Black Cobra (gang)
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| Founded | 2000 |
|---|---|
| Founding location | Roskilde, Denmark |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Territory | Denmark and Sweden |
| Ethnicity | Iranians, Palestinians, Turks, ethnic Danes, Egyptians,[1] Serbs, Bosniaks,[2] Iraqis and Lebanese[3] |
| Membership (est.) | Over 100 |
| Criminal activities | Drug trafficking, extortion, racketeering, vehicle theft and murder |
| Allies | Black Army Black Scorpions M16 Black Ghost Black Spider Black Jackets |
| Rivals | AK81 X-Team Bandidos Chicanos Hells Angels |
Black Cobra is one of the largest immigrant street gangs in Denmark and is represented in most major Danish cities, with approximately 100 members.[4] The gang is also active in Sweden, having established itself in the Malmö district Rosengård[5] and the Stockholm suburbs of Tensta, Rissne and Rinkeby.[6][7][8] The Black Cobra gang also control a youth gang called the Black Scorpions.[9] Their criminal activity involves drug trafficking, robbery, theft, racketeering, extortion and murder.[10] The police describe Black Cobra as a loose network composed of strong leadership figures.[11] Black Cobra members wear black and white shirts with an emblem on the back of a cobra in attack position. The shirts also have Black Cobra written on them, above the emblem in Old English-style writing.
The Black Cobra gang has been considered one of the largest criminal gangs in Denmark since 2000,[citation needed] and their gang members are commonly identified as being immigrants from Turkey, Palestine, Iraq and Albania.[12] The Black Cobra Gang currently operate in all Danish cities along with parts of Norway, and in 2009, the gang entered into locations of Sweden, specifically the suburbs Tensta and Rinkeby in Stockholm.[13] The Black Cobra gang has been distinguished as an organised criminal gang rather than a criminal youth group, as the European Forum for Urban Security defines a gang to be a 'durable, street oriented youth group whose involvement in illegal activity is part of its group identity.[14]
The Black Cobra gang identify themselves by wearing a black and white shirt with a cobra snake emblem on the front, and they hold ties to a Youth Gang called The Black Scorpions.[citation needed] The Black Cobra gang follow certain rules and conducts on their actions, and have a system of delegated leadership power, if gang members do not comply with their rules, they risk facing membership expulsion, or a fine.[13] Various factors have been found to contribute towards a member's decision to join the gang, such as socio-economic, schooling, family circumstances and immigration.[14] It has been studied that reasons to join a gang are connected to societal marginalisation and exclusion, and often linked to anti-immigration sentiments.[15] One argument on the cause for an individual joining a gang, is that it is believed that individuals of immigration background face negative scrutiny from society.[15] The Black Cobra gang's recruitment process originally involved public advertising to young males. Within this process, higher ranking gang members would explain reasons as to why new members should join. This public approach concluded after police involvement.[13] A new recruitment strategy was adopted in 2010, which involved new members joining via reference from a current gang member.,[16] or recruited through close-knit relationships such as family members, or members of an extended social circle.[17]
Notable criminal activity
The Black Cobra gang identifies with illegal activity including crimes of drug dealing, violence, burglaries, racketeering and manslaughter.[12] In 2010, it was found that there was an increase in crime of 40% from immigrant youths after they joined a gang.[18] It has been found that gang members are substantially involved in illicit drug sales, as cannabis sales contribute highly to revenue generated by Denmark gangs.[18] Drug use within the gang is largely prevalent as a result of low incomes.[13] The Black Cobra gang's street culture is characterised by violence, drug dealing, and conflict with other gangs, as drug dealing provides the material base for their lifestyle, along with creating a more formally organised operation.[18] The conflict between gangs creates violence. This conflict occurs due to territorial disputes.[17] In 2007, Danish and international analysts saw a rise in gang warfare between traditional Danish gangs such as the Hells Angels, and the new immigrant gang Black Cobra.[19] The gangs fought largely over control of the drug, prostitution, and human trafficking trades.[19] According to Canadian reporter Rachel Mendleson, approximately 60 people had died over this gang warfare in Denmark in 2007, and that 1,500 members were involved in gang activities by 2008.[19] In 2013, Sky News reported that Denmark police had arrested 32 bikers and gang members suspected of murder and assault. This was conducted in a massive crackdown on organised crime, as Copenhagen had seen a series of drive by shootings and stabbings throughout 2013. These crimes were suspected by police to be conducted by the Black Cobra gang, Hells Angels and Bandidos biker groups over control in the drug market around the area.[20]
In March 2009, members of the Black Cobra were arrested in Malmö for extorting a company for protection money and trafficking illegal drugs.[21] The Black Cobra gang stole 120 boxes of almond tarts, punch rolls, apple crowns and brownies from a delivery truck in southern Sweden in March 2010.[22]
