The Causes of Transnational Organized Crime, Research Paper Example

Abstract

That organized crime causes profound influences on communities cannot be denied. This paper provides a brief overview of the topic and its implications for communities. The main impacts of organized crime on the community are discussed. How law enforcement agencies act against organized crime is evaluated. The author compares and contrasts the causes and consequences of organized crime in a number of countries, including Saudi Arabia and China.

Keywords: organized crime, community, transnational.

Causes of Transnational Criminal Activities

That organized crime profoundly affects communities and their way of life has been well-documented. Actually, organized crime remains one of the most frequently discussed topics in media and professional literature. As the media taste bloody details, law enforcement professionals seek to develop new anti-crime strategies. The latter should not simplyaddress the issue of organized crime but must help communities to eliminate potentially negative effects of crime and violence. Domestic impacts of organized crime are too significant to ignore. Groups operating within and outside of the United States exploit its financial system for money laundering purposes (Finklea, 2009). Organized crime weakens the community’s economic basis, since organized crime activities like tax evasion and cigarette trafficking lead to the loss of tax revenues for the state government (Finklea, 2009). Organized criminals engage in the creation and distribution of pirated and counterfeit goods, which disrupt the stability of community business networks and deprive community manufacturers, including music and luxury goods manufacturers, of revenues and profits (Finklea, 2009). Added to this is the growing concern over terrorism and security risks posed by organized crime: coupled with economic disturbances, organized criminals cause fear and anxiety among community members, many of whom may be afraid of going for a walk late evenings or attend public events.

Certainly, law enforcement agencies do everything possible and impossible to meet the challenge of organized crime and reduce its scope and impacts. Community policies are probably the most common and effective instrument of dealing with organized crime at the community level. “Today, it has become an integral part of all departments and can be found in mission statements, recruitment flyers, training programs, and evaluations” (Reiss, 2006). Community policies help law enforcement professionals to effectively resolve “small issues”, which create and sustain a picture of organized crime in the community. Asking for help from community members has become a common approach in combating organized crime, but law enforcement agencies must ensure active engagement of all community members, to achieve the desired law enforcement outcomes. It is because of community unawareness and reluctance to participate in community activities that law enforcement efforts to reduce organized crime have not been entirely successful.

No country is secured from organized crime risks. All nations and people, whatever their level of economic and social development, invest considerable resources in fighting against organized crime. Specific patterns of organized crime and its impacts vary across countries, but it is clear that organized crime has already become a transnational trend. In Japan, the Yakuza had long been an embodiment of organized crime; accepted by the Japanese society, the Yakuza nonetheless weakens the nation’s economy through money laundering, organized theft, and drugs (Shanti & Mishra, 2008). The situation in China is no better: like their Japanese “colleagues”, Chinese Triads rely mainly on economic activities, which include but are not limited to counterfeiting computer software, clothing and music CDs, as well as smuggling tobacco, alcohol, and even human organs (Gertz, 2010). Everything is different in Saudi Arabia – here, organized crime is essentially about robberies and street muggings, which are committed by expatriates who have overstayed their visas (Rasooldeen, 2011). Apparently, these organized crime activities have little economic impact but greatly affect physical security of Saudi Arabian citizens. In England, France and Germany, drug and human trafficking are the most common forms of organized crime, but there is also terrorism attributed to different separatist groups and immigrant rebels (Olson, 2008). Consequentially, the impacts of organized crime on Europe are not limited to economic losses but extend and present a serious threat to national and transnational security.Globalization and elimination of borders facilitate the rapid spreading of organized crime in the world. No country can feel entirely secured from the risks of organized crime. Patterns of organized crime in different countries change too quickly to let law enforcement agencies address these changes in timely fashion. Globalization offers ample opportunities for organized crime. Therefore, it is imperative that community and national law enforcement organizations unite and engage in a concerted effort against transnational organized crime.

References

Finklea, K.M. (2009). Organized crime in the United States: Trends and issues for Congress. DIANE Publishing.

Gertz, B. (2009). Organized crime –triads targeted. The Washington Times. Retrieved from http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/apr/30/organized-crime-triads-targeted/

Rasooldeen, M.. (2011). Riyadh police bust organized crime gang. Arab News. Retrieved from http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article233087.ece

Olson, P. (2008). Europe’s crime capitals. Forbes. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/2008/07/15/europe-capitals-crime-forbeslife-cx_po_0715crime.html

Reiss, J. (2006). Community governance: An organized approach to fighting crime. FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, May.

Shanty, F. & Mishra, P.P. (2008). Organized crime: From trafficking to terrorism. ABC-CLIO.