Soviet fur mafia explained

The Soviet fur mafia was a major organized crime uncovered in the Soviet Union in 1970s as a result of Operation 'Cartel' by KGB. It was operating around several "underground" furrier factories in Kazakh SSR. The case ended in prosecution of some 500 people, with 3 top tsekhoviks (owners of illegal factories) receiving death sentence.^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]}

In the Soviet Union fur trade was a major source of hard currency.

The case started in 1972 by an accident when during an investigation of a robbery in Moscow when several fur coats were uncovered without proper manufacturer's tags.^{[2] [5]}

See also

• Uzbek cotton scandal, another major Soviet corruption case
• Soviet fish mafia
• Corruption in the Soviet Union

Notes and References

1. Martin Mccauley, The Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union,, 2014, pp. 374-375
2. Андрей Колесник, Бандитский СССР. Самые яркие уголовные дела,, https://books.google.com/books?id=OY_JAAAAQBAJ&pg=PT28
3. Фархат КИНЖИТАЕВ, "Взгляд через годы" Industrialnaya Karaganda, 18-06-2013
4. Станислав Малоземов, Елена Малоземова, "Охота на пушного зверя", Novoe Pokolenie (НОВОЕ ПОКОЛЕНИЕ), Kazakhstan
5. Эрик АУБАКИРОВ, "Как Караганда рассорила КГБ и МВД" Express K (Экспресс К), № 94 (17933) от May 31, 2014