The Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) emerged from the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005, and was formed from the National Crime Squad, the National Criminal Intelligence Service, elements of Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and the Immigration Service (‘SOCA: is this Britain’s FBI?’, SMT, September 2005, pp18-21).
At the time, the organisation was tasked by Government ministers with adopting “a fresh approach” – one aimed at an increased understanding of organised crime and the combination of traditional law enforcement tools with new ways of working to address the harm caused by determined criminals.
The organisation has just published its second Annual Report, and Bill Hughes QPM – SOCA’s director general – is bullish about the findings. “We are attacking the world’s strongest criminals where they are weakest, whether that’s in Bogota or Bolton. We’re systematically disrupting every link in the crime chain, from finance and production through to communications and distribution.”
Hughes feels the past 12 months have exhibited “steady progress” following the “stresses and strains” of SOCA’s first year. “Work has been completed to deliver the effective merger of the non-training elements of the Assets Recovery Agency, and we’ve introduced new SOCA-wide IT systems. All of this is strengthening the position from which we can tackle organised criminality.”
Chairman Stephen Lander added: “We have continued to use the powerful arrangements provided by the UK’s proceeds of crime legislation in making progress on the recovery of criminal cash and profits. As was the case in the previous 12 months, this required additional effort to overcome the incomplete legacy of asset cases inherited at launch. We met most of the requests for assistance that came our way from the police service and other operational partners, at the same time serving an expanded use of European Arrest Warrant arrangements.”
Problems on a large scale
The problems SOCA was set up to tackle remain on a very large scale and emanate from every continent. “Our response must reflect that reality,” explained Hughes, “including the importance of the co-ordination of UK efforts and the carrying of the fight against organised crime to those locations overseas where the gangs believe they enjoy a safe base. There are no quick fixes or magic solutions to these problems, but we believe that progress against them is being made.”
Indeed it is. SOCA has enjoyed a record year in the war on drugs. Almost 90 tonnes of Class A drugs were seized in conjunction with partner agencies at home and abroad (a 20% increase on the 2006-2007 Annual Report figures). These drugs probably cost the criminals who owned them at least GB pound 250 million. With normal levels of adulteration, the cocaine alone had the potential to realise GB pound 6 billion on the streets of the UK and mainland Europe.
Over 30 tonnes of cannabis were seized and over 60 tonnes of precursor chemicals (the latter principally in Colombia and Afghanistan). The quantities interdicted in Colombia could have been used to produce 190 tonnes of cocaine. Nearly all of the heroin supply in the UK originates from Afghanistan. To disrupt this trade and support the international community’s efforts to bring security and stability to the area, SOCA has posted additional staff.
Despite an extremely difficult operating environment, tactical successes ‘in country’ included the seizure of 2,900 kg of opium and opiates, 6,500 kg and 1,300 litres of precursor chemicals and 1,100 kg of heroin. In addition, SOCA staff helped to train Afghan agencies involved in countering the drugs trade (including the Counter Narcotics Police).
In terms of targeted projects, Operation Hobart was an investigation into a North London criminal gang responsible for trafficking Class A drugs into the country. Here, SOCA worked in league with American, Colombian, European and associated UK law enforcement agencies. During the investigation, illegal drugs with an estimated street value of GB pound 3.7 million were seized, alongside $6 billion in counterfeit bonds and letters of credit with a face value of something over GB pound 3 billion. The three principals implicated were sentenced to 74 years’ imprisonment, and seven associates a total of 70 years.
Last January, SOCA received two separate reports from HMRC of illegal drug importations through airports. Three packages of carpets were found to contain 16 kg of heroin woven into them. Subsequent investigation led to the recovery of two further kilos of heroin at a UK address. Three people were then charged with importation, possession and conspiracy to supply. A further 35 kg of heroin was later discovered at another airport.
Cutting criminal cash flows
During the past year, over GB pound 46 million of criminal assets have been restrained by the domestic Courts. All SOCA operations now include financial investigations. To this end, an additional 35 financial investigators were appointed during the year.
In Operation Ajowan, SOCA investigated UK-based criminals trading worldwide in stolen bank, credit card and identity information on the Internet. The criminals were arrested, prosecuted and convicted. Potential loss to the UK from the actions of just one of the convicted conspirators was assessed at over GB pound 6 million.
SOCA deployed some new tools and powers in this area, too. 41 Financial Reporting Orders were in force during the year on convicted criminals’ finances – including the recent first prosecution for a contravention. 53 Disclosure Notices were issued requiring individuals to co-operate with investigations by producing documents or answering tough questions.
On top of that, ten Ancillary Orders (including travel restrictions and director disqualifications) were drafted and issued, while SOCA also instigated 12 cases of additional licence conditions to reduce re-offending by serious criminals – including non-association with co-defendants and exclusion zones.
New methods, positive results
SOCA has also had positive results from implementing new methods. 46 warnings on crime threats were issued to over 2,500 private sector organisations throughout the UK. One bank reported an estimated loss of GB pound 500,000 being prevented as a result of a single alert.
Improved intelligence has also shown its true worth. In all, 2,000 serious organised criminals have been subjected to SOCA operational activity across the past year. Indeed, a recent mapping project carried out with the police service has identified thousands more criminals who’ll be targeted in future joint operations.
SOCA has also enjoyed success in the fight against trafficking – and the subsequent distribution – of firearms, particularly from Lithuania. One joint operation between SOCA and Lithuanian law enforcement agents gave rise to operations resulting in ten arrests, the recovery of 22 handguns, six machine pistols, 20 silencers and over 1,000 rounds of ammunition. Operations worldwide in which SOCA played its part have seized over 400 illicit firearms and more than 23,000 ammunition rounds.
In addition, specialist operational support to police services contributed to the effective handling of 14 threats to life and the successful resolution of 22 kidnaps. In excess of GB pound 1 million in counterfeit notes have been recovered and, for the first time since 2000, an illicit mint was closed down thanks to a joint operation with the Metropolitan Police Service.
The principal subject of the investigation was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for the production of fake GB pound 1 coins with an estimated total value of GB pound 14 million.
Impact on organised crime
The scale of organised crime now affecting the UK is such that it would never be practicable to put all the individuals involved before the Courts, not least because a significant number of those who damage this country never enter it and, therefore, don’t bring themselves within the jurisdiction of our laws.
In essence, SOCA aims to not only concentrate its domestic criminal justice casework on quality targets where success can have the most benefit, but also to use its resources, skills and capabilities for supporting domestic law enforcement and international partners so as to maximise the impact on organised crime as it affects the nation.
SOCA has continued to look for ways of disrupting criminal conspiracies not dependent on criminal justice outcomes. Of course, Parliament has now passed the Serious Crime Act 2007 which provides for the introduction of Serious Crime Prevention Orders. All being equal, this Act should prove to be invaluable.
Copies of the Serious Organised Crime Agency Annual Report 2007-2008 may be downloaded from www.soca.gov.uk
