Contraband Goods Research Articles

Physical Patrol and Border Security Management at the Namanga One Stop Boarder Post, Kenya

Border administration encompasses all legal and administrative measures a sovereign state implements to secure, protect, and strengthen the sovereignty, security, safety, and integrity of its territory. Consequently, it is essential to any national migration strategy. The border administration policies emphasize the necessity for all participants in border management to be engaged to enhance the effectiveness of border operations. Security measures are normally enhanced along the border posts to improve on the national security of a given country by preventing entrance of terrorists, illegal goods and human trafficking. These security measures ensure safety at the border. The primary objective was to evaluate the effects of physical patrol on border security management at the Namanga one stop boarder post, Kenya. A descriptive survey research design was utilized. The population comprised of the employees at the Namanga OSBP, including police officers, customs officials, immigration officers, and National Intelligence Service employees, among others. The research used stratified random sampling. The data was collected via the use of questionnaires. Data analysis was done with the help of SPSS and then presented using tables, percentages, graphs and pie charts. This study found out that border security is complex and it requires various interventions, which entails a combination of technology and human security personnel for effective operations. In regard to objective one, the researcher finds that physical patrol emerges as a fundamental border security management measure, and is considered essential in enhancing security at the border point by minimizing insecurity incidents and eliminating potential of border security breaches. Based on the findings, this study concluded that various security measures, including physical patrols, integrated scanning, and electronic monitoring, are essential in the management of border security and in enhancing services. A major recommendation of the study is to promote greater multi-agency and multi-stakeholder collaboration as a means of detaining individuals attempting to enter a country illegally and effectively seizing any contraband goods. This necessitates more efficient border patrols and surveillance strategies.

The Algerian Enemy Within

Abstract During World War II police officers in Marseille and Algiers relentlessly hunted Algerian black market operatives. Hundreds of reports from these two cities detail the actions taken to prevent individuals from selling contraband goods, exceeding fixed market prices, or ignoring rationing protocols. Long-standing colonial stereotypes had labeled Algerians as prone to theft and violence, but the economic restrictions of war created a new category of the imagined Algerian criminal: the black market trafficker. In police reports the figure of the Algerian profiteer is omnipresent, but internal communications acknowledged that Europeans profited from the black market, too. Why, then, the fixation on Algerians? This article argues that police developed a narrative of Algerians as “internal enemies” of France. Their underlying suspicion of Algerians endured throughout World War II even as governments rose and fell in France and loyalties of the entire nation shifted. In treating Algerians as threats to national security, the police justified a system of control that homogenized the Algerian community along racial lines. The racialized policing of “anti-French” Algerian traffickers built not just on visual codes of race but also on how police practice mapped ideas of race onto the space of the city.

Smuggling “in the new way” or analysis of the latest legislative changes

The article examines the changes made to the CC by the Law of Ukraine “On Amendments to the Criminal Code of Ukraine and the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine regarding the criminalization of smuggling of goods and excise goods, as well as false declaration of goods” dated 09.12.2023 № 3513-IX. It not only brought back criminal responsibility for smuggling of goods as an independent component of the crime, also made several other changes to Chapter VII of the Special Part of the CC. The purpose of this article is to analyze the legislative amendments regarding the recriminalization of smuggling of goods, excise goods and to develop a proposal for further improvement of the provisions of Art. 201, 201-1, 201-3 and 201-4 of the CC.
 The analysis of the novels made it possible to establish that, on the one hand, the recriminalization of the smuggling of goods is a rather successful decision of the legislator, since for a long time it was an urgent need that both scientists and practitioners talked about. On the other hand, the adoption of Law № 3513-IX, first of all, violated the system of norms located in Chapter VII of the Special Part of the CC. It seems that in Art. 201 of the CC should establish criminal liability for smuggling of goods, while in Art. 201-1 of the CC should provide for criminal liability for the smuggling of goods that have specific conditions for their export/import (excise goods, timber or lumber of valuable and rare tree species, unprocessed timber), as well as items that are prohibited to be exported from Ukraine (cultural values, other timber that is prohibited for export outside the customs territory of Ukraine). Provisions on the smuggling of other items should be fixed in Chapter IX or XIII of the Special Part of the CC of Ukraine. It is not possible to agree with the minimum amount of contraband goods established by the legislator, which is related to their total value. The sanction for smuggling goods is subject to criticism, as it does not take into account the requirements of Part 2 of Article 53 of the CC. There is also a question regarding the final punishment in cases of smuggling of goods and other items provided for in Art. 201, 201-1 and 201-4 of the CC. It is also appropriate to exclude points 1 and 2 of the footnote to Art. 201 of the CC, which provides definitions of methods of committing the smuggling of any items.

Kaçak | qaçax | قاچاق : fugitive forms of bureaucracy and economy across Southwest Asia

ABSTRACT Electricity and petroleum stolen from grids of distribution. Livestock, tea, and tobacco traded as contraband goods across national borders. An apartment building built without permits. A defendant who refuses to show up to his trial. What unites these seemingly disparate situations in Turkey, Kurdistan and Iran is that they are all described with the qualifier kaçak. Although conventionally translated into English as the equivalent of ‘smuggled good,' the semantic domain of kaçak in Turkish (loaned into Kurdish and Persian) is more capacious than ‘smuggled’ signifies: Derived from the Turkish verb kaçmak - to run away, flee, or be a fugitive - kaçak helps us recover the act of breaching the obligations of a social or legal contract as a constitutive field of politics, framed by the socio-cultural constructions of modern bureaucracy and economy. Each participant tracks kaçak as a good, as a tapped resource or a legally sanctioned person, and shows the many forms kaçak takes in the hands of concrete social actors under historically specific material conditions. Further, kaçak provides a historically and geographically more expansive windows into the politically instituted process that is the making of states and economies in cross-regional and cross-disciplinary ways.

Intelligence Gathering and Sustainable Crime Management in Nigeria

Nigeria has witnessed different categories of crime and unimagined attacks such as terrorism attacks, insurgency, proliferation of arms and ammunition, transnational organized crimes, drug trafficking, bandit’s attacks, kidnapping, abduction, violence attacks on individuals and robberies, cybercrimes, trading on illicit drugs and dealing on contraband goods. Crime in the society today has become a recurring daily discussion that is bordering all manner of individuals and group living in the society. There is therefore every need to take proactive measures at ending this menace that has become an enemy not only to the growth and development of the society but the entire existence of humanity. The study focuses on the application of intelligence gathering in crime in management Nigeria. This study delves into the relevance of the intelligence gatheringapproach in crime management within the Nigerian context, while exploring the nature of intelligence gathering and its application in Nigeria. This research investigates the practical implementation of intelligence gathering and its impact on crime management and control in Nigeria. The study uses qualitative data that allows for the identification of emergent themes and patterns of criminality in Nigeria. Findings indicate that the intelligence gathering approach holds relevance in adapting to dynamic criminal trends in Nigeria. This study contributes to the discourse on modernizing law enforcement strategies in Nigeria by examining the practical relevance of the intelligence gathering in crime control. The study’s outcomes aim to inform policies and practices that enhance the effectiveness of intelligence-driven approach in addressing crime challenges, offering insights for strategic decision-making in the realm of law enforcement.

Dynamics of Maritime Trade along the Fako Coastal Belt of Cameroon: Ambiance, Challenges and Sustainable Combat Strategies

Maritime trade is dynamic and indispensable for economic growth and development around the World. This trade if not well monitored can become a threat to development considering the illicit and criminal transactions that surrounds the sector. In Cameroon, this informal trade has degraded customs income and promoted the infiltration of contraband goods into the country via local anchorage sites where custom services are weak. This trade has affected the State pricing policy of certain goods especially fuel. It is against this background that this study sets out to investigate, seaborne trade, and the illegal transactions that are common along the Fako coastal belt of Cameroon. Data for the study have been gathered from secondary and primary sources. Secondary data were gleaned from soft and hard copies of both published and unpublished documents, newspapers, and decrees relevant to maritime transport and trade. Primary data were sourced from field surveys where a simple random sampling technique was used to administer 278 copies of questionnaires to 10 localities along the Fako coastal belt of Cameroon using a convenient sample size. Supplementary primary data was gotten via interviews and observations in the three seaports along the coast. Results revealed that the Limbe, Tiko and Idenau ports though secondary, handles thousands of tonnes of cargo annually making Fako Division where they are located in Cameroon an eminent trading hub. Statistics from the Limbe Port Authority (PAL) indicated an increasing trend of export and imports annually in thousands of tonnes. The results shows that illicit seaborne trade is very common along this coastal belt with over 67 percent of the goods coming in from neighbouring Nigeria. The illicit product identified are petroleum products (46.2%), pharmaceutical products (30 %), food items (16.7%) and chemical fertilizers and others (5.3% and 3.8%) respectively. The results also revealed that in the year 2021 between January and August, over 18 cases of illicit goods were intercepted along this coastline with petroleum products destined to Limbe, Tiko and Idenau ports dominating. The reasons for the persistency of this illicit trade were corruption and the existence of a network of illegal organisation that transact the goods. This study recommends that custom and naval services be reinforced along this coastal belt to ascertain the type and originality of the products entering the country via the sea. Also, the State should investigate and dismantle illicit and organised illegal seaborne trade chains and charge officials at the maritime frontiers to be responsible and corruption free.

OPTIMIZATION OF MALUKU'S DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE’S SUPERVISION FUNCTION IN THE ARCHIPELAGIC REGIONS FOR EXCITED GOODS CIRCULATION

The Directorate General of Customs and Excise carries out the formulation and implementation of policies in the field of supervision, law enforcement, service, and optimization of state revenues in the customs and excise sector based on the provisions of laws and regulations. This research determined the extent to which the Ternate Office of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise implemented the supervisory function in supervising the circulation of excisable goods and other contraband goods in the North Maluku community. This research also described the optimization of services applied by Ternate Office of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise. The results of this research showed that the institution optimized the internal control function of excisable goods as measured by Key Performance Indicators and collaboration between institutions such as the Operational Facility Base, the Indonesian Navy, the Indonesian Amy, the Indonesian Air, and Water Police, the National Narcotics Agency or Badan Narkotika Nasional (BNN), the Ministry of Tr, and the Ministry of Tr. The major obstacles in the implementation included the limited number of personnel and facilities considering the vast area being monitored, the strategic area of the North Maluku waters, as well as community and cultural factors.

Implications for National Security in Nigeria

The federal government of Nigeria ordered the partial closure of all land borders with her neighbours such as Benin Republic, Cameroun, Chad and Niger on the 20th August, 2019.The decision by the Nigerian government was to curb smuggling of contra-band agro-allied products (especially rice and poultry products), petroleum products (especially premium motor spirit), reduce influx of illegal migrants, control proliferation of small arms and light weapons and, finally to strengthen internal security of the country. However, this government policy has resulted in increase in inflation rate to above 11.85 percent, closure of business by some manufacturing companies, loss of jobs, increase in security challenges, and also a breach of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) protocols and African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) guidelines etc. The study aimed at identifying the factors responsible for border closure, the implications for the closure for national security in Nigeria, and solutions to address these problems. It adopted secondary method of data collection which includedtextbooks, journals, newspapers, magazines and internet information. The study adopted frustration-aggression theory as its theoretical framework. The study adopted library research and documentary evidence as its instruments of data analysis. The findings of the study showed that border closure has resulted in inflationary pressure, increase in local rice production, unemployment due to lay-offs etc. The study recommended installation of security equipment /device that can track down illegal migrants and smugglers of contra-band goods, strict adherence to ECOWAS protocols and AfCFTA guidelines etc.

Border Security: A Culture in Crisis in South Western Nigeria?

A combination of public speculations and avalanche of media reportage are suggestive of fading culture of border security giving rise to evolving organized crimes along popular borders between Nigeria and Benin Republic. The study sought to establish veracity or otherwise of the claim with a view to signpost possible implications via security lens. Study adopted descriptive design and empirical evidence from analyzed data indicated faded culture of border security and affirmed six genres of organized crimes namely human trafficking, vehicle smuggling, smuggling of contraband goods, smuggling of small arms and light weapons, drug trafficking and migrant smuggling, perpetrated at varying degrees with contributory causes being border porosity, ignorance of the crimes, lucrativity of the crimes, poverty and unemployment. The nefarious practices were affirmed and noted to constitute a huge burden on the nation in different spheres, security sphere in particular. Thus, upgraded digitization of border security operations via incorporation of aerial surveillance, training on inter-agency collaboration, sensitization of border area dwellers, strategic recruitment of personnel and national rebirth advocacy to encourage legitimate dealings along the corridor to rebuild the culture of border security intelligence among border community dwellers and rekindle sense of patriotism in border security operatives were recommended

ARMED BANDITRY AND BORDER MONITORING: CHALLENGES FOR NIGERIA’S SECURITY, PEACE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

The greatest challenge facing Nigeria today is international terrorism that is aided by religious extremism, porosity of borderline and cross-border security challenges and crime. Indeed, the existence of porous borders and cross-border and frontier activities in Nigeria has aided crimes and security challenges across Nigerian borders for long without any specific solutions. This paper examines the security challenges and the socio-economic effects of insurgency and armed banditry in Nigeria. The country as a nation state is under a severe internal socio economic and security threat. At a more general level, the threat has social, economic, political and environmental dimensions. Each of these dimensions has greatly affected the nation’s stability, and can be traced to the ethnic militia armies, ethnic and religious conflicts, poverty, terrorism, armed robbery, corruption, economic sabotage and environmental degradation. The efforts of the government to eradicate insurgency, banditry and corruption have been slow and costly in terms of public funds spent, lives and properties lost. This has made the citizenry to question, the efficiency of the menace. Using frustration-aggression theory, the paper then revealed that the major criminal activities in Nigeria borders are smuggling of contraband goods and illegal immigrants, trafficking in weapons and human parts, drug trafficking, vehicle crime, trafficking of illegally exploited natural resources, including the illicit trade in timber, oil and diamond among others. This growth and flourishing entry without proper check or monitoring, has brought about insurgency, armed banditry, kidnapping and corruption, etc. which has become a problem of security as a result of these borderless-borders in Nigeria, with armed banditry becoming one of the most intractable challenges facing the country today. There are many speculations that the groups may have found their way through our porous borders. Therefore, the study probes into the nature of Nigeria borders using Historical/descriptive method of research and analysis in Armed Banditry and Border Monitoring: Challenges for Nigeria’s Security, Peace and Sustainable Development. The study data were collected through documentation of secondary sources, including review of related literature journals and write-ups even as it built on the findings of already existing works about emerging security threats in Nigeria. The study is concluded by recommending among others that the country should evolve a sustainable social security system which will discourage public office holders from engaging in corruption, with good information sharing techniques providing gainful employment opportunities for the citizenry, etc.
 
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Promising directions for increasing the efficiency of customs scanning devices

The purpose of the article is to summarize and comparative analysis of modern research in the field of scanning equipment for customs, airports and ports. Today, 70 % of scanning devices in the world are based on the use of X-rays. This equipment can significantly reduce the time of customs inspection of goods, but it also has significant drawbacks. Therefore, it is urgent to further search for modern technologies that would become the basis for the development of highly effective modern scanning devices capable of detecting illegal and hazardous materials, such as explosives, chemical weapons, drugs, radioactive materials, and the like during customs inspection of goods. One of the promising areas of introscopy of large loads is muon tomography. The advantages of muon tomography, such as high penetrating power, the absence of additional radiation exposure on personnel and controlled goods and vehicles, the ability to construct a three-dimensional image of the controlled object, and the identification of contraband goods in shielded containers, make it a promising method of introscopy for customs control of bulky cargo. It is important that muons are safe to use and do not pose any risk to human health (unlike, for example, X-rays), and do not harm the environment in any appreciable way. Therefore, their use is not regulated by safety regulations. Muon scanning technology is under development primarily due to poor muon statistics over a short period of time. For customs purposes, space muons can be used as follows: to detect shielded nuclear materials and to identify drugs and explosives. The reason that currently makes it impossible to introduce muon tomographs as an independent means of customs control in the practical activities of customs authorities is the absence of sensitive detector of muon radiation, the search for which is the goal of further research in this area.

Detection module of the C-BORD Rapidly Relocatable Tagged Neutron Inspection System (RRTNIS)

This article reports a detailed description of the integration tests of the first Rapidly Relocatable Tagged Neutron Inspection System (RRTNIS) carried out at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre in Ispra (Italy). This technology allows the detection and identification of suspicious or illicit materials (such as narcotics, explosives, contraband goods, etc.) inside a cargo container using active neutron interrogation, with the so-called associated particle technique. The method is based on the measurement of the gamma photons emitted by the de-excitation of nuclei that undergo, mainly, inelastic scatterings with incident fast neutrons (En∼ 14 MeV). A set of scintillation detectors (NaI:Tl and LaBr3:Ce) is employed to perform gamma spectroscopy. The data acquisition system is based on fast signal digitizers and customized data acquisition software. A general technical description of the detection module and an outline of the data acquisition system (DAQ) are given. Also, we present the results of the integration tests, in particular, some examples of the performance of the system in the laboratory are shown, specifically, when using no target (background measurement) and when using mono-elemental and an explosive simulant target. Obtained results suggest that all technical requirements are achieved, and the next step will be the field trials.

КРИМІНАЛЬНО-ПРАВОВА РЕГЛАМЕНТАЦІЯ ЗЛОЧИНІВ У СФЕРІ НЕДОТОРКАНОСТІ ДЕРЖАВНОГО... КОРДОНУ УКРАЇНИ ТА ЇЇ УДОСКОНАЛЕННЯ

Committing crime in the field of inviolability of state boundary of Ukraine is violation of interests of the state in the field of the guard of state boundary, violation of interests of the state is in the field of the guard of state boundary, violation of the set order of his crossing, and also violation of interests of society and individuals. Except it, crimes in the field of marked can be the stage of preparation to other grave or especially heavy crimes or encroaching upon them, or by the means of feasance of other crimes. As operative and inquisitional practice, special services of the foreign states, persons or their groups hostilely adjusted to our country, confirms use illegal penetration to Ukraine for a conduct against her of subversive activity, for example, trenching upon life of state or public figure, diversion, espionage, contraband goods of weapon, ammunition, military technique, assassination, contraband goods of narcotic facilities, psychotropic substances, their analogues or прекурсорів or falsifyed medicinal facilities. The illegal crossing of state boundary from Ukraine outside her territory can be perfect the citizens of Ukraine, that collected information illegally, that presented a state secret, by persons that committed crime in Ukraine and have for an object to avoid legal responsibility for different offences. The aim of the article is continuation of research of dispositions of the articles of КК of Ukraine, that set responsibility for committing crime in the field of inviolability of state boundaries of Ukraine, and formulation on this basis of suggestions in relation to the possible improvement of corresponding norms of criminal right. Crimes offer as a result of research, envisaged century of century 332, 3322 , 334, to distinguish in the separate division of Special part of КК of Ukraine. As actions of leader of illegal passage of persons through the state boundary of Ukraine not always coincide with the actions of organizer of this crime, it costs to add to the century 27 КК of Ukraine Types of corresponding part, that would determine the concept of leader, that is there is a person, that manages the feasance of criminal offence, heads distribution of roles and feasance of certain actions. Also to add to the century 332 КК of Ukraine part fourth, that would set an increase responsibility for the actions, envisaged by parts first, second and third the real article, if they entailed death even one person or other heavy consequences. To КК of Ukraine it is desirable to include concept suffering from a crime in the release of century 55 the Criminal code of practice of Ukraine, adding society and state to the physical and legal person, that also suffer at the feasance of criminal offences. Expedient is a return to КК of Ukraine of century a 331 illegal crossing of state boundary of Ukraine. It is necessary to set an increase responsibility at illegal passage of person (persons) through the state boundary of Ukraine from selfish motives in case of receipt for such operating of pay on a sum, that in 600 and more than times exceeds untaxable a minimum of acuestss of citizens in the moment of feasance of this criminal offence. Third type of criminal activity, envisaged to the century 334 КК of Ukraine of Non-observance of the routes, places of landing, air-routes, corridors or echelons, marked in permission as independent crime it follows to envisage the separate article and attribute her to Division of CHI of Special part of КК of Ukraine «Criminal offences against safety of motion and exploitation of transport». Corpus, envisaged century delict 3321 , it follows to attribute to Division of ІХ of Special part of КК of Ukraine «Criminal offences against public safety».

Cameroon's choppy waters: The anatomy of fisheries crime in the maritime fisheries sector

This article removes the lid on fisheries crime in Cameroon by providing empirical evidence of criminal practices along the maritime fisheries value chain. To achieve this, the study relied on both primary and secondary data. Primary data was collected from direct observation, informal group discussions and semi-structured interviews involving state officials, coastal community groups and other civil society organisations in the west maritime district of Southwest Cameroon. The article reveals a plethora of fisheries-related crimes encompassing corruption (i.e. bribery and abuse of office), document and identity fraud, illegal exploitation of fish maws and endangered marine mammals. Other crimes associated to the fisheries sector included: smuggling of contraband goods, arms smuggling, illegal migration, illegal recruitment and abuse of workers' rights. Through these examples, this research empirically demonstrates the interrelationship of the different criminal practices and their organised and transnational dimension. The study also paints a complex picture of criminality perpetuated by a sophisticated network of both local and foreign industrial fisheries stakeholders. Consequently, addressing illicit activities in the maritime fisheries sector requires cooperation from a wide range of both state and non-state actors in investigating and analysing the nature of fisheries crime practices, the agents involved and their modes of operation. This approach is necessary to gain a better understanding of the problem and enable actors design appropriate and targeted management responses.

STRATEGIC ORIENTARIES OF LEGALIZATION OF THE ECONOMY OF UKRAINE: ECONOMIC AND LEGAL ASPECTS

The processes of globalization and integration of economy ofUkraineto outer economic space provoke an origin in the country of a number of the crisis phenomena and destabilizing factors that negatively influence on socio-economic development of country. Among them distinguish economic activity of subjects of menage and shadow of economy.At the same time, a world economy is characterized by a double structure that shows up in legal and illegal sectors. The basic structural components of legal sector of economy are certain in the article, namely: legal trading in legal commodities; legal migration of labour force; legal motion of raw material and informative resources, capital assets, and also illegal sector of economy : contraband goods; illegal migration and trading in people; contraband goods of sources of raw materials; international "white-washing"; economic espionage and trade. On the basis of компаративного analysis the legal analysis of criminal legislation, the results of that allow to assert that in Ukraine responsibility increases for corruption abuses and set limitations for persons, that accomplished them, is conducted, and also in relation to their amnesty. The basic factors of origin of such important component are considered in the structure of shadow economy as shadow employment that renders direct influence on the indexes of socio-economic development of country. The basic ways of детінізації of economy and counteraction are outlined corruptions in a country, the scales of that attained critical in recent year. To that end providing of motivational normatively-legal environment, that would assist the conduct of legal economic activity, appears near-term; reduction of tax pressure is on small and midsize businesses; reduction of scales of протиправної employment. On the basis of empiric researches with the use of programmatic packages of MS Excel, Statistiсa 8,0 and CurveExpert5,0 astudy of dynamics of criminal realizations is undertaken in the most widespread corruption crimes taken into account in 2013 - 2017 and tendencies in relation to motion of crimes in the most widespread corruption crimes, criminal realizations after that are closed in 2013-2017 and part of crimes, realization is certain after that closed 2013-2017 On the basis of економіко-математичних calculations diagnostics of level of тінізації of economy of Ukraine is conducted in 2010-2018 Investigational and systematized basic problem construction effective system anticorruption legislation in Ukraine, in particular, in part establishment responsibility at such family. With the aim of search of methods of estimation of volumes of shadow economy and ways of her детінізації it is suggested to conduct research of tendencies of shadow economy in Ukraine by means of model of Солоу, essence of that consists in consideration of shadow economy as single unit of the economic phenomenon (without structural elements) and in the adequate enough reflection of major macroeconomic aspects of тінізації of process of production.

Mirror Statistics on Foreign Trade of Kyrgyzstan with China

The discrepancy in international trade statistics remains a matter of serious concern for Kyrgyz policy makers due to high contribution from trade to the budget of a country. This article examines the import and export statistic of Kyrgyzstan with its main foreign trade partner China by the mirror statistics method for the period from 2008 to 2015. Among the causes of discrepancies (asymmetry) in international trade statistics there are various reasons - from different systems of different customs regimes, emerging issues such as re-export to corruption and false declaration. The results obtained by Kyrgyz Republic and its major trading partner People’s Republic of China indicate the decrease of asymmetry through the researched period. However, such significant asymmetry cannot be explained by the difference in customs reporting approaches. This allows to assume the presence of corruption and contraband goods.

Bitcoin Investigations: Evolving Methodologies and Case Studies

Bitcoin is a decentralized, pseudonymous, virtual currency which has been linked to many nefarious activities, such as money laundering, ransomware demands, and the purchase of contraband goods and services. Although it has many redeeming features such as low transaction costs, no charge-backs, and service to the world’s 2.5 billion unbanked, the public has become aware of Bitcoin through spectacular news stories of corruption and criminal activities. Techniques to investigate Bitcoin and to identify its users are therefore required to enforce laws and protect the public. This paper discusses what Bitcoin is and how it works, and explores various investigative methodologies to perform Bitcoin network analysis, transactional analysis, and wallet analysis. Finally, this paper discusses emerging issues and suggests areas for improvement with the goal of gaining general acceptance of investigative techniques for admissibility as scientific evidence in courtroom testimony.

Security Implications of Free Movement for Countries of the Economic Community of West African States

This paper examines the security implications of free movement of people in the member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). In doing so, it explores the nature and dynamics of the security challenges which the Protocol on free movement has generated for the member states of this sub-regional organisation, and how these fed into and intensified the security problems bedeviling the sub-region over the past decades. The focus on the Protocol, which was adopted in 1979, is informed by the fact that it has, in the last couple of decades, been exploited by criminals to perpetrate all manners of nefarious activities, notably human trafficking, drug trafficking, small arms and light weapons trafficking, smuggling of contraband goods, cross-border armed robbery and banditry, kidnapping for ransom and terrorist activities, all of which constitute serious security concerns to the sub[1]region. It is important, for example, to note that the relative ease with which trafficking and terror gangs traverse the sub-region and carry out targeted attacks on innocent people as well as public and private facilities is directly linked to the provisions of the Protocol which, among other things, abolished requirements for visas and entry permit for Community citizens travelling within the region. The study found out that criminals travel within the region without documents as stipulated by the Protocol and illegally smuggle prohibited goods across national boundaries. It also revealed that ECOWAS does not have a computer database and this makes it difficult for border officials to document the identities of travelers, making it easier for people to commit crimes without being identified. The study discovered that this illegal movement has not only impacted negatively on human security but has also impeded intra regional efforts at ensuring security and sustainable development within the sub-region. The paper recommends that a special regular joint-border patrol should be put in place as a way of strengthening the existing collective regional security framework in West Africa. Both primary and secondary data were used for this study. Primary data were sourced through the conduct of in-depth interviews while secondary data were obtained from relevant textbooks and journals. The analysis of data generated was essentially qualitative, using descriptive and content analyses. The theoretical framework adopted for analysing this work is critical theory, which gives primacy to non-state national and transnational actors rather than making the state the primary referent of security. This theory offers more convincing explanations on how non-state criminal groups have taken advantage of the free movement Protocol of ECOWAS to perpetrate terrorism and trafficking of people and goods, with all their negative security implications.

Взаємодія підрозділів правоохоронних органів України у протидії контрабанді наркотичних засобів: теоретичні та практичні аспекти

Взаємодія підрозділів правоохоронних органів України у протидії контрабанді наркотичних засобів: теоретичні та практичні аспекти

Risk assessment of critical infrastructures – New parameters for commercial ports

Risk assessment of critical infrastructures is an important topic, but the available methodologies do not enable the proper scoring of the risks to commercial port infrastructures, which is vital to formulating effective and realistic security plans. Developing a comprehensive risk assessment methodology for commercial ports is a long-term project. However, this paper focuses on the first mandatory step of analyzing the different types of risks faced by a commercial port infrastructure. The number of potential risks is large – information technology risks, operational risks, labor risks, etc. Therefore, the emphasis is on the risks associated with threats to people, infrastructure, services and goods, which include terrorism, sabotage, criminal activities involving contraband goods and human trafficking, and labor conflicts.This paper presents a methodology for improving the scoring of the risks to commercial ports and understanding their real scope. This is accomplished by examining the key methodologies related to infrastructures in general and commercial ports in particular. After comparing the characteristics of the selected methodologies, the paper discusses the results of a survey of experts at Spanish ports and an analysis of almost two years of security statistics, the goal being to obtain realistic information about the importance of the various risks in order to specify suitable countermeasures and evaluate their costs. The results have enabled the identification of several new parameters that must be considered when assessing the risks to commercial ports, as well as enhancements to the definitions and use of some of the existing parameters. The new parameters include the intrinsic risk to a port, intrinsic risk to the type of terminal, accessibility, terminal layout and operational relevance of key elements to port operations (e.g., structures, railroad facilities and warehouses). The results presented in this paper have been validated by an expert panel.