The Black Axe: Italy Faces Chilling New Organised Crime Group More Ruthless Than The Mafia

Simon Osborne at the British newspaper the Daily Express reports on a new organized crime threat in Italy.

The Black Axe - a Nigerian criminal network that rules by fear - is involved in drug dealing, prostitution and the fraudulent transfer of money between Europe and Nigeria.

And the ruthless organisation is now working alongside the Sicilian mafia - the notorious and powerful Cosa Nostra - after striking a deal with underworld bosses in the island’s capital Palermo and buying the rights to operate in designated areas. 

Deputy prosecutor Leonardo Agueci said: "Cosa Nostra tolerates the Nigerian mafia in Palermo. Cosa Nostra allowed the Nigerians to organise a subordinate structure they were tolerated as long as they didn’t come outside their perimeter.” 

You can read the rest of the piece via the below link:

http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/734772/Black-Axe-Mafia-Cosa-Nostra-Sicily-Palermo-Italy-Nigeria-Lagos

The Seven Huge Mistakes Crime Novels And TV Shows Keep Making

Lisa Cutts, a police officer and crime novelist, explains the seven huge mistakes crime writers make to Stefan Kyriazis in the British newspaper the Daily Express.

2. Officers are threatened with removal from the investigation.

All novels need conflict to keep a reader’s interest, so senior officers shouting at everyone and threatening to take the main characters ‘off the case’ adds to the tension. 

It wouldn’t be far-fetched for a team to work on a stabbing on Monday, rape on Tuesday and a shooting on Wednesday. Being hollered at that ‘you’re off the case’ may come as a relief. 

You can read the rest of the piece via the below:

http://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/books/730958/crime-police-novels-bookstop-mistakes-plot-the-fall-luther-broadchurch

Crime Lord Hid Drugs In Frederick Forsyth Novels In Multi-Million Pound Plot

Owen Bennett at the British newspaper the Daily Express offers a piece on a criminal smuggling drugs in Frederick Forsyth's novels.

A crime lord used hollowed-out novels by Daily Express columnist Frederick Forsyth to smuggle drugs into Britain in a multi-million pound trafficking plot worthy of the thriller writer.

Mr Big”, Mohammed Imran Khan, 34, ordered his accomplices to partially cut out pages from the hardback books then store drugs inside them as part of a plan to flood the UK with "huge swathes" of heroin from Pakistan.

Police found a hollowed out copy of Forsyth's Fourth Protocol during a series of raids on properties across the North of England which were run by Khan and his gang.

It emerged some of his associates had also been involved in shipping drugs to Britain stashed in children's jackets and bars of soap.

You can read the rest of the piece via the below link:

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/437701/Crime-lord-Mr-Big-hid-drugs-in-Frederick-Forsyth-novels-in-multi-million-pound-plot 

Give Oscar To James Bond Film 'Skyfall,' Says Former James Bond Actor Timothy Dalton

Henry Fitzherbert at the British newspaper the Daily Express offers a piece on former James Bond actor Timothy Dalton, who believes the new James Bond film deserves an Oscar.

AND the Oscar goes to…James Bond. Well, if former 007 Timothy Dalton has his way then the world’s most famous secret agent will finally receive awards recognition at next year’s Academy Awards.

 

“It is absolutely time for Bond to get proper attention at the Oscars,” says Dalton, 68, who was hugely impressed with Skyfall. “On almost every level this Bond movie is right at the forefront of what cinema is capable of. It is an absolutely modern James Bond, a movie truly of its time. Daniel Craig is fantastic and it feels very real. It has also got a great story about M with a nice streak of cynicism. I thought the film was fabulous.”

 

In 50 years of Bond movies the series has received only a handful of nominations and then in only the technical and music categories, winning best sound effects for Goldfinger in 1964 and best visual effects for Thunderball in 1965.

 

No Bond movie has received any acting nominations but that could change with recognition for Dame Judi Dench, Javier Bardem who plays the villain or possibly Craig himself.  

 

You can read the rest of the piece via the below link:

 

http://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/view/367782/Give-OO7-Oscar-says-licence-to-bleed-James-Bond

 

Timothy Dalton, who in my view, ranks only behind the great Sean Connery in his portrayal as Ian Fleming's iconic character James Bond, is generous and modest. He is a gentleman.

 

You can read an earlier post on Dalton as Bond via the below link:

  

http://www.pauldavisoncrime.com/2012/12/a-q-with-john-glen-director-of-licence.html