Shrnutí:
Organized crime is serious criminal activity carried out by groups with a specific structure, defined roles, and long-term goals. In the Czech Republic, it mainly manifests in the areas of drug trafficking, tax fraud, money laundering, corruption, human trafficking, illegal migration, and counterfeiting. The Criminal Code provides for stricter penalties for offenders acting on behalf of an organized criminal group. The fight against organized crime is coordinated by the Ministry of the Interior, and in practice, it is carried out by specialized units of the Czech Police. One of these is the NCOZ, or National Center Against Organized Crime, which has nationwide jurisdiction over the most serious forms of organized, financial, and economic crime.
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There is no single definition of organized crime. The Czech Police define it as a type of group criminal activity committed by an organized criminal group or a criminal organization. These groups and organizations typically have a multi-tiered vertical organizational structure and are characterized by the systematiccommission of coordinated serious criminal offenses.
The Criminal Code provides a definition of an organized criminal group. It is defined as an association of at least three criminally liable individuals with an internal organizational structure, a division of roles, and a division of labor, focused on the systematic commission of intentional criminal acts.
Tip: Be sure to also read our more detailed article on organized crime, its history, types, and structure.
Organized crime is characterized by collective involvement, in which individuals organize themselves into groups with clearly defined roles and responsibilities. These groups operate according to a rigid hierarchy that determines the structure from leaders down to lower-ranking members. The main goal of these organizations is to achieve economic or political benefits. Groups often specialize in various illegal activities such as drug trafficking, arms trafficking, or money laundering.
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Persistence and systematic organization are other defining characteristics of organized crime, with groups carrying out their activities according to long-term strategies. They often use corruption and infiltration of government institutions to protect their operations. Organized crime also has an international dimension, crossing national borders and engaging in global criminal activities. To achieve their goals, these groups use violence, intimidation, and extortion to control their competitors and silence witnesses.
Regulations concerning organized crime are found primarily in the Criminal Code. It defines the concept of a perpetrator of a crime committed for the benefit of an organized criminal group. This refers to a person who has committed an intentional crime as a member of an organized criminal group, or one who has committed such a crime knowingly in collaboration with a member of an organized criminal group or with the intent to assist an organized criminal group.
Stricter penalties apply to these offenders. Specifically, the upper limit of the prison sentence is increased by one-third, and the sentence is imposed within the upper half of the sentencing range, except in cases of extraordinary sentence reduction (e.g., for an informant).
A charge of committing a crime for the benefit of an organized criminal group can significantly increase the potential sentence. If you face such a charge, do not wait until the trial. An attorney can help you assess the evidence, clarify your actual role, and propose a defense strategy.
Tip: Read about what constitutes a crime and how crimes are classified.
Organized crime experienced a boom in the Czech Republic, particularly during the turbulent 1990s. This was due to the opening of the borders, which turned the Czech Republic into a transit country for the smuggling of weapons, drugs, and people. However, organized crime also existed in the country during the socialist era, in the form of foreign currency exchange and the distribution of scarce goods and goods smuggled in from the West.
A classic example from the Czech Republic is the Berdych gang, which was active from roughly 1995 to 2004. The Berdych gang was a large criminal organization that focused on robberies, kidnappings, extortion, and even murders.
What made this case exceptional was the fact that the gang collaborated with members of the Czech Police—specifically, high-ranking detectives who were supposed to be fighting organized crime. They covered up the criminal activity and, in return, received substantial shares of the profits.
We have also encountered a case of organized crime in our practice. It involved a criminal group engaged in the cultivation and distribution of marijuana. The police took a hard line in this case , and even the gardener—who merely watered the cannabis plants—was convicted as a member of the organized group.
According to the Czech Police, the most common forms of organized crime today are those focused on:
It is important to note that a large portion of the organized criminal groups operating in our country were not and are not of Czech origin. Most are foreigners or transnational groups. For example, Russian, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese gangs are active here.
Organized crime has changed significantly in recent years. It is no longer just about strictly hierarchical gangs, but also about specialized groups that provide “services” to one another—such as money laundering, forged documents, cyberattacks, or the transfer of proceeds from criminal activity. The NCOZ’s 2025 Annual Report identifies the “Crime-as-a-Service” model as a significant trend.
In practice, this means that perpetrators can operate across national borders, using encrypted communications, cryptocurrencies, shell companies, or front men. For the layperson, it can be very difficult to recognize that they have become part of a larger fraud or that they are communicating with someone connected to an organized crime group.
Tip: What counts as illegal and legal drugs, and how are they regulated under Czech law? You’ll find out in the next article.
The Ministry of the Interior leads the fight against organized crime— it coordinates national policy on combating organized crime and cooperates with other countries and international organizations. These include, for example, the European Union and the OECD. It also regularly publishes strategies for combating organized crime. These are strategic documents that analyze the current situation and propose measures to improve the effectiveness of the fight against organized crime.
At the operational level, the Czech Police and specialized units such as the National Organized Crime Directorate play a key role. Like the Ministry of the Interior, the Police also cooperates with international organizations such as Europol and Interpol. Let’s take a closer look at the main specialized units of the Czech Police that deal with organized crime, as well as other supporting organizations:
Read about how the Whistleblower Protection Act protects you if your employer engages in illegal activities.
The full name of the National Headquarters Against Organized Crime of the Criminal Police and Investigation Service (NCOZ SKPV) is an executive unit of the criminal police. It was established in 2016 through the merger of two units with nationwide jurisdiction—the SKPV Unit for the Detection of Organized Crime and the SKPV Unit for the Detection of Corruption and Financial Crime. The NCOZ operates through three sections:
The National Anti-Drug Headquarters is responsible for investigating criminal activity related to the production, distribution, and trafficking of drugs and poisons. It focuses primarily on organized crime, which is the main problem in this area. In addition, it also focuses on public education and prevention.
ACooperating Defendant: How Does Cooperation Work, and When Is It Worth It? You’ll find out in the next article.
Organized crime is a serious form of group criminal activity in which perpetrators typically act over the long term, in a coordinated manner, and with defined roles. The Czech Criminal Code imposes stricter penalties for such conduct, particularly when the perpetrator acts as a member of an organized crime group or knowingly assists it. In the Czech Republic, the Czech Police, the Ministry of the Interior, and specialized units play an important role in the fight against organized crime. Of particular importance is the NCOZ, or National Center Against Organized Crime, which operates nationwide and addresses organized crime, financial crime, serious economic crime, and corruption. If you are involved in such a case—whether as a victim, a witness, or a defendant—it is advisable to consult with an attorney as soon as possible to determine the next steps.
The NCOZ is the National Center Against Organized Crime of the Criminal Police and Investigation Service. It is a specialized, nationwide unit of the Czech Police.
The NCOZ operates throughout the Czech Republic. It focuses primarily on organized crime, financial crime, serious economic crime, and corruption.
Typically, this applies to serious or organized criminal activity on a larger scale, such as corruption, money laundering, tax fraud, human trafficking, or the activities of organized groups.
In practice, a criminal complaint can be filed with the Czech Police or the public prosecutor’s office. Which agency will handle the case depends on the nature and severity of the case.
Don’t underestimate this. Even as a witness, you may be called upon to testify about a matter that has serious legal implications. If you are a suspect or defendant, contact an attorney before the interrogation.
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Ondřej is the attorney who came up with the idea of providing legal services online. He's been earning his living through legal services for more than 15 years. He especially likes to help clients who may have given up hope in solving their legal issues at work, for example with real estate transfers or copyright licenses.
Ondřej is the attorney who came up with the idea of providing legal services online. He's been earning his living through legal services for more than 15 years. He especially likes to help clients who may have given up hope in solving their legal issues at work, for example with real estate transfers or copyright licenses.
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