Organized Crime Is a Threat to National Security - Essay Example

Organized Crime Is a Threat to National Security Introduction The study is inclined towards analyzing the concept of organized crime. Organized crime can be stated as a category of local, national or transnational groupings of enterprises that are carried forward by criminals. These criminals actively indulge into illegal activities in order to accomplish their major objective of acquiring high profit margins. Organized crime is often considered as a threat towards national security. Terrorist organizations are usually motivated with the support of political parties. These organizations even influence many individuals to conduct business with them. There are people who collect money from shopkeepers in context of providing them required support. Prominent disciplinary structure transforms these gangs into a well organized group. This organized group is at times referred to as a mob. To great extent it poses threat to national security due to wide range of illegal activities that can affect many lives. Organized crime is a conspiratorial enterprise, indulged in illicit activities so as to gain high profit margins. The concept encompasses bribery and violence to enhance overall operational procedure. It initiates grievous retribution so as to sustain external and internal control. This form of enterprise also contributes towards election campaigns in order to gain political support for achieving immunity. Political parties are witnessed to support such enterprises and this eventually leads to further growth of crime or terrorism in a nation. The wide range of activities undertaken by this enterprise is credit card fraud, insurance fraud, illegal gambling, kidnapping, gun running, narcotics trade, smuggling, pornography, racketeering, vehicle theft, prostitution, etc. Internet and international terrorism enabled organized crime to spread across wider geographical area. This conspiratorial enterprise also utilizes sophisticated methods and high tech firms for transfer of weaponry and money. Monopolization can be stated as major area of concern for cartel, triad, mafia and syndicate. To be more precise there are certain unique characteristics possessed by organized crime which differentiates it from unorganized crime. In this study these characteristics will be further elaborated along with analyzing its impact on national security. The level of security is deteriorating across the globe with rapid evolution of organized crime. Discussion Organized crime is a disciplinary structure of exhibiting illegal activities. The main objective of such crime is to gain high profit margins. Organized crime is easily distinguishable from other crimes like political crimes, white-collar crime, state crimes, financial crime, treason and war crime. There exist some specific characteristics of organized crime like criminal behaviour’s nature of non-random type, a well coordinated activity of more than thousands of operatives, activity diversification, transnational, regional or national operational scale, inclination towards power and profit, large turnover percentage, identifiable leadership, etc. These characteristics are regarded as unique for organized crime as it is focused towards attaining long term objectives. It can be stated that crime whether organized or not initiates enrichment of group members at the cost of innocent lives. There are four basic models which effectively outlines the concept of organized crime. They are causal, organizational, individual difference and multimodel approach. The causal model indicates that increasing demand for illegal products tends to enhance growth of powerful syndicates. This kind of growth succeeds in negatively effecting public morals, legal economy infiltration and neutralization of laws being enforced upon a nation. In this model there are four main entities such as government, organized crime, illegal markets and society (Levi, 1998). The model helps to define reach of organized crime and its possible variations in power. Organization model encompasses three important segments such as patron-client networks, corporate or bureaucratic operations, and street or youth gangs. The patron client networks are determined by level of fluid interactions. In the total network base, organized crime group occupies a small unit. These networks comprises of hierarchies, locus of labour or activity, personalized activity, rule enforcement, fraternal systems of value and entrenched belief systems. It can be stated that these factors initiate criminal activities to be exhibited on innocent lives. Corporate or bureaucratic operations are usually indicated by rigid internal structures. On basis of operational procedure, there are various factors included within this model. They are complex structure of authority, responsibilities being executed in an impersonal way, mechanism of top-down communication, labour division between various classes, meritocratic, extensive regulations, etc (Beken and Verfaillie, 2008). Street or youth gangs are small units which operate in specific locations. These gangs are responsible for causing unrest in the neighbourhood. They are formed of peers, family members, etc., who are actively indulged in performing any crime. Multimodel approach is another framework of organized crime that outlines different types of models and its significant impact on the society. These model types are namely national, transnational, entrepreneurial and transactional. National model signifies an environment based on culture and history. Their impact is observed in the form of fearful community and great deal of local corruption (Clarke, 2008). On the other hand, transnational model has impact in terms of high degree of corruption and continuous supply or production of illicit goods. Transactional model can operate in any environment and comprises of a flexible and small size group. Entrepreneurial model of organized crime is applicable only on high technology or developed regions. This framework has specific impacts on local community like wide base of criminal networks, money laundering and occurrence of fraudulent cases in wider geographical base. Organized crime is of various types and each of them possesses a significant impact on the society. For instance, drug market is regarded as an essential component of organized crime. Drug market is aligned with gaining high profit margins and eventually causes a significant impact on the society. Drug trafficking creates adverse impacts on human beings. There are drug traffickers who are actively indulged in attacking vulnerable regions, either through corruption, violence or business acquisitions. Drug cartels are also involved in generating funds and this in turn makes drug market a threat towards national security. They buy power through buying parties, elections and candidates. Drugs are mainly sourced from regions which are conflict ridden like Latin America and Asia. Funds are also simultaneously generated from these regions and impacts are in the form of humanitarian disasters and perpetuated insurgency (Edwards and Gill, 2002). Presence of wide array of vulnerable areas enhances the growth of drug trafficking. Some common regions involved in drug trafficking are Central America, Central Asia, West Africa, the Balkans, the Andes and the Caribbean. This form of organized crime occurring in mentioned regions tends to scare away investors, tourists and even business firms. Socio-economic problems result due to increased rate of drug trafficking. National security is also accompanied with wide array of health problems and dramatic increase in poverty. Organized crime is an essential factor behind international and national security. Developing countries that possess weak law structure is more vulnerable towards penetration of organized crime. Weak governance structure prevalent in many regions is a reason behind increase in number of corrupt officials (Deukmedjian and de Lint, 2007). These officials work in collaboration with group members of organized crime so as to accomplish illegal activities. Bribery and corruption are some of the factors that contribute toward increase in criminal cases. Corrupt officials are more prone towards getting bribed and supporting criminals to exhibit supply of illicit goods or adversely affect humanitarian society. There are evidences of organized crime witnessed within political procedure. They are in the form of direct bribery, infiltrating security or financial sectors, establishing shadow economies, considering themselves as providers of services, security or governance (Gill, 2000). Economic stability is greatly threatened due to rise in percentage of organized crime. Free markets are explored along with disrupting stability of socio-economic conditions. It has been observed that criminals form strategic alliances with financial institutions, security agencies, political leaders, foreign intelligence, etc. Economic threat is noticed in United States which eventually affects financial system across the globe. There are rising business costs in those regions being affected by organized crime. These costs are associated with implementing security measures and attracting foreign direct investment for continued business operations. Criminal organizations develop strategies so as to form alliance with state owned industries. This in turn enables the body to gain power over certain commodities like aluminium, oil, gas, metals, etc (Tilly, 1985). Threat even lies in increased exploitation of transportation sector. In earlier years, organized crime was confined only to specific regions or countries. However in recent scenario, globalization trend has supported the growth of organized crime in multiple locations. This concept is structured as a wide scale operation which is affecting political and social conditions, though the extent of impact is dependent on varying conditions. Technological progress is another factor stating organized crime to be a major threat towards national security. The evolution of this approach is due to enhanced communication level and rapid exchange of information between different media channels. Technological progress has incorporated flexibility within the system. The extended network base results into securing high profit margins along with affecting national security forces. Advancements in technology reduce the scope for paperwork that forms the main evidence during any police verification. In security defences new vulnerabilities arises because of potential of criminal organizations in terms of accessing information to expand on their business operations. Political conflicts are also one of the reasons behind instability in state conditions (Pearce and Woodiwiss, 1993). During past few years, organized crime has facilitated political conflicts internationally. Geopolitical events to great extent influence strategy formulation of criminal organizations. Transportation and communication facilities enable these organizations to expand their operations in region of conflicts. In these zones, organized crime can spread at a rapid rate with easy availability of funds. Political conflicts initiate further growth of organized crime along with decreasing national stability. Organized crime is directly linked with issues prevalent in democratic governability (Williams and Vlassis, 2001). It gradually results into financial instability, market inefficiencies and different types of distortions. Structural flaws are observed within the economy which affects political stability and livelihood. Inefficient income share and illegal activities are prime cause behind instable economic scenario. International trade barriers are becoming more stable in current scenario and this in turn is supporting criminal organizations to easily access information. Society is at stake since high tech companies are also involved in such crimes. The expansion rate of drug trafficking has depleted meaningful resources of many regions. Illicit drugs are not only major threat for a nation but even affect heath, financial well-being and safety of many individuals. Demand towards illicit drugs eventually fuels violence and impunity of all organized crime. These drug traffickers develop a wide base of individuals who perform illegal activities for exchange of drugs. It has been observed that people involved in drug trafficking exchange information with other countries. This in turn lowers down security level of a nation (Ratcliffe, 2004). Drug producers are capable enough to structure their own markets and build a strong distribution network. Local corruption and crime are two aspects which accompanies drug trafficking. National security is threatened to a great extent by increased rate of human smuggling. This concept facilitates transportation and an individual’s entry illegally in other nation. Human smuggling not only disrupts functioning of a particular economy but also affects operation of neighbouring regions. People being smuggled can involve terrorists, criminals, economic migrants, trafficking victims and fugitives. There is high revenue margins involved in human smuggling. It is a major source for generating funds specifically in zone of organized crime. The approach possesses dual impact; it endangers many lives as well as causes an impact on national sovereignty. Weapons trafficking can be denoted as a threat for national security. Drug traffickers and terrorists basically require weapons that are acquired through either arms dealers or other criminal networks (Dorn, 1992). Arms are even being exchanged across nations that are increasing security related issues. Weapon trafficking is a reason behind violence prevalent in many regions. It initiates violence and thereby underpins justice, security and development. As per last year statistics, weapons or other items are being smuggled across Yemen, China, Mexico, Somalia, Russia and Turkmenistan. Security is closely knitted with this form of organized crime (Ericson and Haggerty, 1997). In current scenario, most of criminals can easily access weapons thereby violating national security conditions. Organized crime also engages in intellectual property theft. Loss in businesses also occurs due to this form of intellectual property theft. The nature of competitiveness in a market place is degraded when intellectual property is negatively affected. As a consequence public safety and health is affected by this organized crime. Cybercrime is another threat that has gained significance in recent years. This organized crime has increased costs for consumers, have greatly threatened government networks, etc (Anderson, 1995). Stock markets, credit card facilities, banking, e-currency, etc., are some dimensions affected by cybercrime. World economy system has their trust level solely dependent on these mechanisms. Information technology was previously regarded as a security measure for many economies but in present context it has become a platform to transfer valuable information from one region to another. Cybercrime networks have resulted into wide array of fraudulent cases. Internet is utilized by criminals, terrorists or spies to gain essential information about country specific conditions. Organized crime is a threat to the national security as well as international security as it affects the public health, public safety and the economic stability across the world. The term organized crime has severely affected the growth of the economy. But considering the activity of the mafia, burglars, and the window cleaning business that is carried out for laundering the money in the overseas market it can be taken into consideration that not only organized crime but unorganized crime is also equally responsible for the unrest in the economy which is a threat to the national and international security (Cohen, 1977). There exist a difference between the organized and the unorganized crime. The term organized crime deals with the criminals but not with the criminal activities and therefore the criminal activities are required to be considered which is considered in the organized crime. Practically there is no existence of the organized criminals since the crime is mainly unorganized in nature. The activity such as the terrorist attacks that is carried out by the terrorist creating economic unrest in the nation is the result of the unorganized crime. The steps cannot be adopted to eradicate the crime since it is not organized and therefore it cannot be predicted beforehand (Edwards and Gill, 2002). There are some of the examples or instances that are responsible for the unorganized crime prevailing in the economy such as obtaining finance for crime, searching people who are willing to join the terrorist group for committing crime, conversion of the crime related products into money or other usable assets, accumulating different modes of transportation and equipments that are required for committing crimes, neutralizing the enforcement of laws enacted by technical skill, by legal arbitrage , by corruption with the use or the application of enforcement prosecution and operation which varies and differs between states. The main reason behind unorganized crime is that it requires transnational movement and also criminal collaboration for conducting many activities which varies from the fraud to the sale of drugs to the sauna parlours and to the placement of funds which remains local therefore unorganized crime is very crucial and very difficult to detect or predict (Gori and Paparela, 2006). The unorganized crime is also related with the behaviour of the criminals which includes the integration of the behaviour and the attitude of the criminal is structured, horizontal integration which includes fraud to trafficking of drugs and distribution. The organized crime would not have existed without the presence of the unorganized or the disorganized crime. The result or the consequence of the disorganized or the unorganized crime in the economy is the gambling, transporting illegal drugs, prostitution etc. The crime is very violent and random in nature and the number of crimes have expanded and scattered in large number across the world and the majority of the people have been alleged for the crime and are now imprisoned due to their activity (Woodiwiss, 2001).Disorganized or unorganized crime has negatively affected the economy and as a result it can be observed by the expansion of these activities that unorganized or disorganized crime is more harmful and dangerous for the economy as compared to the organized economy. Unorganized crime is much more harmful and dangerous since all sort of political unrest in the economy are the result of the unorganized or the disorganized crime in the economy (John and Peter, 2011). Some of the common activities of the unorganized or the disorganized crimes are robbery, theft, trafficking, kidnapping, human smuggling, weapons, drugs and the conduct of malpractices by the politicians of the countries. There are also some other activities that are considered as illegal which includes kidnapping, cigarette smugglings, extortions, welfare funds, credit card frauds, stolen goods and sale of counterfeit. The informal value transfer system is the process in which the terrorist can obtain money and this system is used by them as it does not require any written or documental evidence since this instruments are used by the people who do not have the institutionalized method of banking or credit cards (Michael, 2014). The sources through which the terrorist collects money with the help of IVTS are through the method of physical transfer which includes smuggling, the transfer of money and other gift services in the overseas market namely through internet, vouchers and through websites, the transfer of payment that is based on internet, the network for the exchange of currency and black money, the use of the debit cards by multiple persons or individuals and this concept is also known as Hawala but Hawala is not unethical or crime but due to its nature and application it has become vulnerable and it is alleged . Terrorism has created political, social and economic unrest in the economy and it is considered as unorganized or disorganized since it cannot be predicted and its impact on the economy also cannot be assumed or estimated (Ryan and Rush, 1997). Therefore disorganized crime is not under the control and therefore it creates a chaotic situation in the economy, the attacks are mainly spontaneous in nature and therefore no planning is required, the killers of the disorganized crime are dangerous in nature as they surprise their victims by killing them at a first strike. Therefore the offender has very poor skill and generally they are mentally disturbed and they are aloof from the society (Segell, 2007). The group of serial killers is also included in the disorganized criminal activities and it has created a chaos in the economy and has adversely affected the society as a whole. Therefore it can be analyzed that both organized and the unorganized or disorganized crime is posing a threat to the national as well as international security and both this crime is almost related to each other and there is only a thin line of difference between them. The nation can become cautious, alert and take adoptive measure for prevention of crime whereas in case of the disorganized crime the individual or the nation is not aware of the activities and therefore it severely affects the country. Therefore from the above analysis it can be understood that only organized crime is not responsible for creating threat towards national security but disorganized crime is also equally responsible for creating threat in providing national security. Conclusion As per this study, organized crime is an important aspect behind increasing percentage of national instability. There are various elements encompassed within organized crime such as drug trafficking, weapon trafficking, human smuggling, cybercrime, etc. Models of organized crime states that there are specific environmental conditions for exhibiting specific organized crime. These conditions usually differ from one region to another. Criminals groups are actively indulged in performing wide array of illegal activities like supplying illicit services and products. Fraudulent activities are also performed by such criminal organizations. Crime groups basically do not operate alone but are supported by corrupt officials. These officials occupy high rank in governmental system and are influenced by crime groups. Human trafficking facilitates easy availability of individuals to exhibit illegal activities. The growth of terrorism is due to such human trafficking concept. Weapon trafficking is also another aspect which contribute towards development of crime scenarios in a nation. National security is endangered since information is exchanged widely across geographical regions. Security level deteriorates due to involvement of more individuals in fraudulent cases. Profit oriented motives influence individuals to be a part of such organization. This in turn makes a nation more prone towards violence and thus affecting livelihood. However the concept has been critically evaluated and it is outlined that organized crime is not only the major threat towards national security. There are other factors which contribute equally towards instability in economic conditions. For instance, unplanned events like terrorism attacks can be considered as a threat to national security. Organized crime is planned and well-structured activities and it provides a scope to government to undertake appropriate actions. On the contrary, terrorism attacks are unplanned in nature, though it is a threat but cannot be managed effectively by a nation. Drug trafficking has secured maximum percentage within framework of organized crime. It not only affects innocent lives but is also regarded as an essential source for income. Drug traffickers are solely responsible for developing flexible markets and generating funds for other criminal activities. Local corruption or violence is initiated due to such organized crimes. This eventually affects security and stability conditions of an economy. Contents Introduction 1 Discussion 2 Conclusion 11 Contents 13 References 13 References Anderson, M., 1995. Policing the European Union. Oxford: Clarendon Press. Beken, T.V. and Verfaillie, K., 2008. Proactive policing and the assessment of organized crime Policing. An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management, 31 (4). Clarke, R., 2008. The PIRA, D-Company, and the crime-terror nexus. Terrorism and Political Violence, 20 (3). Cohen, A.K., 1977. The concept of criminal organization. Journal of Criminology, 17(2), pp.97-111. Deukmedjian, J.E. and de Lint, W., 2007. Community into intelligence: Resolving information uptake in the RCMP. Policing and Society, 17 (3). Dorn, N., 1992. Traffickers: drug markets and law enforcement. London: Routledge. Edwards, A. and Gill, P., 2002. Crime as enterprise? 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