1.10 - Global Organised Crime
Defining global organised crime
Global organised crime involves illegal activities carried out by structured groups or gangs that operate across international borders. These activities often exploit the increasing interconnectedness of the world, making them a significant aspect of globalisation in modern society.
It is a contested concept – meaning experts disagree on its exact boundaries and scope. Only a small portion of these crimes is detected by authorities, as many operate in hidden networks. As a result, global crime remains underreported and difficult to measure accurately.
Key characteristics of global organised crime
- Cross-border operations - Criminal groups engage in activities that span multiple countries, such as trafficking drugs, people, or arms, as well as money laundering and terrorism.
- Exploitation of globalisation - Gangs take advantage of global developments, including advanced communication technologies like the internet and round-the-clock banking systems, to coordinate and expand their activities.
- Economic scale - Estimates suggest that the global criminal economy accounts for around 10% of the world's Gross National Product. Sociologist Manuel Castells has valued it at approximately $1 trillion annually.
Examples of global criminal activities
Global organised crime encompasses a wide range of illegal trades, often involving trafficking and smuggling on an international scale. Reports from agencies like Europol highlight the diversity and value of these operations.
In 2017, Europol reported that at least 5,000 organised crime groups were active in Europe. These groups focused on areas such as trafficking migrants or people, smuggling and dealing drugs, producing forged documents, and launching digital attacks like ransomware.
Estimated values of major global crime trades
| Illegal trade | Origin and route | Estimated annual value | Additional details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cocaine | Andean region (South America) to North America | $38 billion | Involves 320 tonnes arriving in North America and Europe |
| Cocaine | Andean region (South America) to Europe | $34 billion | Part of 521 tonnes leaving the region |
| Migrant smuggling | Latin America to North America | $6.6 billion | Affects 3 million people |
| Migrant smuggling | Africa to Europe | $150 million | Affects 55,000 people |
| Heroin | Afghanistan to Russia and Europe | $20 billion | Involves 157 tonnes arriving, from 235 tonnes leaving |
| Counterfeit consumer goods | Asia to Europe | $13 billion | |
| Counterfeit medicines | Asia to Europe | $8.2 billion | |
| Counterfeit products (smaller flow) | Asia to Europe | $1.6 billion |
These figures illustrate how global crime generates vast profits, often comparable to legitimate industries, while causing social harm through exploitation and violence.
Poly-criminal networks
Many global criminals are described as 'poly-criminals' by Europol, meaning they participate in multiple types of illegal activities simultaneously. For example, a single group might smuggle drugs, traffic migrants or enslaved sex workers, distribute counterfeit goods, and engage in cyber-crimes like selling illegal pornography or conducting ransomware attacks.
The role of technology in global crime
Advancements in digital technology have transformed how global organised crime operates, enabling anonymous and efficient coordination across borders.
Digital tools and the dark net
Europol identifies the 'dark net' as a key enabler of global crime. This is an anonymous online network accessed through specialised software such as The Onion Router (TOR), I2P, or Freenet. It allows criminals to conduct activities without easy detection.
One rapidly growing form of global crime is cryptoware, a type of ransomware where hackers encrypt a business's files and demand payment to restore access. This targets small and medium-sized enterprises.
Glocalisation in criminal networks
Sociologists Dick Hobbs and Colin Dunningham introduce the concept of 'glocalisation' to explain how global crime intersects with local criminal activities. This refers to the way international criminal networks connect with and support domestic crime in specific locations.
For instance, the availability and pricing of drugs like heroin, cocaine, or marijuana in a UK city depend on global gangs' ability to transport them undetected. Local crimes, such as burglary, shoplifting, or street robbery, often stem from addicts needing money to buy these globally supplied drugs. This shows how global operations 'feed off' and sustain local criminal subcultures.
Evaluating global organised crime
Evaluating global organised crime involves assessing its impacts, challenges in addressing it, and debates over its definition.
Global crime is difficult to control due to several structural issues
- Ill-defined international laws - There is a lack of clear, unified global regulations, making it hard to prosecute cross-border activities.
- Limited agency powers - International bodies like Europol lack full authority to pursue criminals worldwide, relying on cooperation that is often hampered by conflicts between local police, international agencies, and governments.
- Detection difficulties - Much of global crime remains hidden, with only a fraction reaching law enforcement, partly due to advanced technologies like the dark net.
Debates over defining global crime
Not all sociologists or authorities agree on what constitutes global crime, leading to contested interpretations. For example, the 2010 launch of WikiLeaks by Julian Assange involved releasing thousands of confidential US diplomatic cables on sensitive issues. The US government labelled this as criminal activity, viewing Assange as a threat to national security. In contrast, others see him as a defender of transparency and democracy, highlighting how political perspectives influence definitions of crime.
This disagreement underscores the subjective nature of global crime, where actions can be seen as illegal by some but heroic by others, complicating efforts to address it uniformly.