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Criminology
Table of Contents
Unit 9 Overview: Organized Crime and Gangs
9.1 Structure and Operations of Organized Crime Groups
9.2 Gang Formation, Membership, and Activities
9.3 Transnational Organized Crime

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9.3 Transnational Organized Crime

Citation:

Transnational organized crime spans borders, exploiting legal gaps and weak enforcement. These criminal groups form global networks, engaging in activities like drug trafficking and cybercrime. They use advanced tech and form alliances, adapting to stay ahead of law enforcement.

Combating transnational crime is tough due to jurisdictional issues and limited resources. It threatens global security, harms economies, and erodes public trust. International cooperation, including treaties and joint operations, is key to fighting these criminal networks effectively.

Understanding Transnational Organized Crime

Transnational organized crime definition

  • Planned, coordinated, and executed criminal activities across national borders
  • Involves multiple countries and jurisdictions (United States, Mexico, Colombia)
  • Exploits differences in legal systems and law enforcement capabilities
  • Structured and hierarchical criminal organizations with clear power structures
  • Primarily motivated by financial gain through illegal means
  • Employs violence, corruption, and intimidation to achieve criminal objectives
  • Exploits legitimate businesses and financial systems for money laundering (shell companies, offshore accounts)
  • Adapts and remains resilient despite law enforcement efforts to disrupt operations

Global networks of crime groups

  • Operates through complex global networks spanning multiple continents
  • Utilizes advanced communication technologies (encrypted messaging) and transportation systems (shipping containers)
  • Exploits weaknesses in border controls and gaps in law enforcement cooperation
  • Engages in various criminal activities:
    • Drug trafficking (cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine)
    • Human trafficking and smuggling (forced labor, sexual exploitation)
    • Arms trafficking (small arms, light weapons)
    • Cybercrime (identity theft, online fraud) and intellectual property theft (counterfeit goods)
    • Counterfeiting (currency, documents) and smuggling of goods (cigarettes, wildlife)
  • Forms alliances and partnerships with other criminal organizations, terrorist groups, and corrupt officials
  • Collaborates in cross-border criminal activities and money laundering schemes

Challenges and Impact of Transnational Organized Crime

Challenges of cross-border crime fighting

  • Jurisdictional issues and lack of comprehensive international legal frameworks
    • Varying definitions of crimes and legal procedures across countries
    • Difficulties in gathering admissible evidence and prosecuting criminals across borders
  • Limited resources and capabilities of law enforcement agencies
    • Inadequate training, equipment (surveillance technology), and technology to combat sophisticated TOC operations
    • Insufficient information sharing and intelligence exchange between countries
  • Corruption and political instability in some regions
    • TOC groups exploit weak governance structures and corrupt officials (bribery, influence peddling) to operate with impunity
    • Unstable political environments hinder consistent and effective law enforcement efforts

Impact on global security and economies

  • Threatens national and international security
    • Destabilizes governments and undermines the rule of law
    • Links between TOC groups and terrorist organizations (arms smuggling, financing) pose significant security risks
  • Imposes substantial economic and social costs
    • Undermines legitimate businesses and distorts fair market competition
    • Diverts resources away from productive economic activities and development
    • Contributes to social problems (drug addiction, human rights abuses, gang violence)
  • Erodes public trust and confidence in institutions
    • Undermines the credibility and legitimacy of governments and law enforcement
    • Fuels corruption and weakens the social fabric of affected communities

Combating Transnational Organized Crime

International cooperation against organized crime

  • Multilateral agreements and conventions provide frameworks for cooperation
    1. United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC)
    2. Other international treaties targeting specific TOC activities (drug trafficking, human trafficking)
  • Regional and bilateral cooperation strengthens cross-border law enforcement
    • Establishment of regional law enforcement networks (Europol, Interpol) and task forces
    • Bilateral agreements on extradition, mutual legal assistance, and information sharing
  • Capacity building and technical assistance programs enhance capabilities
    • Initiatives to strengthen law enforcement agencies in developing countries
    • Training programs and technology transfers to combat TOC effectively (intelligence analysis, forensic techniques)
  • Public-private partnerships leverage collective resources and expertise
    • Collaboration between governments, private sector (financial institutions), and civil society organizations
    • Joint efforts to raise awareness, share intelligence, and disrupt TOC networks

Key Terms to Review (19)

Critical criminology: Critical criminology is an approach that examines crime through a lens of social inequality and power dynamics, focusing on how societal structures and institutions contribute to criminal behavior and the criminal justice system. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the context in which crime occurs, including issues of race, class, gender, and global influences, thereby revealing the broader social and political forces at play.
Moises Naim: Moises Naim is a prominent author, scholar, and former Venezuelan minister known for his analysis of globalization and its effects on power dynamics in the modern world. His work explores how traditional structures of power are being challenged by transnational organized crime, as well as the impact of global networks on governance and social issues. Naim's insights help to understand the complexities of organized crime in a globalized context, particularly how these criminal organizations operate across borders and influence various aspects of society.
Racketeering: Racketeering refers to the act of engaging in organized illegal activity, typically involving extortion, fraud, or coercion to achieve financial gain. This term is often associated with organized crime groups that operate on a large scale, employing various schemes to generate profit, which can have significant impacts on both local and transnational levels.
Case Studies: Case studies are in-depth investigations of a particular individual, group, event, or situation that provide a detailed understanding of complex issues in real-world contexts. They are essential for illustrating theoretical concepts and examining how different factors interact in various situations, particularly in fields like criminology where the behavior of individuals or groups can be heavily influenced by their environment, culture, and systemic factors.
Structural Functionalism: Structural functionalism is a sociological perspective that views society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote stability and social order. It emphasizes the functions of different social structures and institutions, suggesting that each part of society serves a purpose in maintaining the whole. This perspective is useful in analyzing how social phenomena, such as crime and domestic violence, can be understood in terms of their role in the broader societal framework.
Routine Activities Theory: Routine activities theory is a criminological theory that posits that crime occurs when three key elements converge: a motivated offender, a suitable target, and the absence of capable guardianship. This theory emphasizes how everyday activities and social routines create opportunities for crime, connecting individual behaviors and lifestyle choices to crime rates.
Violence against civilians: Violence against civilians refers to acts of aggression that are intentionally directed at non-combatant individuals, resulting in harm or death. This type of violence can manifest in various forms, including physical attacks, psychological harm, or threats, often employed by criminal organizations as a means to exert control, intimidate populations, or achieve specific goals. It is a significant concern within the framework of organized crime as it disrupts social order and safety.
Criminal Networks: Criminal networks are organized groups of individuals who collaborate to engage in illegal activities across various locations. These networks often operate transnationally, leveraging connections and resources to facilitate crime such as drug trafficking, human smuggling, and arms dealing. Their structure can be highly adaptable, often changing roles and operations to avoid law enforcement detection, making them particularly challenging to dismantle.
Globalization Theory: Globalization theory refers to the study of the processes by which businesses or other organizations develop international influence or operate on an international scale. It emphasizes how cultural, political, and economic systems are interconnected across national borders, impacting societies worldwide. This theory is particularly relevant in understanding how transnational organized crime operates, as it highlights the movement of people, goods, and ideas across borders, often facilitating illegal activities that exploit these global connections.
Corruption: Corruption refers to the abuse of power or position for personal gain, often involving bribery, fraud, or other unethical practices. It undermines public trust and can significantly disrupt the functioning of institutions, particularly in organized crime settings where illegal activities are normalized. In many cases, corruption is integral to the operations of organized crime groups, enabling them to thrive across borders and evade law enforcement.
Criminalization: Criminalization is the process through which behaviors, actions, or practices are defined as criminal by law, making them punishable offenses. This often involves societal attitudes, legal frameworks, and political considerations that shape what is considered acceptable behavior. Criminalization can significantly impact social norms, public safety, and community dynamics, particularly when examining issues like organized crime and gang activity.
Cross-border crime: Cross-border crime refers to illegal activities that transcend national borders, involving individuals or groups who operate in multiple countries. This type of crime often includes trafficking of drugs, weapons, and humans, as well as money laundering and cybercrime. The complexity of cross-border crime arises from differences in laws, enforcement capabilities, and cultural practices between countries, making it a significant issue for international law enforcement agencies.
Globalization: Globalization is the process of increased interconnectedness and interdependence among countries, driven by advancements in trade, technology, and communication. This phenomenon enables goods, services, information, and culture to flow more freely across borders, shaping economies and societies worldwide. Its impact is profound, influencing various domains such as crime, politics, and culture while creating new challenges and opportunities for governance and regulation.
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime: The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is a global leader in combating drugs, crime, and terrorism, working to support member states in their efforts to maintain peace, security, and justice. It plays a crucial role in addressing transnational organized crime by providing research, technical assistance, and capacity-building programs. The UNODC also promotes international cooperation and the development of comprehensive strategies to tackle various forms of crime, including drug trafficking and human trafficking.
Money laundering: Money laundering is the process of making illegally obtained money appear legitimate by concealing its original source. This practice often involves a series of transactions that obscure the money's origins, allowing criminals to benefit from their illicit gains without raising suspicion. It plays a crucial role in various criminal enterprises, as it allows organized crime groups to integrate their profits into the legal economy while also enabling white-collar criminals to disguise their fraudulent activities.
Cybercrime: Cybercrime refers to illegal activities that are carried out using computers or the internet, often involving theft, fraud, or the disruption of digital systems. This type of crime has evolved significantly with the advancement of technology, and its impact can be seen in various contexts, including global criminal networks and the historical development of law enforcement practices. The scope of cybercrime is vast, affecting individuals, businesses, and governments, and it often transcends national borders, making it a critical issue in modern criminology.
Drug trafficking: Drug trafficking refers to the illegal trade of controlled substances, including the production, distribution, and sale of drugs. This term encompasses a wide range of activities that involve the transportation and exchange of narcotics, often conducted by organized crime groups that operate across national borders. Drug trafficking is a significant aspect of transnational organized crime, affecting global security, public health, and economies while also influencing law enforcement strategies worldwide.
Transnational Organized Crime: Transnational organized crime refers to illegal activities that are conducted across national borders by criminal organizations. These groups often engage in a variety of illicit enterprises, such as drug trafficking, human trafficking, arms smuggling, and money laundering, making them a significant threat to global security and stability. The complexity of these operations is heightened by globalization, technology, and international collaboration among law enforcement agencies, which complicate efforts to combat them.
Surveys: Surveys are systematic methods of data collection used to gather information from individuals, often through questionnaires or interviews. They play a crucial role in understanding crime patterns, societal attitudes, and behaviors, making them essential tools for researchers in various criminological fields.