Threat Of Organized Crime Research Articles

What does the media tell us about a destination? The Cancun case, seen from the USA, Canada, and Mexico

PurposeThis study aims to present a framework for automatically collecting, cleaning and analyzing text (news articles, in this case) to provide valuable decision-making information to destination management organizations. Keeping a record of certain aspects of the projected destination image of an attraction (Cancun in this study) will grant the design of better strategies for the promotion and administration of destinations without the time-consuming effort of manually evaluating high quantities of textual information.Design/methodology/approachUsing Web scraping, news articles were collected from the USA, Mexico and Canada over an interval of one year. The documents were analyzed using an automatic topic modeling method known as Latent Dirichlet Allocation and a coherence analysis to determine the number of themes present in each collection. With the data provided, the authors were able to extract valuable information to understand how Cancun is presented to the countries.FindingsIt was found that in all countries, Cancun is an important destination to travel and vacation; however, given the period defined for this study (from July 2021 to July 2022), an important part of the articles analyzed was concerned with the sanitary measures derived from the COVID-19 pandemic. Besides, given the rise of violence and the threat of organized crime, many articles from the three countries are focused on warning potential tourists about the risks of traveling to Cancun.Originality/valueThe examination of the relevant literature revealed that similar analyses are manually performed by the experts on a set of predefined categories. Although those approaches are methodologically sound, the logistic effort and the time used could become prohibitively expensive, precluding carrying out this analysis frequently. Additionally, the preestablished categories to be studied in press articles may distort the results. For these reasons, the proposed framework automatically allows for gathering valuable information for decision-making in an unbiased manner.

State-Sponsored and Organized Crime Threats to Maritime Transportation Systems in the Context of the Attack on Ukraine

State-Sponsored and Organized Crime Threats to Maritime Transportation Systems in the Context of the Attack on Ukraine

Extradition Law in Pacific Island Countries

This article examines the law and practice of extradition in the small island nations of the South Pacific, the Pacific Island Countries (PICs). The PICs’ extradition laws make for an interesting subject because of the increased threat of transnational organized crime in the region, the possibility that the PICs may serve as venues of convenience for extradition by powerful states because of their relative weakness, but mainly because they show the influence of powerful states and IGOs on the reform of PIC extradition law. The article sets out the international legal framework governing the PICs’ extradition relations, sketches the domestic legal framework for extradition in the PICs and examines the conditions for and exceptions to extradition. It concludes that external powers have had a strong influence on the simplification of PIC extradition laws and there have only been relatively modest attempts to develop a genuine regional system for extradition.

The Organized Crime in Western Balkans in the Age of Globalization- Trafficking in Narcotics and Money Laundry

This research addresses the activity of transnational organized crime in the Westerns Balkans region, particularly the activity of trafficking in narcotics and money laundry. This problematic phenomenon is treated on the aspect of newly created circumstances in the age of globalization, where the entire world is facing the transformation in the political and economic aspect - developments that are impacting the field of security as well. In this period, these countries faced institutional fragility, lack of proper capacities in fight against new forms of organized criminality, lack of inter-state cooperation etc. this situation was used as an opportunity by the criminal organizations with their reach in the entire region, creating the so called Balkan Road which is used for trafficking of narcotics towards Western Europe countries. In this research is expressed the amount of narcotics trafficked and illicit profits from this activity, divided by regional countries for the period 2009-2012. This paper argues how transnational organized crime by exploiting the globalization era facilities has adapted to these newly created circumstances and is increasingly exceeding the capabilities of the countries of a traditional organizations and forms of security in responding appropriately. The interstate cooperation aspect and the use of an interactive approach at technical and operational levels is increasingly being considered as a tangible opportunity to deal with this phenomenon. The paper draws conclusions on how the organized crime threats have had influence on security approaches in the Western Balkans as well as pushing the countries towards an inter-state approach in addressing these threats. Security field contemporary literature as well as reports and assessments of various security agencies have been used in drawing research results.

초국가적 조직범죄의 연계성과 다차원적 안보 위협

초국가적 조직범죄의 연계성과 다차원적 안보 위협

Videovigilancia y segregación espacial en tiempos del neoliberalismo autoritario. El caso de Los Cabos, Baja California Sur (México)

In a context of acute spatial segregation derived from beaches’ privatization processes and the coastal landscape in the Los Cabos Tourist Corridor (Baja California Sur, Mexico), the state government has responded to the threat of organized crime to the functioning of international hotel chains with video surveillance schemes and the criminalization of acts considered to be against tourist interests in the area. This paper uses the concepts of authoritarian neoliberalism associated with a type of space production to analyze the phenomenon of video surveillance in a context of conflicts and social tensions under the auspices of the tourism growth model in Los Cabos region. A qualitative methodology was used, relying on field work by observing the study area, analysis of relevant bibliography, and press reports.

A szervezett bűnözés általi internetes fenyegetettség értékeléséről szóló Europol-jelentés ismertetése

The analysis aims to present the most important findings of the “Internet Organised Crime Threat Assessment”. By publishing the report for the fifth year, Europol is aiming to render an evaluation of cybercrimes with law enforcement and criminal prosecution in focus. The main objective of its publication is to provide a comprehensive picture about current and expected future online security threats and crimes.

Europol: Internet Organised Crime Threat Assessment

Europol's fifth edition of its annual Internet Organised Crime Threat Assessment (IOCTA) report presents a dark picture – one in which current cybercrime activity continues largely unabated while being joined by innovative new ways for the criminally minded to exploit the Internet for illicit gain. At the same time, technological and regulatory changes have made life harder for law enforcement.

Development of the Organised Crime Threat Assessment (OCTA) and Internal Security Architecture

La version francaise de cet article peut etre consultee a: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2022359This briefing paper provides an overview of the existing European Union approach to issues of security, counter-terrorism, and organised crime. In particular, it focuses on the role of the European Security Strategy (ESS) in the formation of policy and in the development of new institutions and institutional arrangements within the EU, and the influence of the Organised Crime Threat Assessment (OCTA).The paper argues that steps should be taken to streamline and rationalise the existing structures concerned with security, counter-terrorism and organised crime, and strongly recommends that a “Committee on Internal Security” be established to act as a single point of reference and clearinghouse for the work of the various EU agencies and institutions concerned with security, counter-terrorism and organised crime.

Corollaries of corruption and bribery on international business

Purpose The purpose of this paper is threefold: it examines and analyzes the extent to which corruption and bribery have become the quintessential problem of international business and economies; analyzes the effect of corruption and bribery on international business at the macro level; and recommends specific action-oriented sustainable initiatives to help mitigate corruption and bribery. Design/methodology/approach This paper has conducted an in-depth global analysis of extant literature on corruption and bribery affecting international business. Findings This paper provides a succinct analysis of corruption and bribery relevant and critical to international business. It shows that corruption undermines democracy and the rule of law; leads to violations of human rights; distorts markets; erodes the quality of life; and allows organized crime, terrorism and other threats to human security. Research limitations/implications This paper realizes that not all corruption and bribery have the same degree of impact on all countries and economies. This issue is not discussed, as it is outside the scope of the paper. Practical implications This paper serves as a good reference for international business community, anti-corruption agencies, law enforcement and for pedagogy in the classroom. Originality/value Provides a concise macro level of pertinent corruption and bribery issues useful as a learning material for international business, trade and development and corporate social responsibility.

Victims of Human Trafficking in Thailand: A Study of How Victim's Right is Protected in Criminal Proceedings

No country can evade the threat of transnational organized crime. To cope with transnational crime in form of human trafficking, the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime along with the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children supplements sets out the legislative measures for states parties to harmonize the provisions for protecting victim and witnesses of trafficking particularly for children and women in their domestic law as these victims and witnesses play an essential role on bringing the trafficker to justice but they are often confronted with the threat of intimidation and retaliation. In the view of fact, the key problems in Thailand which are corruption and miscarriage of justice give a chance for some law enforcements and government officials to be involved in an abuse of power which results in victims and witnesses feeling reluctant to cooperate with the authorities. Therefore, truly comprehensive anti-human trafficking responses which are legislative measures, preventive measures, national coordination and cooperation and international cooperation and coordination must be implemented in Thailand. Equally important is, for some cases which government officials tend to relate to obstruction of justice or corruption, only the relocation of victims and witnesses within Thailand cannot guarantee their safety. The suggestion is the relocation of victims and witnesses to another country which could ensure the safety of victims and witnesses.

Areas and consequences of organized crime influence on the legal market

Criminal structure spread sphere of influence in all fields of social life and become a threat to national and international security. Namely, criminal profits generated by organized crime in the criminal market and its infiltration into the legal economic flows represent a potential danger for corrupting in legal economic relations and undermine the integrity of financial institutions. In this way, in the end the basic fundamentals of the financial system may be disrupted, and in dangerous are the functioning of state institutions, economic prosperity and national security. Modern criminal organizations are profit-oriented and market-based and operating methods that use are combination of criminal and methods of modern business organizations, which makes them particularly dangerous to society. The great economic power of organized crime used to acquire political power, and it is in turn used to pursue criminal objectives. Thus, the threat of organized crime is not limited to the effects of individual criminal actions, but much more on the ability to influence the decision making processes in the sphere of politics and economics. The great interest of organized crime to influence on state and its functions stems from the fact that with the help of the state authority can provide the easiest way for providing criminal profit and immunity from prosecution. The authors in paper point to areas and dominant negative consequences of the infiltration of organized crime into legitimate economic relations, as well as the implications of these processes in order to gain a better understanding of their importance for defining the model on fighting of organized crime. .

The Italian Anti-Mafia System between Practice and Symbolism: Evaluating Contemporary Views on the Italian Structure Model against Organized Crime

This article describes and analyses conceptualizations of mafias and anti-mafia in Italy across institutions in Italy. It first interprets criminal law provisions and the value of legal norms and establishes the links between the social dimension of mafias and the symbolism of certain anti-mafia responses. Secondly, the article seeks to link the law with institutional perceptions of the threat of organized crime through in-depth interviews with experts within the anti-mafia system. The purposes of this article are to construct and de-construct the Italian conceptualization of organized crime and mafia, to understand how strong is the link between the conceptualization of mafias and the main elements of the anti-mafia policing model (the Structure Model), and to start a discussion on whether, and to what extent, the anti-mafia system can be exported outside Italy to fight organized crime.

Human rights, citizen security and the threat of organized crime

No abstract available. ECA Estudios Centroamericanos, Vol. 68, No. 735, 2013: 451-460.

Serious and organised crime threat assessment 2010–2011

Serious and organised crime threat assessment 2010–2011

Criminalidad organizada transnacional en Asia-Pacífico: repercusiones para la seguridad regional e internacional

Asia-Pacific is an area of increasing strategic importance for international security, characterized by the multiplicity of actors with divergent objectives and by the multiform nature of the present challenges. However, it is the common and insidious threat of transnational organized crime must be emphasized. A variety of criminal groups and markets can be identified throughout Asia-Pacific, and Asian organized crime does not form a monolithic phenomenon; rather, it displays a polyhedral, complex and multidimensional landscape, with important regional manifestations and increasing international projection. Altogether, organized crime in the region currently represents one of the great challenges in terms of proliferation and expansion to other countries.

Mitigating the Exploitation of U.S. Borders by Jihadists and Criminal Organizations

Following the events of September 11, 2001, the U.S. Government began improving security in large population centers and near potential highvalue terrorist targets. Included in these efforts was the development of a more robust border security program, with an emphasis on reducing the threat of terrorist infiltration at America's borders. However, nearly a decade after 9/11, terrorism and organized crime continue to pose significant threats to the United States. As many of these threats emanate from other nations, improved border security helps mitigate these threats. This article summarizes known terrorist activity along the U.S. northern and southern borders, and highlights the threat of organized crime in the southwest border region. Furthermore, it analyzes current border security efforts and identifies key deficiencies in the system. Finally, it provides a tool kit for future border security endeavors that center on developing a larger but more coordinated and nimble border security force, driven by intelligence, and supported by proven technologies and tactical infrastructure.

The State and "Transnational Advocacy Networks" in the Prevention and Control of Transnational Crime

This article aims to provide an initial response to the question as to how states address the growing concern of crime in a globalized environment. Recognizing this alongside other contemporary security concerns, policy makers and security planners reconceptualize their approach not only by enhancing law-enforcement strategies, but likewise expanding the role of the State and its government institutions and by going beyond the top-down approach of governance and shifting more to cooperation. In Southeast Asia, initiatives to combat the threat of organized crime and terrorism became an impetus for member countries to come up with an ASEAN Plan of Action to Combat Transnational Crime and for the Philippines to establish the Philippine Center for Transnational Crime under Executive Order No. 62 (1999). As these initiatives are commendable but somehow insufficient to address the problems of crime, this paper argues that to address capacity gaps, states should consider the mixed public-private response as a policy prescription for managing problems such as organized crime. Supplementary to this, would be the enhancement of transnational advocacy to influence the interests and practices of the government. This would mean bringing together a diversity of nonstate actors such as non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and calls for the combined capabilities and resources by government institutions and the private sector. The paper likewise explores the possibilities of NGO and citizen group capabilities as partners to develop a new paradigm that will further increase international cooperation. Keywords: Transnational organized crime; mixed public-private responses; advocacy networks DOI: 10.3860/apssr.v10i2.1902 Asia-Pacific Social Science Review 10:2 (2010), pp. 59-66

Organised crime threat assessments: a critical review

Since the beginning of the 21st century, several national and international government agencies have initiated organised crime threat assessments. Additionally, a few scholars have published methods to assess the risks and threats of organised crime. These governmental bodies and scholars claim that their reports and methods can demonstrate that certain forms of organised crime are more threatening than others and thus help policy-makers set strategic priorities. In this article I discuss these claims by examining the reliability and validity of the operational definitions of the key concepts used, such as organised crime, threat and risk. This examination reveals that most reports and methods provide insufficient detail—and sometimes even no details at all—to guarantee the reliability and validity of their operational definitions. The search for validity is made particularly difficult by the ambiguity surrounding the concepts of organised crime, threat and risk, while the concept of cost is less problematic. Moreover, establishing what constitutes a threat is at its core a normative decision that cannot be left to intelligence analysts or scientists alone. The challenge ahead lies in acknowledging the normative framework of organised crime threat assessments and within that framework maximising the reliability and validity of the operational definitions of key concepts and related measuring instruments.

Methodological aspects of the Dutch National Threat Assessment

This paper discusses issues related to measuring organized crime as they have become manifest in the Dutch contribution to the EU Organised Crime Threat Assessment (OCTA). It intends to convey to a wider academic community certain issues of definition, methodology and accountability, understanding the NTA process in terms of the communication of risks in a context of competitive defining institutions.