Global Organized Crime: How the Winter Hill Gang Goes Global

James H. Mittelman, author of Global Organized Crime, discusses the transformation of organized crime since the 1970s. It is a fact that the world is becoming increasingly more global. As we have stepped onto the threshold of globalization, we have also come to see ourselves be swept up into the technological era. Technology has given way to new "forms of illegality such as computer crimes, money laundering, stealing nuclear materials and sophisticated fraud" (235). These new branches of crime have played a major role in the success of gangs worldwide--even the Winter Hill Gang. While the Winter Hill Gang is primarily operated locally in South Boston, MA, the gang still plays a role in the world at large. Whether it was funding and arming efforts of the terrorist group the IRA in Ireland or working with loan sharks to fix bookmaking operations, Whitey and the Winter Hill Gang used globalization to their advantage in many ways. When the world entered the technology age, it became more connected therefore enabling a new age of criminal activity. While we relish the idea of being connected to nations across the globe and having the ability to contact someone, no matter their location, within a very short period of time, we must be conscious of the negative aspects of our global world. Technology has allowed crime organizations to mobilize and terrorize at a moments notice.