Is organized crime still around?

Is Organized Crime Still Around?

Organized crime, also known as "mafia" or " syndicate," has been a phenomenon that has plagued society for centuries. It refers to a structured group of individuals who engage in criminal activity, often involving fraud, extortion, and violence. The question is, is organized crime still around? The answer is a resounding "yes."

Definition and Scope

Organized crime refers to a wide range of criminal activities, including but not limited to:

• Drug trafficking: illegal production, distribution, and sale of drugs
• Extortion: coercing individuals or businesses to hand over money or assets through threats or violence
• Fraud: swindling or deceiving people out of their money or property
• Smuggling: illegal import or export of goods or services
• Gambling: illegal betting or wagering

Organized crime groups can operate within countries, across borders, and even globally. They can be geographically limited, operating in specific cities or regions, or transnational, operating across multiple countries.

Recent Examples

In recent years, there have been several high-profile cases that illustrate the continued presence of organized crime:

• Operation Varsity Blues (2019): a college admissions scandal involving rich parents paying bribes to ensure their children’s acceptance into top universities
• The Sinaloa Cartel (2020): a Mexican drug trafficking organization responsible for much of the illegal drug trade in the United States and beyond
• The Russian Mafia (2018): a network of criminals involved in money laundering, extortion, and illegal activities in Russia and worldwide
• The Sicilian Mafia (2020): a notorious organized crime group in Italy responsible for extortion, murder, and other criminal activities

Statistics and Trends

The following statistics and trends suggest that organized crime is indeed still around:

• Global drug trade: in 2020, an estimated 210-400 million people used illegal drugs worldwide, generating $426 billion in illegal revenues (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2020)
• Organized crime in the United States: the FBI estimates that around 30% of federal crimes are committed by organized crime groups (FBI, 2020)
• Global illegal tobacco trade: in 2020, an estimated $30 billion was spent on illegal tobacco products worldwide (World Health Organization, 2020)

Challenges in Combatting Organized Crime

Despite the severity of organized crime, combatting it is a significant challenge:

• International cooperation: organized crime often operates across borders, making it difficult for authorities to coordinate efforts to combat them
• Financial sophistication: organized crime groups are increasingly using advanced financial methods to launder money and hide their activities
• Corruption: bribery and corruption can hinder investigations and prosecutions, allowing organized crime groups to operate with relative impunity
• Resources: law enforcement agencies may not have the necessary resources, including funding and personnel, to effectively combat organized crime

What Can Be Done?

To combat organized crime, several strategies can be employed:

• Strengthen international cooperation: foster strong relationships between law enforcement agencies across borders to share intelligence and coordinate efforts
• Improve financial oversight: implement stricter financial regulations and monitoring to detect and prevent money laundering
• Increase public awareness: educate the public about the dangers of organized crime and the importance of reporting suspicious activity
• Provide resources: ensure law enforcement agencies have the necessary funding, personnel, and training to effectively combat organized crime

Conclusion

Organized crime is still very much around, with criminal groups operating in many countries and engaging in a range of illegal activities. The challenge in combatting organized crime is significant, but by strengthening international cooperation, improving financial oversight, increasing public awareness, and providing resources to law enforcement agencies, we can take steps to reduce the impact of organized crime.

Organized Crime Statistics by Country

Sources

• United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2020). World Drug Report 2020.
• FBI. (2020). Organized Crime.
• World Health Organization. (2020). Illicit Tobacco Trade.