The SOCA was created in 2006 out of the British National Crime Squad and the National Criminal Intelligence Service, among other agencies, to address the harm caused by organized crime.

In their second annual report, released Friday, officials say there were significant gains made against organized crime in 2007-2008, represented by increased seizure of drugs and criminal property, along with the development of new tools and powers to bring organized criminals to justice, the SOCA reported.

The report also cited an increase in intelligence gathering and the enlisting of specialist support from the law enforcement community across the United Kingdom.

The SOCA also listed several successful cases, including an investigation into a North London drug trafficking outfit that resulted in an estimated $7.1 million worth of drugs that were seized and $6 billion in counterfeit bonds and letters of credit. Additionally, SOCA officials arrested a number of people attempting to smuggle heroin into England, woven into carpets.

"We are attacking the world's strongest criminals where they are weakest, whether that is in Bogota or Bolton," Bill Hughes, SOCA director general, said in a statement. "We're systematically disrupting every link in the crime chain -- from finance and production to communications and distribution."

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