Modern Marriage of Convenience - A Collaboration Between Organized Crime and US Intelligence (From Organized Crime, P 58-77, 1986, Robert J Kelly, ed. - See NCJ-101273)

• NCJ Number: 101276
• Author(s): A A Block
• Date Published: 1986
• Length: 20 pages
• Sale Source: Rowman and Allanheld Publishers
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This chapter traces the history of the relationship between organized crime and the American espionage community, a link based in the mutuality of antileft interests characteristic of the intelligence services and segments of organized crime.

Abstract

In 1942, the Office of Naval Intelligence devised a plan to use waterfront racketeers associated with the International Longshoremen's Association to counter enemy saboteurs. The racketeers were information sources and also liaisons for placing government agents as dock employees. Although the operation purported to be directed at Axis agents, the head of the intelligence unit, Commander Haffenden, had a strong anti-left sentiment which was manifested in collaboration with New York waterfront racketeers to undermine the labor influence of Harry Bridges, a known communist sympathizer. Other activities through the racketeer-Naval intelligence link were poorly documented. Claims that the Italian-American racketeers supplied valuable information for the allied invasion of Sicily are unlikely. This period of history suggests that organized crime researchers should be sensitive to links between intelligence agencies and organized crime figures when such an alliance serves the interests of each party. 18 references.