Transnational Criminality And Illicit Drug Trafficking

Criminal activity and terrorist activity have a relationship that is closely related, with only minor differences separating the two. Terrorist activity are criminal acts that are motivated by a higher cause beyond the basic causes of crime. Terrorist attack are highly planned out, and the same can be said about criminal activity. Serial killers often plan out their acts just as much as terrorist organizations, however the same cannot be said for certain crimes like random assaults. (Newman & Clarke, 2008) The relationship between crime and terrorism is brought closer when terrorist organizations use common crime to fund their attacks. For example, a terrorist organization may resort to stealing chemical agents to make their dirty bombs. The

Chapter 11 in the textbook Homeland Security by Larry K. Gaines and Victor E. Kappeler, discussed in lengthy detail the way terrorist cells go about financing, as well as their financial needs. However, one of the most common questions asked today; once the terrorist organizations obtain the needed funds to plot an attack how do they go about moving the money without being detected? The answer given in chapter 11 in the textbook is through money laundering (Gaines & Kappeler, 2012, p. 315). Pursuing this further, terrorist cells go about laundering their money through a verity of methods. To better elaborate, one well known way to launder money is through priceless

The United States Department of State classifies 58 different organizations as foreign terrorist organizations (US DOS). Of those 58 FTOs only one is located in South America, and none are located in Mexico. Despite the lack of official FTOs in Mexico, non-state violence is at an all-time high and the country is more dangerous than ever. This is because of the presence and prevalence of drug cartels throughout the country. These drug cartels employ violent tactics as part of their drug trafficking network. But these cartels are more than just criminal organizations. The scope of the violence, the fear they instill in the population, and the influence they have on policy shows that these organizations should be considered as more than petty criminals trying to make money. While economic gain remains one of the main goals of these groups, there is much that falls under the umbrella of terrorism.

The purpose behind this research paper is to analyze how transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) are able to exploit the land and sea borders of the United States in order to produce billions of dollars annually. There will be a background completed not on just one specific TCO but the ways that these organizations produce substantial amounts of money. The methods in which they conduct their operations utilizing border crossings or getting through sea ports, as well. Then, finally, an overview on how these TCOs exploit the vulnerabilities of the United States law enforcement agencies and the security personal that are in place to protect the citizens of America from the illicit activities of these TCOs.

U. S has taken a position to implement vital steps to police illegal activities worldwide. Also, using the Law enforcement agencies to find solutions and best practices is critical to stopping transnational organized crime. The United States government plays an important part in this process. They must engage in stricter policies and strategic thinking to fight the corruption of transnational organized crime.

Transnational Organized Crime may often be confused with International Crime, which is mostly associated with “Crimes against humanity,” a few examples would be genocide or terrorism (Oxfordbibliographies).

Terrorist organizations require a profound amount of cash, as they need to purchase weaponry, supplies, and each recruit needs to be well fed and equipped.

Both terrorist and transnational organized criminal groups utilize illegal activities to further their agendas and increase their coffers. Some of the methods employed are: kidnapping, drug trafficking, and human trafficking. Recently these two groups have begun working together to accomplish their goals. There has been evidence that organized crime groups have provided logistical support to terrorists (Rollins & Wyler, 2013). The collaboration of these two groups strengthens both groups exponentially. But the organized crime groups, on most occasions, do not share the same ideological views as the terrorist groups. They are in it for the money, and sometimes the risk of working with terrorists is too high.

Terrorism is becoming a problem in today’s world. Do we even know what terrorism is? Terrorism is the use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims. This definition is a very weird way to say terrorism is used to make countries obey other countries. The Islamic countries send so called terrorists over to the United States and other countries to detonate bombs and make bombs to try to make people change to the Islamic faith. Terrorism has origins all the way back to the French government during the 1793–1794 (Reign of terror).

The United States has developed extensive networks, policies, and operations to decrease the drug trafficking throughout the world, with its’ starts especially Latin America. As US law enforcement agencies have made progress in arresting and disassembling drug cartel organizations and by having tighter security at transit points, these same organizations have counteracted their business plans to avoid being exposed. Since the mid-2000s Latin American drug cartels have made increasing relations with partners in Africa. This has now become an increasing concern for US authorities, for these cartels have now became intertwined with terrorist organization, forming narco-terrorist organizations. These narco-terrorism organizations can be defined

Terrorism and crime are positively linked according the Steven McCraw, Assistant Director of the Office of Intelligence with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. McCraw. gave testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee in Washington DC stating that International and Domestic Terrorism Organizations and those who support them, engage in a myriad of crimes to fund and facilitate terrorist activities. These crimes include numerous deviant acts such as extortion, kidnaping, robbery, corruption, document fraud, arms trafficking, cybercrime, white collar crime, smuggling of contraband, money laundering (McCraw, 2003). Money and financing from drug trafficking most certainly are at the root of all the crimes being plotted and commit by top terrorist

The United States government cited the illegal drug trade in Mexico as a potential terrorist threat due to the increase of drug violence in Mexico. Drug trafficking organizations bring in millions of dollars every year and with that amount of money, it forces them to move their revenue in distributed bank accounts so that they will not be traced back to the drug money. The money that is brought in by different drug organizations are known to be the primary financiers for terrorist organizations.

Drug trafficking is a global illicit trade that includes the cultivation, manufacturing, distribution and sale of substances which are under drug laws that prohibit it. Maritime and land routes are used by organised drug trafficking syndicates to transport cocaine, opium and heroin to other parts of the world.

Transnational crime was shown in the film through organized human trafficking groups. According to the UNOCD, “trafficking is almost always a form of organized” (UNOCD, 2017). Human trafficking is a transnational crime because it crosses the boundaries of the countries it starts in to others. One would say that human trafficking has become globalized. This film doesn’t depict this that well. The scene that sort of showed that trafficking has become globalized was when they took the girls on the yacht to leave the country. I couldn’t apply transnational to another scene that stuck out to me in the film.

Transnational crime is a growing problem. Transnational crime is defined as “self-perpetuating associations of individuals who operate transnational for the purpose of obtaining power, influence, monetary and/or commercial gains, wholly or in part by illegal means, while protecting their activities through a pattern of corruption and/ or violence, or while protecting their illegal activities through a transnational structure and the exploitation of transnational commerce or communication mechanisms.” (National Security Council, n.d.) . Transnational crimes are known under other names such as cross-national crime, global crime, international crime, and