Turkey - The Mafia: Godfathers and Bloodbrothers

Closely linked to both of the above, the Turkish mafia is the second biggest in the world, after the Italian mafia. They are instrumental in handling the drugs that flow from East to West and anything else they can get their paws on. They are also-in many cases-friendly with top Turkish politicians, that's when the politicos aren't actual mafia members.

Take for example the case of Alaatin Cakici. Once one of Interpol's most-wanted men, he is currently in prison in France. Prior to Turkey's April elections he was fighting a tough battle not to be extradited back to Turkey. After the elections he begged to be sent back to Turkey.

Make any sense? Only once you realize that the government had changed and the new kids on the block were also his best mates.

In September 1999, six mafia members serving a bit of time in Bayrampasa prison in Istanbul, shot their way through to another part of the prison and killed six members of a rival mafia.

The killings revolved around control of the annual prison turnover. Yes, prisons have what DP likes to call the Gross Prison Product (GPP). In the case of Bayrampasa, it is estimated at 500 trillion Turkish Lira a year! If you want to know the dollars, then divide by 470,000, which is the exchange rate.

For creature comforts, the pricelist for prison furniture-in case you're ever there-is the following: (all prices subject to 70 percent inflation and local corruption. Catalogues available upon request from the right guard) .

¥ One mobile telephone: 500 million

¥ One cup of hash: 30 million

¥ One gram of cocaine: 300 million

¥ One weapon: 10,000 DM (type unspecified-for clarification please to refer to warders)

¥ One fridge or TV: US$20,000