Module:SDcat (view source) (protected)
Module:String (view source) (protected)
Module:TableTools (view source) (protected)
Module:Unicode data (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Unicode data/scripts (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Unsubst (view source) (protected)
Module:Webarchive (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Webarchive/data (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Wikitext Parsing (view source) (protected)
Module:Yesno (view source) (protected)

Return to Armenian mafia.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenian_mafia"