Abstract
This article utilising the work of Pearson and Hobbs [1] defines the middle market in counterfeit alcohol. Drugs markets have a resemblance to counterfeit alcohol markets in as much that they share the illicit nature of the product and the need to distribute the product at the ‘street’ level. Drawing on two case studies taken from a European regulator the article details the dynamics of the market, the enterprise actions of the actors and how law enforcement responses can, in certain circumstances, make the task of the distributors easier. The traditional notions of organised crime are challenged and organisation of counterfeit alcohol markets is viewed as being reliant upon those who have legitimate access to the market and are able to develop networks of commercial collaborators who by their position in the legitimate market are able to conceal their illicit actions.
Highlights
Utilising the theoretical framework of Pearson and Hobbs [1], this article defines the middle market in counterfeit alcohol distribution and its associated ‘enterprise’
Pearson and Hobbs [1, 2] discuss the problems in defining the ‘middle market’ of criminal enterprise, arguing that it is fluid and dependent on the range of actors and types of networks. They describe how actors can acquire different roles within different strata of the market. We draw upon these insights to analyse entrepreneurial activities in the middle market of counterfeit alcohol distribution
This is an important detailing of the structure of the counterfeit tobacco market and has striking similarities with the counterfeit alcohol market in terms of the role of actors
Summary
Utilising the theoretical framework of Pearson and Hobbs [1], this article defines the middle market in counterfeit alcohol distribution and its associated ‘enterprise’. The case files raise interesting questions concerning the nature and structure of the ‘illicit’ market and the relationship between different actors involved in the distribution at the middle market level, that is, the ‘enterprise’ of counterfeit alcohol distribution and the underlying commercial collaboration. We integrate a market structure analysis (i.e. nature and functioning of the counterfeit alcohol market) with an understanding of micro-level actor dynamics (i.e. social/criminal networks and processes of crime commission). The haulier is stopped and the load searched and over 17,000 l of counterfeit alcohol seized This was a relatively simple operation and the final delivery address was not concealed as in the ‘Delivery Case’ and the ‘North Case’ does not appear to require the same level of organisation. The speed of the organisation suggests that the movement of counterfeit product is a repetitive action and not a one-off opportunistic crime (Fig. 2)
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