Threat of Transnational Organized Crime

CHAPTER 31: TRANSNATIONAL ORGANIZED CHAPTER 31: TRANSNATIONAL ORGANIZED CRIME CRIME Transnational organized crime has emerged as a threat to national and international security. This form of crime is closely linked to globalization and state weakness. Transnational organized crime is not new but has grown significantly, and is likely to continue to grow. A range of measures and responses have been put in place to address the threat posed by transnational criminal organizations (TCOs). Security Studies: An Introduction. 4th Edition. Paul D. Williams and Matt McDonald. Routledge 2023. Paperback ISBN - 9781032162737 Information Classification: General

TRANSNATIONAL ORGANIZED CRIME: A TRANSNATIONAL ORGANIZED CRIME: A SECURITY THREAT? SECURITY THREAT? Transnational organized crime constitutes an immediate threat to individuals and public safety. This is particularly evident in the context of violence related to drug-trafficking in Latin America. Organized crime is more prominent in the context of weak or fragile states, which can enable criminal organizations to act with impunity. Transnational organized crime can also pose a threat to regional stability and global norms. Arms trafficking can undermine efforts at conflict resolution, for example. Transnational Criminal Organizations also undermine international stability by challenging efforts to establish and maintain norms and regimes. Security Studies: An Introduction. 4th Edition. Paul D. Williams and Matt McDonald. Routledge 2023. Paperback ISBN - 9781032162737 Information Classification: General

WHAT IS TRANSNATIONAL ORGANIZED WHAT IS TRANSNATIONAL ORGANIZED CRIME? CRIME? Transnational Organized Crime can be approached in a range of ways, focusing on: The actor: this approach focuses on the groups of people who make up transnational criminal organizations; The action: this approach focuses on the particular types of crime committed; The context of operation: this approach focuses on the scope of activities and the role (and function) of a particular market. Transnational organized crime ultimately refers to criminal organizations or activities that cross national borders. The commodities crossing borders are stolen, counterfeit, regulated or prohibited. Security Studies: An Introduction. 4th Edition. Paul D. Williams and Matt McDonald. Routledge 2023. Paperback ISBN - 9781032162737 Information Classification: General

GLOBALIZATION, GOVERNANCE AND THE RISE OF GLOBALIZATION, GOVERNANCE AND THE RISE OF ORGANIZED CRIME ORGANIZED CRIME Globalization has a dark underside and has facilitated the rise of transnational crime. How? Criminal organizations have exploited new opportunities for communication and movement. Enabling recruitment, especially in states that have become globalization losers. States have also contributed to the rise of transnational organized crime. How? States that are weak, autocratic or authoritarian provide breeding grounds for crime. State regulation, taxation and control create incentives for criminal activity (e.g., circumventing restrictions on drug or weapons sales). Differences or criminogenic asymmetries (Passas) between states provide arbitrage opportunities that criminal organizations exploit States may work with or utilize transnational criminal organizations in their foreign policy, for example to pressure other states (e.g. Russian hackers). Security Studies: An Introduction. 4th Edition. Paul D. Williams and Matt McDonald. Routledge 2023. Paperback ISBN - 9781032162737 Information Classification: General

TRANSNATIONAL CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS TRANSNATIONAL CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS Transnational criminal organizations are diverse in terms of their location and reach, structures, activities, capability, use of violence and relationship with one another. There is no single model of TCOs. Some TCOs specialize in particular activities, others undertake a range of diverse activities. Some also evolve over time. Some local mafia organizations in Italy, for example, evolved from kidnapping and extortion in one country to involvement in the drug trade across the world. In Latin America, TCOs that focused exclusively on the drug trade have expanded their portfolios to include, for example, extortion, oil theft, or wildlife trafficking, in response to opportunities and constraints. In Nigeria, TCOs have been particularly active in cyberspace. In Colombia and Somalia, insurgent groups like FARC and al-Shabaab become involved in criminal activities to fund their actions. Security Studies: An Introduction. 4th Edition. Paul D. Williams and Matt McDonald. Routledge 2023. Paperback ISBN - 9781032162737 Information Classification: General

ILLICIT MARKETS ILLICIT MARKETS Global flows of illicit commodities, even illegal migrants, have become large, diverse and rapid, challenging regulation. Commodities tend to be either stolen (cars, art), prohibited (drugs and nuclear materials), regulated (cultural property and arms), or differentially taxed (cigarettes). The World Drug Reports indicate that there is no single drug market, but four main markets. The largest is for cannabis, followed by opioids, amphetamines, and (the most violent drug market) cocaine. The scale of migration to Europe in 2015, linked to the Syrian civil war, was enabled by multiple criminal organizations facilitating population movement. The illegal arms trade is another major market (see chapter 32). Security Studies: An Introduction. 4th Edition. Paul D. Williams and Matt McDonald. Routledge 2023. Paperback ISBN - 9781032162737 Information Classification: General

RESPONSES TO TRANSNATIONAL CRIME? RESPONSES TO TRANSNATIONAL CRIME? The problem for state governments is that organized crime operates in a borderless world whereas law enforcement agencies still operate in a bordered world under the constraints of sovereignty. There have been some successes in transnational responses to major Colombian drug cartels in the 1990s (in Medellin and Cali), and the Sicilian Mafia. Organizations and networks that are a mix of think-tank, academic research and investigative journalism have helped develop understanding of TCO activity. Examples include the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime, Insight Crime (which focuses on Latin America) and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project. Effective responses to transnational organized crime require effective transnational cooperation, which is easier said than done. Security Studies: An Introduction. 4th Edition. Paul D. Williams and Matt McDonald. Routledge 2023. Paperback ISBN - 9781032162737 Information Classification: General

THE IMPACT OF COVID THE IMPACT OF COVID- -19 19 The pandemic initially disrupted transnational organized crime, particularly through restricting movement. Ultimately, however, TCOs adapted, reinvigorated their activities and consolidated their influence. In terms of adaptation, some TCOs shifted to local activities, shifted online, or even provided food packages to some locals to build social support. In terms of reinvigoration, TCOs saw opportunities to extort struggling businesses, or move into the (more) lucrative health sector and consolidate these new activities. Security Studies: An Introduction. 4th Edition. Paul D. Williams and Matt McDonald. Routledge 2023. Paperback ISBN - 9781032162737 Information Classification: General

CONCLUSION CONCLUSION Transnational organized crime has emerged as a clear threat to human, national and international security. Addressing this multifaceted challenge is complicated significantly by the range of transnational criminal organizations and activities, and the need for international cooperation to address them. The activities of TCOs will be further enabled through failures in governance, significant urbanization, armed conflict, the redistribution of power, and even the disruptive effects of climate change. In some contexts, TCOs might even provide alternative forms of governance that rival states. Security Studies: An Introduction. 4th Edition. Paul D. Williams and Matt McDonald. Routledge 2023. Paperback ISBN - 9781032162737 Information Classification: General

ESSAY / EXAM QUESTIONS ESSAY / EXAM QUESTIONS What factors best explain the rise of contemporary transnational organized crime? What types of political environments best facilitate organized crime? What is the difference between mafia and organized crime? What kinds of structures do criminal organizations develop? In what ways and for what purposes do transnational criminal organizations use violence and corruption? Is transnational organized crime growing or declining? Explain your answer. What kinds of relationships exist between criminal and terrorist organizations? What are the major criminal markets and why have they become dominant? What evidence do you see of transnational organized crime moving into cyberspace? What impact, if any, will COVID-19 have on transnational organized crime? Security Studies: An Introduction. 4th Edition. Paul D. Williams and Matt McDonald. Routledge 2023. Paperback ISBN - 9781032162737 Information Classification: General

WEBSITES AND AUDIO WEBSITES AND AUDIO- -VISUAL RESOURCES VISUAL RESOURCES Films and TV Series with key themes related to Transnational Organized Crime Gomorrah (2008) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0929425/combined https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwqdf7Cu1LA The Wire (2002-2008 HBO) https://www.hbo.com/the-wire https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDcQbk78CSw Narcos (2015- Netflix) https://www.netflix.com/au/title/80025172 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7elNhHwgBU Key websites for tracking trends and developments in transnational organized crime Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime http://globalinitiative.net Insight Crime www.insightcrime.org Organized Crime Research http://www.organized-crime.de/ Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) https://www.occrp.org United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime https://www.unodc.org/ Europol https://www.europol.europa.eu/ Financial Action Task Force www.fatf-gafi.org/ Interpol https://www.interpol.int/ Terrorism Transnational Crime and Corruption Center http://traccc.gmu.edu/ Trends in Organized Crime https://link.springer.com/journal/12117 Global Crime http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/fglc20/current TED Talks and other Talks on Transnational Organized Crime James Cockayne, Hidden Power: The strategic logic of organized crime (2016) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ax0SZGcfXy8 Rodrigo Canales, The deadly genius of drug cartels TED Talks (2013) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYU25aJpg5o&list=PLOGi5- fAu8bHLqZVMc5PRRfEcFjU2yh6V Misha Glenny investigates global crime networks (2009) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XO1Me-MY-Q0 Eduardo Salcedo-Albar n, Untangling transnational criminal networks TEDxYale (2017) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfoCZ6OO-hM Gavin Slade, Reputation Management: the Decline of the Thieves-in- Law in Georgia TEDxTbilisi (2012) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8iSNMFiMNU Phil Williams, How globalization affects transnational crime, Council on Foreign Relations (2012): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ipmpv0R1D0s Documentaries World History of Organized Crime The Italian Mafia's New Industry: Trafficking Toxic Waste & Poisoning the Land (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SabmlxeUBwk) How Poaching and Wildlife Trafficking Works | Wildlife Trade Explained | ENDEVR Documentary (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfIFVuv4bcw) Underworld Inc. The Money Laundry Documentary (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTCxFLhKiOo) Security Studies: An Introduction. 4th Edition. Paul D. Williams and Matt McDonald. Routledge 2023. Paperback ISBN - 9781032162737 Information Classification: General