Organized Group Activities Research Articles

О мерах по противодействию деятельности организованных преступных групп в сфере незаконного оборота наркотиков в новых условиях

Purpose of the study: analysis of measures and directions of countering the activities of organized criminal groups in the field of drug trafficking in new conditions. Research methods: logical, system-structural, statistical methods of scientific knowledge of social processes and phenomena are used in the work. Conclusions: neutralization of the activities of organized criminal groups operating in the field of drug trafficking is one of the strategic directions of international and national anti-drug policy. Of particular concern are the problems associated with the increase in the volume of illicit drug production in areas that are not sufficiently controlled by the authorities, as well as in zones of armed conflict. The Russian Federation actively uses international platforms to promote national approaches in the field of international drug control. However, international cooperation in this area has recently become highly politicized, which has a negative impact on the effectiveness of combating illicit organized drug trafficking, while there is an active merging of the drug business and terrorism. In this regard, the criminal drug market and organized criminal activities in the field of drug trafficking require close attention. Scientific and practical significance: the analysis presented in the article allows us to adequately assess the current situation and develop regulatory and organizational measures to counter organized criminal activity in the field of drug trafficking in new conditions.

Criminal group as a special form of complicity in a crime

Relevance. The relevance of this study is due to the high level of social danger and threat to public life and many areas of the state. Purpose. The purpose of the work is a detailed analysis and definition of the activities of organized criminal groups. Methodology. Among the methodological approaches used, it should be noted the theoretical methodological approach, the functional methodological approach, the formal legal methodological approach, the deduction method, the synthesis method and others. Results. It was noted that the theory of criminal law contains a certain range of problems that are associated with criminal liability for the creation and participation in organized criminal groups. To conduct a more detailed analysis of the definition of the concept of organizational criminal groups, several approaches from the theory of criminal law were studied, which made it possible to identify the main features and principles of the formation of this kind of illegal activity. The United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime was analyzed as a study of a criminal group through the prism of studying this concept at the international level. It was noted that sustainability is one of the main features that characterizes organizational criminal activity. Using a system-structural analysis, the main characteristics of criminal communities and organizational criminal groups were identified and summarized. The Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan was analyzed and the main legal collisions related to the definition of the concept of a criminal group and ways to counter this illegal organizational activity were noted; in this regard, certain recommendations have been offered. Conclusions. The practical value of the results obtained provides an opportunity to highlight additions to the national legislation for a more accurate definition of the concept under study and increase the effectiveness of counteracting it.

Особенности преступной активности китайской мафии в Восточной Сибири

The mythology and typology of Chinese organized crime, which engages in active illegal activities within the region, are explored through a historical and cultural context. The characteristics of the formation, hierarchy, and behavior of these criminal groups are examined. The methods by which Chinese citizens illegally enter the East Siberian region are highlighted. The criminal infra-structure established to serve the interests of Chinese organized crime is analyzed in detail, as well as the methods used to con-ceal their true objectives and intentions. The means of recruiting individuals into the sphere of influence of the Chinese mafia, the establishment of control over Russian and Chinese citizens to achieve their goals, and the mechanisms for acquiring, distrib-uting, and controlling large financial flows by the Chinese mafia are described. Based on the provided description, conclusions are drawn regarding the primary activities of Chinese organized crime groups in the region. It is noted that the current level of law enforcement response is insufficient. The conclusion includes a list of recommendations for counteracting this type of crime.

Features of the qualification of organized computer crime in Ukraine

This article analyzes the features inherent in the criminal qualification of criminal offenses in the field of use of electronic computing machines (computers), systems and computer networks and telecommunication networks that are of a group nature. It was established that their features are high technology, latency, usually a group nature and a high level of public danger, which makes it difficult to identify and investigate relevant crimes, bring all members of the group to criminal responsibility. It is noted that organized computer crime should be understood as a set of computer crimes committed in connection with the creation and activities of organized criminal groups. It has been established that accomplices in computer crimes are the organizer (mostly project coordinators, under whose leadership attack plans are developed, malicious software is created, confidential information about individuals is collected for the purpose of sale on the "black market”, etc.), executor, instigator and accomplice. It is emphasized that the special subject of these crimes is a hacker, who is usually the perpetrator of the crime. Arguments are given that the time interval between the conspiracy and the beginning of the commission of socially dangerous actions for each of the perpetrators of the crime does not play a key role, at the same time, the intention of pre­discussed concerted actions, which are necessary to achieve a criminal result, must be established. The tendency to increase the number of computer crimes with the use of remote access communication tools, the unification of hackers in groups that have signs of organized criminal groups, the use of specially created places for communication (forums, specialized sites, etc.), the presence of a clear hierarchy and distribution was revealed roles in the execution of illegal actions.

FIGHTING CROSS-BORDER CRIME AS A CHALLENGING TASK OF POLISH BORDER GUARD

The protection of the borders of the Polish state is a complex strategy of operations and it is a system that is not limited solely to the physical protection of the territory. This strategy is multidimensional and boils down to the implementation of many activities and legal acting aimed at protecting the state against illegal movement of goods and people. Border protection tactics additionally include all preventive actions preventing the import of hazardous materials and substances. It also involves combating cross-border crime and crimes involving foreigners. After the abolition of borders within the European Union, it also ensures the protection of the intra-EU customs territory. The bodies and institutions that are specialized units are responsible for the implementation of all these tasks: the Border Guard, the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland, as well as the Customs Service and the Office for Foreigners. Each of these entities performs separate tasks as part of the protection of the state border. The entity that plays the leading role in the state border protection system is the Border Guard. In addition to protecting the state border on land and sea, this formation is responsible for border traffic control and counteracting illegal migration and cross-border crime. The purpose of this article is to analyze the phenomenon of cross-border crime and to discuss the activities undertaken by the Border Guard in order to combat illegal migration and crime. The study takes into account statistical data for the first half of 2022 confirming the effectiveness of the Border Guard. The structure and dynamics of cross-border crime proves that border crime is strongly influenced by immigration, and - in the case of Poland - it is much higher on the eastern part of the state border (external EU border). The government’s concerns about illegal migration are not unfounded, as illegal migration is closely related to the activities of organized crime groups, including smuggling of weapons, drugs, human trafficking and other types of crime that affect the state of security of the state.

Neighborhood Walkability, Walking Difficulties, and Participation in Leisure Activities Among Older People: A Cross-Sectional Study and 4-Year Follow-Up of a Subsample.

Objectives: To study cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between objectively assessed neighborhood walkability, walking difficulties, and participation in leisure activities among older people. Methods: Self-reported 2km walking difficulty (intact, modifications, difficulties) at baseline and participating in organized group, outdoor recreation and cultural activities at baseline and follow-up were studied in community-dwelling persons (N = 848) aged 75-90. A walkability index, calculated using a geographic information system, was categorized into tertiles (lowest, middle, highest). Results: Residence in the highest walkability areas was associated with higher participation in cultural activities and lower participation in outdoor recreation, while the latter was most frequently reported by residents in the lowest walkability areas. Those reporting no difficulties were more likely than those reporting difficulties to participate in all studied activities. Residence in the middle or highest walkability areas predicted higher participation in cultural activities at follow-up. Discussion: Older persons activity profiles associate with neighborhood walkability and walking difficulties.

PROBLEMS OF PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION INTRODUCTION OF A PERSON INTO AN ORGANIZED CRIMINAL GROUP OR CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION TO PERFORM THE SPECIAL TASK OF UNDERSTANDING CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES

The article examines the existing problems of the practical implementation of the introduction of a person into an organized criminal group or criminal organization to perform a special task of preventing or uncovering his criminal activity in modern conditions. Attention is paid to the growth of the scale of organized crime, the spread of its influence on almost all spheres of public life, including the efforts of some of its representatives to control political and economic processes in the state, which creates a real threat to national security, which in turn, new tasks are presented to the subjects of the struggle and lead to the search for effective measures aimed at counteracting the specified negative social phenomenon. Attention is drawn to the fact that increasing the effectiveness of the fight against crime, which is gaining professionalism, organization, and transnationalization at the current stage, as well as strengthening the guarantee of ensuring the rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of a person in criminal proceedings, require the improvement of the toolkit for obtaining evidence in the criminal process. The instability of the socio-political and economic situation in society, the imperfection of the mechanism of state administration and the lack of effective public control over the activities of state authorities, the rapid decline in the standard of living of the majority of the population, as well as a number of other factors have currently created favorable conditions for the development of organized crime. The work emphasizes that the performance of a special task to prevent or uncover the criminal activities of organized criminal groups is a special type of task to prevent or uncover the activities of an organized group or criminal organization, which can be performed only by participating in the criminal activities of the specified groups with the aim of gaining trust and obtaining the necessary information.

When Crime Meets Pandemic: Organized Crimes and Triad Societies’ Activities during COVID-19 Pandemic in Hong Kong

Recent studies suggest that the pandemic has impacted criminal activities and organized crime groups. This article provides a qualitative review of changes in crime rates, patterns, and activities of organized crime groups (specifically, Triads) in Hong Kong. Three specific types of organized crimes with high Triad involvement were selected: serious violent crimes, serious drug-related crimes, and smuggling. After analyzing both official and non-official sources, the results showed that despite the government's stringent control measures that significantly suppressed socio-economic activities during the COVID-19 pandemic, the figures for these selected crimes rose tremendously. Triads' organized criminal activities became more frequent, dangerous, and aggressive, posing a severe threat to Hong Kong's law and order.

Primary Fight against «Minor» Corruption Crimes as a Problem of Judicial Practice and Forensics

The paper focuses on the problem raised in its title and verified it as a scientific hypothesis. Based on the analysis of regularities in the investigation of corruption crimes and scientific developments on the same subject, statistical data and standings of leading forensic scientists, it is proved that there are two problems: practical and scientific. The first is the presence of a negative pattern in the activities of law enforcement agencies, a kind of informal priority in the fight against minor crimes that do not represent legal and criminalistic complexity. The second problem related to the first, but already a scientific problem, is that a lot of scientific forensic developments, for example investigation techniques, are devoted to the description and investigation of just small, uncomplicated crimes. The author analyzes the causes of these problems, including methodological ones. Thus, in criminology, research programs for studying and generalizing the practice of investigating criminal cases have not been fully developed. Criminal cases that have resulted in convictions are not a completely valid and not the most informative source for a criminologist—developer. The author suggests supplementing these sources with a list of five types of, relatively speaking, «unrealized» materials.As a result, conclusions are drawn that criminology as a science should: 1) be critical of the noted practical regularity; 2) adopt the principle of priority for the development of recommendations for the investigation of the most complex and dangerous crimes. In addition, forensic techniques in cases of corruption crimes should contain a number of main areas of investigation, the essence of which is the priority of combating high—level, serial attacks, the activities of organized criminal groups and money laundering.

Development of new conceptual approaches to determining the forensic characteristics of the leader of organized criminal groups in the economic sphere

The article highlights an organized criminal group in the field of economy, as a stable association of persons who have organized themselves for regular joint criminal activity with a selfish purpose and to achieve control in a certain social sphere or in a certain territory. It is noted that the activities of organized criminal groups necessarily involve the assimilation of not only the «technology» of their functions, but also its ideology and psychology: norms оf so-called «hierarchical» behavior andcommunication; norms of discipline in the community; value orientation; recognition systems «own / foreign» and other elements of the criminal subculture. 
 When studying organized crime in the economic sphere, there are patterns in the nomination of a leader who, in criminal groups, is the organizer and head of all group criminal activity. The leader of an organized criminal group in the economicsphere performs certain functions: organizational, informational, strategic, normative-value and disciplinary. In particular, the leaders of organized criminal groups in the economic sphere are characterized by pragmatism, organizational skills, cunning and the desire to stand out among the group members. In general, the modern leader of an organized criminal community hasthe following characteristics: experience in criminal activity; strong will; fairly high level of mental abilities; the ability to keep one’s word; entrepreneurial spirit; communication skills; determination in actions; speed of orientation and ability to make decisions in difficult situations for the criminal community; the ability to ensure the secrecy of criminal offenses being preparedand initiated; knowledge of internal and external conditions of functioning of economic relations of the state; authoritarianism; cruelty; willingness to do anything to achieve the goal; the ability to subordinate others; belief in one’s own superiority; motivation and dominance of selfinterest - enrichment; lack of empathy; attitude towards people as a tool for achieving one’s goal.On the basis of research, we concluded that the leader of an organized criminal group in the field of economy is a dangerous criminal, an organizer who negatively affects other members of the group and who keeps them in submission and fear. Identifying and exposing him is an extremely difficult task.

Technology of criminal activities of organized criminal groups operating in combat conditions

Technology of criminal activities of organized criminal groups operating in combat conditions

Main directions regarding the prevention of the activities of organized groups and criminal organizations in European countries

Main directions regarding the prevention of the activities of organized groups and criminal organizations in European countries

Main directions regarding the prevention of the activities of organized groups and criminal organizations in European countries

Main directions regarding the prevention of the activities of organized groups and criminal organizations in European countries

The Pandemic and Organized Crime in Urban Latin America: New Sovereignty Arrangements or Business as Usual?

Using a focus on the ways that Covid-19 has impacted everyday life in urban Latin America, this article examines the shifting activities of organized criminal groups in the context of a global pandemic. Using grounded ethnographic fieldwork drawn from Brazil, it asks whether a health crisis with direct life and death consequences has empowered illicit actors, and by so doing changed longstanding relationships between illicit actors and citizens on one hand, and/or illicit actors and local authorities on the other. Its larger aim is to understand whether and how the global pandemic has impacted governance by producing new scalar and sovereignty tensions between state and non-state actors at the scale of the city, and with what implications for the legitimacy of national authorities and democratic governance more generally.

Information and psychological influences as a means of manipulating consciousness used by organized criminal groups

The article identifies the problem of insufficient legal and organizational support for obstructing the activities of organized criminal groups on the Internet. The problem of application of methods of information and psychological influences used by organized criminal groups in order to expand the spheres of influence of their criminal activities is highlighted. Attention is drawn to the following types of criminal manipulation of human consciousness, which are used to commit cyberstalking, cyber fraud and other illegal acts. It is believed that in Ukraine it is extremely necessary to develop the field of research – cyber victimology.

Is there a decline in ecoterrorism?

The purpose of the article is to briefly characterize ecoterrorism, which is based on a specific ideology. Some of the content proclaimed by its promoters might merit support were it not for their overly dehumanizing rhetoric, and especially the practice motivated by it. The phenomenon of ecoterrorism, or environmental terrorism, is associated with the use of violence by extremist pro-environment groups and radicalized individuals. Ecoterrorism is divided into pro-environmental terrorism and pro-animalism. Environmental terrorism can also be divided into terrorism by environmentalists and terrorism by animal rights activists. The greatest development of ecoterrorism has occurred in the United States. Animal Liberation Front, ALF was the most dangerous pro-environmental organization, while the group with the most members was Earth First, EF! Violence by eco-terrorists has occurred in many countries on our continent, most notably in the United Kingdom. The ideology of ecocentrism, which motivates the activities of many groups in the West, has penetrated Poland, but in our country it has not had much influence on the activities of organized groups of environmentalists and individuals. On the other hand, incidents of violence were recorded in a series of events directed against specific companies and institutions that threatened the environment. The research shows that there is a slow but steady decline in the number of ecoterrorism incidents worldwide. It is too early to predict its decline, but there is certainly evidence of declining violent activity. Several circumstances contribute to the downscaling of aggressive environmental activities. Above all, there has been an increase in the environmental awareness of societies and governments. A large impact on the decrease in the number of ecoterrorist events is also due to the tightening of legislation, as well as the activities of environmental organizations.

Threats to the economic security of the state caused by the activities of transnational organized criminal groups

Threats to the economic security of the state caused by the activities of transnational organized criminal groups

The phenomenon of human organ trafficking in light of the United Nations sustainable development agenda with special emphasis on cultural offences in Republic of Kosovo

The article concerns the issues related to the illegal trade in human tools in the light of the theoretical structure of sustainable development created by the United Nations (UN). The text consists of several parts. The work aims to show the following research areas: – axiological and legal assumptions of sustainable development in the context of a triple win: social, economic and environmental, – the criminological profile and picture of organized crime in the Republic of Kosovo – trafficking in human organs in the territory of the Republic of Kosovo, – information on traditional customary law (Kanun) in Albanian culture – analysis of the phenomenon of harvesting human organs in Kosovo. The last part of the article presents the economic, social and criminological problems of Kosovo in the context of the Sustainable Development Agenda.The analysis contained in the text proves that the youngest European country (2008) struggles with many problems of a legal, economic and social nature. These problems are not only a consequence of the recent post-Slavic armed conflicts but also result from the specific Albanian legal culture (Kanun rules), which still affects the functioning of this society (especially in the provinces). Therefore, these customs still determine the level of crime in this country, both common and related to the activities of organized crime groups (with particular emphasis on trafficking in human organs). Therefore, it is recommended to successively implement the legal solutions contained in the Agenda for Sustainable Development, to stabilize not only this country but the entire region.

The state of scientific development of the problem of operational and investigative counteraction by criminal police units to the promotion of criminally illegal activities of an organized group or criminal organization

The article examines the state of scientific development of assistance to criminally illegal activities of an organized group or criminal organization in the context of consideration of various aspects of operational and investigative counteraction to criminal wrongdoing by criminal police units.
 The relevance of the topic is proved, the priority directions that will contribute to the solution of the scientific problem are determined. It is proved that this scientific problem is insufficiently paid attention to in the works of domestic specialists in the field of operative-investigative activity, as well as at the level of dissertation and monographic research, the problem of operational and investigative counteraction by criminal police units is insufficiently studied in the field of operational and investigative activities. It is noted that solving the problems of counteracting the state of illegal activities of organized groups or criminal organizations requires a comprehensive approach and implementation of appropriate measures by the government and society to promote processes to prevent illegal activities, neutralize existing groups and organizations, overcome the consequences of participants these communities.
 It is emphasized that the priority is scientific problems related to the provision of freelancers of operational development of persons who contribute to the illegal activities of organized groups or criminal organizations; using criminal analytics to identify individuals who contribute to the illegal activities of organized groups or criminal organizations; separation of the category of persons who contribute to the illegal activities of organized groups or criminal organizations in the operational records of the National Police of Ukraine; the use of covert investigative (search) actions against persons who contribute to the illegal activities of organized groups or criminal organizations; conducting operational and investigative measures in order to identify primary operational and investigative information regarding persons who contribute to the illegal activities of organized groups or criminal organizations.

Community participation in adults with autism: A systematic review.

This systematic review aimed to explore how adults with autism participate in the community, the impact of community participation on quality of life and mental health, and factors that support and hinder participation. A systematic review was conducted including studies published from inception to 17 January 2021. Sixty-three reports were included, reporting on 58 studies. Solitary activities, organised group activities, community activities, religious groups and online social participation were identified. The relationship between community participation and quality of life was examined. Barriers and facilitators to increased community participation were identified. Most studies had a moderate to high risk of bias. Adults with autism participate in a range of independent and community activities. The impact of community participation on quality of life and mental health warrants further exploration. Future studies should find effective ways of supporting adults with autism to participate in the community.