Illegal Trafficking Research Articles

The presence of experienced individuals enhance the behavior and survival of reintroduced woolly monkeys in Colombia.

Primate populations are under threat due to human activities, like illegal trafficking, requiring conservation efforts such as reintroduction programs. However, these initiatives often encounter challenges, such as aspects of individual behavior related to movement and foraging. The presence of experienced conspecifics has been suggested to improve the success of these programs. This study focuses on woolly monkeys and examines how the presence of experienced conspecifics influences the performance of reintroduced individuals. Focal animal sampling was used to collect data on proximity, diet composition, home range, and use of vertical strata of three groups of reintroduced woolly monkeys. Data was analyzed for the first 2 and 6months after release of individuals. The results reveal that the involvement of experienced conspecifics speeds up the process of adaptation, particularly in terms of diet diversity and spatial utilization; however, differences in individual responses were also prevalent. Our findings highlight the importance of incorporating individuals with prior wild experience into reintroduction groups for improving the likelihood of success. Additionally, the study underscores the role of social learning in captive management practices, aiding in post-release behavioral adaptation and survival. This research offers valuable insights for primate conservation, emphasizing the significance of considering the presence of experienced individuals and possible social learning processes in the planning and execution of effective reintroduction efforts.

Animal family discrimination from hair using ATR-FTIR and machine learning methods for applications in illegal wildlife trafficking.

Wildlife forensics plays a pivotal role in the combating illegal trafficking, supporting biodiversity conservation, and aiding in the identification of animals in wildlife. Animal hair, often found in trafficking crimes, serves as vital biological evidence that can provide significant information for animal identification. This study proposes a novel method integrating machine learning classifiers with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy in attenuated total reflectance (ATR) mode to enhance the effectiveness of animal identification in wildlife forensic casework. Additionally, compound microscopy has also been utilized as a preliminary tool to perform morphological analysis of hair samples from four animal families, including Bovidae, Cervidae, Elephantidae, and Felidae. Further, chemical profiling through spectral data revealed significant overlapping peaks between family Bovidae and Cervidae. The classification experiment provides the random forest (RF) classifier as the most effective for family discrimination model. This research offers valuable insights for wildlife forensics by improving the identification accuracy of unknown hair samples, thus enhancing the overall effectiveness in forensic investigations.

Host species and age‐specific variation on Hepatozoon prevalence and its effect on body condition in two Neotropical crocodiles

Many populations of species belonging to the order Crocodilia are threatened due to illegal trafficking, indiscriminate hunting, and habitat loss and degradation affecting crocodilian health and parasitic load. Although several studies have revealed that crocodiles, caimans, and alligators are frequently infected by Hepatozoon spp., the results from studies exploring the costs of these apicomplexan parasites on the health of their reptilian hosts are still scarce and with inconclusive results. Here, we molecularly assessed the prevalence and genetic diversity of Hepatozoon spp. to explore their possible influence on body condition in captive individuals of two species of Neotropical crocodilians with conservation threats, the spectacled caiman Caiman crocodilus and the American crocodile Crocodylus acutus. Fourteen percent of spectacled caimans were infected by H. caimani, whereas no American crocodiles showed infection. The prevalence of Hepatozoon in spectacled alligators varied along age, where subadult individuals were the most frequently parasitized. Surprisingly, the body condition of infected individuals was significantly higher than body condition of uninfected spectacled caimans, which suggests greater negative effects of the infection in individuals of poor quality. Also, the body condition of subadult individuals was significantly higher than body condition of juveniles of both alligator species, likely reflecting differences in the occupancy of habitats with higher resource abundance, or variations in the nutritional values of the diet between these age classes. These outcomes provide valuable information on disease ecology for developing conservation strategies and the management conservation of wildlife populations of these species.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CRIMES RELATED TO THE ILLEGAL TRAFFICKING OF NARCOTIC DRUGS AND PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCES ACCORDING TO THE CRIMINAL CODE OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

This article analyzes crimes related to the illegal trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in the context of Russian criminal law. Various categories of such crimes are considered depending on the degree of their social danger. Special attention is paid to the criminal-legal assessment of actions and proposals for improving the regulatory framework to protect public health and ensure law and order. The article emphasizes the importance of constant analysis and adaptation of the legal system to changing conditions, as well as discusses strategies to counteract the illegal distribution of narcotic substances.

Criminal Legal Regulation of Trafficking in Human Bodies: Spanish and Brazilian Experience

Organ trafficking, a very profitable worldwide illegal activity today, is frequently overlooked by those involved in combating human trafficking due to its complex and covert nature. Numerous international documents underscore the importance of countering trafficking in human organs and transplant tourism. This article analyzes the legal frameworks of Spain and Brazil, with a particular focus on their compliance with international and supranational standards aimed at combating, inter alia, the illegal circulation of organs and other phenomena associated with it. Firstly, the article distinguishes such phenomena as transplant commercialism, transplant tourism and illegal trafficking in organs and draws attention to the fact that currently there is no uniform understanding of the clear boundaries of the concept of illegal trafficking in organs. Elaborating on the various aspects of the above-mentioned types of criminal activity may allow one to properly determine the legal interests and rights protected by criminal law and the types of behavior subject to imputation in an exhaustive way. Secondly, the authors outline a number of controversial issues that arise due to the complex nature of organ trafficking and suggest several ways to meet these challenges.

Strategi Komunikasi pada Relawan Tim P4GN (di bawah Naungan BNK) Kab. Sukoharjo dalam Sosialisasi Anti Narkoba

In Sukoharjo Regency there is a community and volunteers for the Prevention, Eradication, Abuse and Illegal Trafficking of Drugs (P4GN) under the auspices of the Sukoharjo Regency Narcotics Agency (BNK). Which operates in the field of drug education. The resource persons for this research were 7 (seven) volunteers from the P4GN Regency team. Sukoharjo. The aim of this research is to determine the communication strategies used by the Sukoharjo Regency P4GN team when carrying out anti-drug outreach

ЗАРУБІЖНИЙ ДОСВІД ЗАПОБІГАННЯ ЗЛОЧИННОСТІ ІНОЗЕМЦІВ ТА ОСІБ БЕЗ ГРОМАДЯНСТВА

The article is dedicated to the study of foreign experience of crime prevention of foreigners and stateless persons with the formulation of scientifically based prospects for its implementation in Ukraine. The relevance of the selected issues is explained by the following circumstances: firstly, in the conditions of the ongoing war, a significant part of the population of Ukraine was forced to emigrate abroad and can potentially become either subjects or victims of criminal offenses; secondly, international cooperation in the most dangerous types of criminality is increasing, in particular: smuggling, illegal trafficking of weapons, drugs, human trafficking (including involvement in prostitution), theft of cultural and historical values, etc.; thirdly, the identities of criminals (criminal offenders) – foreigners and stateless persons – have not been fully studied, especially their criminogenic behaviour in the conditions of modern national and world realities. It is emphasized that crime prevention of foreigners and stateless persons in Ukraine is impossible without a study of the positive experience of law enforcement agencies functioning in foreign countries, which assign a priority role in their activities to the prevention of criminal offenses in a certain area. The conducted research on the study of the experience of developed foreign countries in the field of crime prevention of foreigners and stateless persons provides grounds for determining the following forms of its implementation to preventive activities in Ukraine: 1) use of the experience of the USA and European countries in the preparation of conceptual legal acts in the field of crime prevention of foreigners and stateless persons; 2) use by law enforcement structures (in particular, the police) and non-state structures of civil society of positive foreign practices of crime prevention by foreigners and stateless persons; 3) use of opportunities for international cooperation in the field of combating criminality of foreigners and stateless persons, as well as preventing the commission of criminal offenses against these categories of persons who are on the territory of Ukraine. Key words: war, martial law, criminal offense, identity of a criminal (criminal offender), victim of a criminal offense, victimhood, determinants, forced migration, foreigners, stateless persons, criminality, smuggling, illegal weapon trafficking, illegal drug trafficking, prevention measures, subjects of prevention, law enforcement agencies, foreign experience, international cooperation, criminal proceedings, investigation, procedural actions.

Global wildlife trade and trafficking contribute to the world’s nonhuman primate conservation crisis

A growing global human population, habitat conversion, and the indiscriminate exploitation of natural resources have created unsustainable demands on nature, resulting in widespread biodiversity loss. Primates, which represent the third most specious Order of mammals, are facing an extinction crisis. Currently, 69% of primate species are listed by the IUCN as threatened (Vulnerable, Endangered, or Critically Endangered) and 94% have declining populations. Here, we examine two primary threats to primate population persistence, namely the commercialized hunting and capturing of wild primates and their body parts for food, traditional medicine, pets, and use in biomedical research. Both the legal wildlife trade and illegal wildlife trafficking represent multibillion-dollar industries that contribute to primate population decline, a reduction in genetic diversity, and local extirpation. Trade and trafficking also can lead to the emergence of infectious diseases, increasing biosecurity risks to humans. Between 2015 and 2021, CITES reported 337,511 live primates representing at least 99 species were legally traded, with 6.5% sourced directly from the wild. The recent indictment of Cambodian officials for allegedly laundering wild-caught long-tailed macaques into the U.S. by labelling them as captive-bred, highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability. Comprehensive data on the illegal trafficking of primates are extremely difficult to obtain. However, between 2009 and 2017, primates accounted for 20% of all seizures of illegally traded mammals in the air transport sector. International wildlife trafficking is dominated by criminal networks, corruption, and driven by the demands of wealthy consumers. In addition, the internet has expanded international opportunities to connect buyers and sellers of wild-caught primates and their body parts. Despite explicit bans on selling endangered primates, social media sites continue to do so. Moreover, data on the global food security index (GFSI) indicate that as the international demand for wild live primates, their meat, and other body parts has continued to increase, the majority of people in primate range nations have remained food insecure. Given that almost 70% of primate species are negatively impacted by hunting and trapping, we offer a set of recommendations to reduce the trade and trafficking of wild primates.

Конфискация имущества как мера противодействия незаконному обороту наркотических средств, психотропных веществ или их аналогов

Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, LL.D., Professor, Honored Lawyer of the Russian Federation Purpose: to consider the institution of confiscation of property as another measure of a criminal law nature, and to show the practice of using this criminal law institution in cases of illegal trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances or their analogues. Research methods: comparative legal, dogmatic, analysis of judicial practice. Conclusions: based on the analysis of the provisions of Chapter 15.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and Article 81 of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Russian Federation, it is shown that the legal basis for confiscation of property in cases of illicit trafficking in narcotic, psychotropic substances or their analogues is interdisciplinary in nature. It is noted that if the property has the properties specified in paragraphs “a”-“d” of Article 104.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, the court is obliged to make a decision on the confiscation of such property. When planning opera-tional search activities and investigative actions, it is necessary to pay special attention to providing evidence of the connection of the property subject to confiscation with a specific crime. Scientific and practical significance: the legal nature of confiscation of property as another measure of a criminal nature is revealed, its place in the system of similar institutions is indicated, the specifics of the implementation of the provisions of Chapter 15.1 of the Criminal Code are indicated by the example of court decisions on specific cases. Disputes about the ownership of confiscated property to persons not involved in crimes may be resolved at the stage of execution of a court verdict, including in court.

Range‐wide prediction of habitat suitability for king cobras under current and future scenarios

Abstract Ophiophagus hannah, commonly known as the king cobra, is listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and is protected under national laws in most countries. This charismatic species faces multiple threats, including habitat loss, human persecution, illegal trafficking, and climate change. Due to the king cobra's sensitivity to environmental conditions, its population status and trends are barely understood. This study used the MaxEnt algorithm to predict the potential distribution of king cobras across Asia, a method that has been successfully implemented in modeling distributions of various species in the region. The findings showed that Evergreen Broadleaf Trees emerged as the most influential variable for the distribution of Ophiophagus hannah with a 27.3% contribution, followed by the Mean Diurnal Range and Urban/Built‐up areas. Jackknife analysis identified the Mean Diurnal Range as having the highest testing gain. Approximately 413,268 km2 were found to have the most suitable climatic conditions for sustaining this species. Countries such as India, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Malaysia were identified as having favorable conditions. Under the future climate scenario SSP5‐8.5, the extent of suitable habitats (maximum) for the king cobra is projected to decrease in the periods 2041–2060 and 2081–2100. This report provides valuable insights that could inform conservation strategies for O. hannah in these regions.

Modern Illegal Drug Business in Ukraine: Multidisciplinary Study of the System of Prevention and Countermeasures Against the Legalization of Income (Money Laundering) Obtained by Criminal Means

Established that the modern illegal drug trade is an integral part of transnational organized crime, involving the laundering of proceeds obtained through criminal activities. A comprehensive multidisciplinary study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of Ukraine's efforts to combat the contemporary drug trade and to analyze the international system for preventing and countering the legalization of illicit income (money laundering). This study confirmed the connection between transnational organized crime and the laundering of money derived from the illegal trafficking of banned psychoactive substances. The research emphasized the critical need to enhance the criminal and legal frameworks, improve medical and pharmaceutical support, and expand social and economic assistance. By examining the global experience in combating organized crime and drug-related offenses, the study provided valuable insights into effective strategies. Particular attention was given to forensic pharmaceutical practices related to the detection of prohibited psychoactive substances and the legalization of income from their illicit trade. To address these challenges, the study recommends increasing the criminal liability for members of organized drug trafficking gangs and suggests specific amendments to articles 115, 305, and 307 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code. Furthermore, a detailed analysis of the European Union’s roadmap and international cooperation efforts in combating the illegal circulation of prohibited psychoactive substances and the laundering of illegal profits was conducted. Normative initiatives aimed at amending Article 209 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code were developed and proposed. The study indicated the importance of implementing the EU Roadmap measures in Ukraine to foster cooperation among various private and public institutions. This collaborative approach aims to coordinate joint actions, conduct research, and organize conferences and training sessions based on the EMCDDA European prevention program and UN initiatives. The study underscores the relevance, timeliness, and practical significance of engaging the international community, including scientists, medical professionals, pharmacists, students, the public, legal experts, law enforcement, and government authorities. Through this multidisciplinary approach, the study seeks to promote a more effective and coordinated response to the challenges posed by the modern drug trade and its associated criminal activities.

Landmines and Human Security in Post-Conflict Era: Analyzing the Narratives of Landmine Victims in Kurdistan Province, Iran

ABSTRACT The border areas of Kurdistan Province in western Iran continue to be plagued by the presence of landmines left over from the Iran-Iraq war, causing frequent accidents and inflicting severe physical, mental, and social damage on the residents. This paper aims to explore the lived experiences of landmine explosion victims in this region. The immediate aftermath of landmine explosions in these borderlands often results in the amputation of vital organs or tragic fatalities. Survivors of these incidents endure various forms of social and psychological trauma due to their physical disabilities. However, the provision of necessary services to these victims is characterized by a dualistic approach, where some receive support while others are deprived of assistance in order to facilitate activities such as smuggling, kolbari 1 , and illegal trafficking. This structural disparity exacerbates the challenges faced by victims, particularly those residing in border areas.

Problematic Issues of the Legal Regulation of Voluntary Surrender of Narcotic Drugs

Introduction: the Russian Federation is taking effective measures aimed at preventing and solving crimes related to illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs. Most of the measures applied in practice today are not effective enough and need to be significantly improved. Despite the fact that the forces of the state and society are aimed at actively combating drug trafficking, it is necessary to improve the system of countering this type of criminal encroachment against public health. The measures taken should be comprehensive and aimed at a more detailed study of the identity of the drug offender, the search for causes and conditions conducive to the commission of the illegal acts in question. In the paper, some recommendations are made to improve the current criminal legislation in the field of combating drug trafficking and problematic issues of voluntary surrender of narcotic drugs are considered. The purpose of the study is to analyze the controversial issues of voluntary surrender of substances with limited circulation (narcotic drugs); to develop significant proposals and recommendations in the field of law enforcement on the identified issues; as well as countering (preventing) illegal trafficking in narcotic drugs in the criminal law plane, aimed at improving the effectiveness of criminal law counteraction measures. Research methods: the classical methodological concept, which includes the general scientific methods in particular, as well as a set of socio-scientific methods in its predominant component – the statistical method. Results of the study and conclusions: the authors conclude that in order to ensure the unity of the law enforcement approach, it is proposed to make clarifications in the note to Article 228 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, namely, to consolidate the concepts of “a real opportunity to dispose of them in another way” and the moment of detention within the framework of criminal procedural actions.

Comparative Analysis of How the Fecal Microbiota of Green-Winged Saltator (Saltator similis) Diverge among Animals Living in Captivity and in Wild Habitats.

The microbiota's alteration is an adaptive mechanism observed in wild animals facing high selection pressure, especially in captive environments. The objective of this study is to compare and predict the potential impact of habitat on the fecal bacterial community of Saltator similis, a songbird species that is a victim of illegal trafficking, living in two distinct habitats: wild and captivity. Nine wild and nine captive S. similis were sampled, and total bacterial DNA was obtained from the feces. Each DNA sample was employed to the amplification of the V4 region of the 16S rDNA following high-throughput sequencing. The most predominant phyla in all songbirds, irrespective of habitat, were Firmicutes, Bacteroidota, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteriota. Interestingly, a microbiota profile (phylogenetic and abundance relationship) related to habitat was identified. The genera "Candidatus Arthromitus", Acinetobacter, Kocuria, and Paracoccus were exclusively identified in animals living in captivity, which can be a potential biomarker associated with birds in captive environments. This study presents the first description of the fecal bacterial community composition of S. similis living two different lifestyles. Finally, our results suggest that the lifestyle of S. similis birds significantly impacts the composition of the fecal microbiota. The animals living in captivity showed dysbiosis in the microbiota, with some bacteria genera being indicated as biological markers of environmental behavior. Thus, the present research provides a new concept of life quality measure for songbirds.

Проблемы квалификации незаконного оборота растений и их частей, содержащих психоактивные вещества, а также грибов, содержащих псилоцибин и (или) псилоцин

Purpose: research of such items of illicit drug trafficking as plants and plant parts containing psychoactive substances. Methodology: study and analysis of judicial practice of higher courts and scientific research of natural science specialists; formal legal and technical legal methods. Conclusions: there is a lack of due attention to the problem of selling narcotic plants and their parts, as well as narcotic mushrooms using information and telecommunication networks (including the Internet); the question is raised about the selection of mushrooms containing psilocybin and (or) psilocin from the List of plants containing psychoactive substances, since mushrooms are not plants. Scientific and practical significance: the authors propose the dispositions of art. 228, part 1 art. 228.1, art. 229.1 and art. 231 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, as well as the dispositions of the relevant articles of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, after the words ‘...or their parts containing narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances’, add the words ‘mushrooms containing psilocybin and (or) psilocin’. Also part 2 of art. 228 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation should be supplemented with the words: ‘Acquisition of items specified in Part 1 of this article using the media or electronic or information and telecommunication networks (including the Internet)’, which in general will make it possible to suppress their illegal trafficking.

Illegal wildlife trade: An analysis of carnivore products found in markets in Benin and Niger

West Africa is home to one of the largest protected area systems in Africa, the W-Arly- Pendjari (WAP) Complex, which provides a last refuge for many threatened carnivore species extirpated from most other protected areas in the region. However, rising global demand for wildlife products has increased concerns about the impacts of Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) on these species. To assess the extent of IWT, covert market surveys were conducted in Benin and Niger to identify wildlife products and derivatives coming from carnivore species (African civet, serval, caracal, lion, cheetah, leopard, and spotted hyena) suspected to be targeted by IWT. When possible, information about product origin was gathered to understand trading routes. Data were analysed to determine if products were available in markets due to their proximity to source populations or due to accessibility to trade and transport hubs. A variety of products from several threatened species, including multiple lion skins, were found in Benin and Niger. Products were found more frequently in markets near the WAP Complex and main trade and transport hubs. Sellers reported that a large majority of products originated from international trade, but some could also have been sourced from the WAP Complex. There was little evidence indicating that product availability was more affected by the distance to the WAP Complex than by the distance to international transport hubs, suggesting that trade was widespread across both countries. The study provides an evidence base and monitoring baselines to identify and assess interventions to address IWT and ultimately reduce illegal trafficking of wildlife.

Substances dangerous to public health according to the Criminal Code of 1922 and 1926: comparative legal analysis and criminal law regulation

The subject of the study is the legislation on illegal actions with narcotic drugs and other substances with generally dangerous properties under the criminal codes of 1922 and 1926 in the context of normative continuity with the Code of Criminal and Correctional Punishments of 1845. A comparative legal analysis of the concepts of poisonous, potent and intoxicating substances as subjects of the relevant crimes of the first Soviet criminal codes and the relevant norms of the current criminal law is carried out. For the first time, archival official documents of the highest state bodies were used to substantiate the high degree of public danger of illegal trafficking of potent and poisonous substances. According to the results of the study, legal science and medicine in the studied period had a developed arsenal of conceptual means of describing illegal trafficking and the consequences of the use of substances that pose a danger to public health. The first Soviet legislator took into account unlimited possibilities in the field of chemical synthesis and therefore considered the list of intoxicating substances to be open, referring to any substances whose qualitative features and actual use corresponded to the literal meaning of their names. The concept of potent substances was generic in relation to the concepts of narcotic drugs and other substances, the defining property of which was the intensity of their effects on the body. The continued use of pre-revolutionary conceptual constructions in modern criminal legislation serves as a normative obstacle to the development of the criminal law institute for the protection of public health based on the norms of international law.

Smugglers and innkeepers: physical and social mobility in early modern Gemona (fifteenth to seventeenth centuries)

Abstract This article examines the mechanics of Niederlech (a law that obliged merchants travelling between Germany and Italy to spend the night in the city, change wagons and pay a small sum of money) and German–Italian mobility in early modern Gemona. It argues that the fragility of Venetian institutions and a lack of German–Italian border controls set the scene for criminal activities, especially contraband, in which Gemona innkeepers appear to have played a significant part. It will also show that this illegal trafficking led to a new ruling class forming, a key factor in the city’s reorganization of social hierarchies.

The Diet and Prey Preference of the Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) in a Human-Intervened Montane Landscape

Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) is a solitary, elusive, and predominantly nocturnal mammal highly adapted to an insectivorous diet. It has become endangered due to hunting for bush meat and scales, illegal trafficking and poaching. Rescue and captive breeding programs for Indian pangolins have limited success due to the lack of understanding of the species‘ dietary preferences and foraging ecology. The stomach contents and prey preference of Indian pangolin have been less studied owing to the difficulty of acquiring suitable specimens. Such scientific information is unavailable, especially in Sri Lanka. In this study, we analyzed the stomach content of three (03) Indian pangolin specimens collected from human-intervened montane landscapes in the Kandy District, thus allowing a deeper understanding of the Indian pangolin‘s foraging ecology in a specific habitat. Stomach content analysis revealed that a greater proportion of the pangolin diet consists of grit which was 96.13% of the average dry mass (DM%). Plant matter (pieces of twigs, leaf particles, stems and barks) was least present, which was 0.26% of the average dry mass percentage. The plant matter is likely to be ingested while praying on arboreal insect nests, insects living under barks, and decaying logs. Insect matter consisted of ants, termites, their body parts, and wings which were 1.84% of the average dry mass and insect eggs accounted for 2.83%. A total of 13 ant species belonging to 05 subfamilies and 02 termite species of the same subfamily were identified in the stomach contents. Insect species representing terranean, subterranean, semi-arboreal and arboreal habitats were found in the stomach content. Approximately 13.97% of the insect matter belonged to the species in the terranean foraging layer, while sub-terranean, semi-arboreal and arboreal species accounted for 19.53%, 64.58% and 1.59% respectively. Accordingly, it appears that Indian pangolin in the studied montane landscape predominantly feed on semi-arboreal insects. The study further provides detailed insights into the prey preference and foraging ecology of the Indian pangolin in the montane landscape. 
 Keywords: Indian pangolin, Stomach content, Foraging ecology, Prey preference

Key determinants of environmental crime in Russia

The subject of the study is the peculiarities of ensuring environmental security in countering environmental crime. Effective counteraction to it is impossible without detailed data on the causes of environmental crime. Modern Russian concepts of the determination of criminal behavior are diverse, but they are based on the analysis of the social complex of causes of crime. Scientists divide the established approaches into three groups depending on the presence in the center of determinants of social processes, subjective causes, or biological properties of the criminal’s personality. Environmental crime has peculiarities, and both general and specific determinants may underlie the genesis of criminal behavior. Using a wide range of general scientific methods (primarily content analysis and instrumental analysis), the authors substantiate the conclusion about the selfserving nature of environmental crime. The main criminal threat to environmental security is acts of socially dangerous behavior committed against natural resources and aimed at illegal trafficking. The perpetrator, acting for personal enrichment, does not realise the damage to the natural environment most times. Other types of environmental crimes relate to improper fulfilment by economic entities of their obligations in environmentally safe operation of industrial and other facilities. The listed types have a small percentage of the overall structure of environmental crime. Such factors as the demand for natural resource products and marginalization of part of the population living in resource-rich but economically depressed regions of Russia underlie the determinants of criminal behavior.