Paramilitaries still involved in organised crime, says report
A British parliamentary committee has said continued paramilitary involvement in organised crime is threatening political progress in the North.
In a report out today, the House of Commons committee says organised crime in the North has a unique dimension because of the involvement of paramilitaries.
It includes references to excise and tax fraud, cigarette smuggling, counterfeiting, extortion, drugs, armed robbery, money-laundering and illegal dumping.
The committee says such crimes deter new businesses and damage the fuel and building industries.
Today's report says cross-border co-operation is vital to tackling the problem, as is Sinn Féin support for the PSNI.
It also calls for tighter licensing rules for taxi firms, road haulage, private security companies and petrol retailers, as well as the regulation of charities and the imposition of longer prison sentences.
