Arifs (gang)

The Arifs are a South East London-based Turkish Cypriot criminal organization heavily involved in armed robbery, contract killing, drug trafficking and other racketeering-related activities within London's underworld since the late 1960s. Following the downfall of the Kray brothers, the Arifs were one of several criminal organizations who took control of the London underworld including the Clerkenwell crime syndicate and the Brindle family[1] with whom they were engaged in a highly publicized gangland war during the 1990s.

The Arifs themselves were considered the leading crime family in the London area throughout the late 1980s before the arrest and conviction of most of its leadership, including most of the Arif family members, for armed robbery and drug-related offences in early 1990s.[2] In 2004, the Irish Daily Mirror called the Arifs "Britain's No 1 crime family."[3]

History

Led by brothers Dennis, Mehmet, and Dogan, Arif, the organization has been involved in a decade-long gang war between the Dailey and Brindle gangs which has resulted in eight deaths since 1990.

In November 1990, Dennis and Mehmet, wearing Ronald Reagan masks and wielding shotguns, were arrested in Woodhatch (Reigate, Surrey) as they attempted to rob a Securicor van. Mehmet Arif, who was driving a pick-up used in the robbery, was shot by police, but survived. His passenger, Kenneth Baker, was armed with a sawn-off shotgun, and was shot dead as he attempted to open fire on officers. In September 2000 "[4]

Bekir Arif, 52, known as "The Duke", one of seven brothers in the family was convicted of conspiracy to supply 100 kg of heroin worth GBP 12.5 million in 1999 and given a 23 year term of imprisonment. Dogan Arif, also jailed for drug smuggling, is said to be controlling the family fortune from prison.[4] Their family is said to maintain ties with relations in Turkey who oversee shipments arriving in mainland Europe.

The Arif brothers are now a common and feared name in the streets of London as they have been suppliers to many of London's street gangs, some of which include SUK, COK and PDC.

Further reading

References

  1. ^ "Focus: Britain's Top 10 Crimes". The Independent. 2004-04-18. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4159/is_20040418/ai_n12754204. 
  2. ^ Steele, John (1997-03-25). "Bloody vendetta that brought eight deaths to streets of London". The Daily Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/htmlContent.jhtml?html=/archive/1997/03/25/nboyl125.html. 
  3. ^ "Comment: Drugs Only Deal Death and Misery," Irish Daily Mirror, April 7, 2004 (LexisNexis).
  4. ^ a b William Donaldson, Brewer's Rogues, Villains and Eccentrics: An A-Z of Roguish Britons Through the Ages.