The Mafia goes green

The Mafia is cashing in on the eco-friendly trends. Trash disposal, wind farms and other government-subsidized alternative energy companies, and carbon-tax initiatives are some of the scams they pursue.

Crime syndicates tend to squeeze out legitimate businesses by operating initially at a loss to corner the market. Also, Europol fears the groups will use their green acquisitions to launder illicit proceeds from other criminal enterprises like drug trafficking, counterfeiting of products and extortion. That would allow the groups to move further into the mainstream financial system, giving them more room to grow, and more avenues to evade the law.