Global crime

• Cybercrime 


  crime on computers or the internet, eg. identity theft
• How to protect yourself from cybercrime:

  • stronger passwords
  • multi-factor authentication
• Drug trafficking - *


  global illicit trade involving manufacture, distribution, and sale of drugs.
• How can drug trafficking be violent? *


  use of firearms, gang feud, and exploitation of the vulnerable.
• Frank Aas (2007) *


  the cross-boarder activities of organised crime groups arguably exploiting to their advantage increasing global interconnectedness because some crimes impact other countries, they have collective community.
• Organised Criminal Group features:

  • structured group
  • 3 or more people
  • exists for a period
  • criminal aim and financial benefit
• Castells (2000) *


  organised crime groups resemble business networks, have ability to link up with foreign criminal groups, eg. to minimise risk and maximise profit - base production and management in low-risk areas which lack regulation.
• The effects of terrorism

  • social fragmentation
  • impact on social cohesion
  • the media causes a ‘moral panic‘
• Drug Cartels *

  • social networks and recruitment of the vulnerable seeking upward mobility
  • power and hierarchy
  • codes of conduct
  • corruption
  • violence
• Gastrow - transactional organised crime 


  stereotypical Mafia drug cartel with a rich boss, are outdated
• Human trafficking *


  selling of human life for slavery, labour, or sex.

  • social marginalisation, target refugees because of weak social support systems
  • gender inequality, sexism creates limited economic opportunities for women
• social control in human trafficking - *


  weak law enforcement and normalised violence in some regions contributes to human trafficking.
• Human trafficking as a global phenomenon - *


  globalisation creates new opportunities for traffickers to access more people across borders and exploit them in different countries.