scholarly journals Russian Organised Crime in Catalonia and Its Prevalence

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-188
Author(s):  
Leanid Kazyrytski
Keyword(s):  
Organized Crime ◽  
Media Coverage ◽  
Specific Weight ◽  
Criminal Organization ◽  
Organised Crime ◽  
Autonomous Community ◽  
Criminal Organizations ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Illegal Activities ◽  
Criminal Groups

Russian organized crime is active at the transnational level, where crimes could be committed on the territories of different countries. Spain, due to it specific features, is a rather attractive ground for illegal activities of many criminal organizations, including groups formed by citizens of the ex-USSR states. Organized crime in Spain is not distributed evenly throughout its territory, but is rather concentrated in most socially and economically developed areas, and the autonomous community of Catalonia is now holding the second place by the number of officially registered crimes. Its developed infrastructure makes it possible for organized crime, including Russian organized crime, to increase its activities in this autonomous community. The author notes that Spanish criminology faces certain difficulties, some of them methodological in nature, when studying the activities of Russian organized crime in Spain. This circumstance does not make it possible to fully implement research findings regarding its criminal nature. The author presents general characteristics of Russian criminal groups. They are shown to have a high degree of organization, and specific types of criminal activities connected with their antisocial orientation are described. It is rather often that Russian criminal organizations attract a great deal of mass media attention, which creates the impression that they are wide-spread. In Spain, any criminal organization created by citizens of the ex-USSR states is defined as «Russian mafia». However, in spite of considerable media coverage, the degree of Russian organized crime’s presence on the territory of Catalonia should not be overstated. Using the analysis of official data from the Catalan Department of the Interior, the author concludes that Russian organized crime does not hold a dominant position in the overall structure of organized crime in the region as its specific weight does not exceed 2 %.

The Wrongfulness of Crimes of Unlawful Association

2008 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 563-589 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel Cancio Meliáá
Keyword(s):  
Organized Crime ◽  
Criminal Policy ◽  
Criminal Organization ◽  
Political Organization ◽  
Collective Interest ◽  
Criminal Organizations ◽  
Actual Content ◽  
Penal Law ◽  
Penal Codes ◽  
Basic Approaches

Though always present in penal codes, offenses based on belonging to a criminal organization occupy a vanguard position in today's evolution of penal law systems: organized crime is located at one of the most prominent places in the criminal policy agenda. Nevertheless, neither criminal law theory nor the actual content of criminal provisions nor the putting of theory into practice enables an adequate restriction of the interpretation of the laws against criminal organizations. Therefore we need to investigate the wrongfulness at the base of this offense. European legal scholarship has proposed two basic approaches: to consider that this offense anticipates the possibility of punishing and prosecuting such behavior (anticipation theory) or to consider that it harms a collective interest ("public security," "public peace"). From our perspective, it is necessary to underline the collective wrongfulness embedded in a criminal organization and that, beyond the actual crimes committed, it questions the monopoly of violence exercised by the state. It represents the constitution of a violent organization that counters the basis of state political organization (arrogation of political organization). This approach opens a possibility to adequately define the offense of belonging to a criminal organization.

scholarly journals The convergence of environmental crime with other serious crimes: Subtypes within the environmental crime continuum

2020 ◽  
pp. 147737082090458 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daan P. van Uhm ◽  
Rick C.C. Nijman
Keyword(s):  
Natural Resources ◽  
Organized Crime ◽  
Environmental Crime ◽  
Cluster Solution ◽  
Illegal Trade ◽  
Tropical Timber ◽  
Criminal Organizations ◽  
Organized Crime Groups ◽  
Criminal Groups ◽  
High Degree

The rising global scarcity of natural resources increasingly attracts transnational criminal organizations. Organized crime syndicates diversify into the lucrative business of tropical timber, endangered species, and natural minerals, alongside their traditional activities. The developing interconnectedness between environmental crime and other serious crimes shows that traditional lines of separation are no longer appropriate for understanding and dealing with the increasing complexities of organized crime. Therefore, this article aims to analyse the nexus between environmental crime and other serious crimes through cluster analyses to identify subtypes of organized crime groups that have diversified into the illegal trade in natural resources. The two-step cluster algorithm found a cluster solution with three distinct clusters of subtypes of criminal groups that diversified into the illegal trade in natural resources in various ways: first, the Green Organized Crime cluster, with a high degree of diversification and domination; second, the Green Opportunistic Crime cluster, with flexible and fluid groups that partially diversify their criminal activities; and, third, the low-level diversifiers of the Green Camouflaged Crime cluster, shadowing their illegal businesses with legitimate companies. The three clusters can be related to specific stages within the environmental crime continuum, albeit with nuances.

scholarly journals Overview of the Characteristics of the Albanian Organized Crime - Development Trends Over the Years

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 112
Author(s):  
Ina Rama
Keyword(s):  
Organized Crime ◽  
Historical Context ◽  
Criminal Activity ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Law Enforcement Agencies ◽  
General Terms ◽  
Frame Work ◽  
Illegal Activities ◽  
Criminal Groups ◽  
The Impact

The paper aims to describe in general terms some features of the Albanian organized crime, considering its evolution over the years, either in terms of the way its groups are organized or in terms of the type and field of its activity.  Regarding he content of the paper, by the term of the “Albanian organized crime” should be considered, the organizations of Albanian speaking groups, which cross the borders of the Albanian state and extend to other Albanian territories. They apparently, show similar characteristics and forms concerning their organization as that among the Albanians citizens. The first part of the paper describes the features of the Albanian organized crime based on the characteristics related to the nature and culture of the country or typologies that have accompanied the behavior of Albanians towards illegal activities and that have distinguished them from other groups within the same category. The paper emphases the idea of ​​the important impact that has had the historical context in which the country has passed through, on the typology of this type of crime as well as, the influence of political and economic factors in the foundation and development of these criminal groups. The paper provides a description of the impact and importance of Albanian organized crime in the frame work of the organized crime that exists in Italy and in other countries of the region as well as, the impact that these groups have in relation to each other. In particular, the paper has addressed the typology and developments that have followed the Albanian organized crime over the years, in terms of criminal activity in the field of drug trafficking, providing data on the type of drugs that are cultivated and marketed in the country and also the role that this type of criminality has played in frame work of balkan route. The characteristics of organized crime in the area of arms trafficking are also addressed in a special way, reflecting some of its known features and specifics that comes as a result from consulting the open source data. The characteristics of organized crime are also summarized regarding the criminal activity carried out in the area of trafficking in human beings, especially those whose, as origin country is Albania. The paper closes with a citation of criminal activities which, although not yet dominant in the field of Albanian organized crime activity, have begun to be more and more present, becoming an important issue in the focus of foreign law enforcement agencies.   Received: 2 May 2021 / Accepted: 15 June 2021 / Published: 8 July 2021

scholarly journals Transnational organized crime as a modern phenomenon: definitions and main features

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (19) ◽  
pp. 5
Author(s):  
Olena Tkachova
Keyword(s):  
Organized Crime ◽  
Criminal Activity ◽  
Minimal Risk ◽  
Transnational Organized Crime ◽  
Spheres Of Influence ◽  
Criminal Organizations ◽  
Crime Organization ◽  
The World ◽  
Illegal Activities ◽  
Modern Technologies

The article analyzes the current situation in the world from the standpoint of the spread of such a negative phenomenon as transnational organized crime. It has been proven that by reducing the time of entry into another country, and in EU countries also by eliminating the need for customs control, it is easier for criminals not only to quickly and unhindered to get, so to speak, to another part of the hemisphere, but also to move, hide or hide goods, weapons, etc. In addition, a powerful impetus to criminal activity was given by globalization, the development of modern technologies, in particular, methods, techniques, programs used in modern banking, facilitated the implementation of international criminal agreements, and the electronics revolution gave criminals, including criminal organizations, access to new means and methods of obtaining funds.It is substantiated that transnational organized crime is one of the highest levels of criminal evolution, a qualitatively new form of crime organization, their antisocial, illegal activities go beyond the territory and jurisdiction of one state, and the subjects are sustainable criminal organizations, whose activities and spheres of influence applies not to one but to several countries, neighboring states, regions, etc. They operate in different regions of the world, have a certain specialization, use various methods, techniques (blackmail, intimidation, corruption schemes), and are united by a common goal - to obtain a very high (maximum) profit while ensuring minimal risk.

When Scarface Met Rico

2019 ◽  
pp. 145-156
Author(s):  
Joe Kraus
Keyword(s):  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Organized Crime ◽  
Crime Control ◽  
Criminal Organization ◽  
Illegal Activity ◽  
Organized Crime Control ◽  
Criminal Organizations ◽  
Shared Goal

This chapter traces the waning of Patrick’s career and that of the Outfit as law enforcement was closing in. It discusses the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statutes, which was part of the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970. RICO expressly spelled out the capacity to target individuals for being part of a criminal organization. It expanded the existing power to bring conspiracy charges against criminal organizations. Under conspiracy, everyone involved had to be aware of the shared goal of the operation, and the group was defined by its participation in a particular crime. Under RICO, it became possible to convict someone who was part of an organization engaged in a pattern of illegal activity even if some members of the organization were unaware of specific actions or even of the ultimate goal of those actions.

scholarly journals Current requirements and state realities of combating organized crime

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 211-216
Author(s):  
Ihor Pyrih ◽  
Serhii Prokopov ◽  
Denys Vodopyan
Keyword(s):  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Organized Crime ◽  
Work Experience ◽  
The Body ◽  
Practical Significance ◽  
Power Structures ◽  
Mixed Effect ◽  
Criminal Organizations ◽  
Criminal Groups ◽  
National Police

The article describes in detail the concept of professional crime, it’s devastating impact on Ukraine's democracy, and offers suggestions on ways to identify, prevent, and stop professional crimes. The importance of the operational units of the National Police of Ukraine in the fight against professional crime in the current conditions of law enforcement reform is considered, the problems of the legislative and practical significance of the units of the criminal police are described. The modern legislation which defines the general principles and tactics of combating professional crime is analyzed and proposals for its im-provement are made. Attention is drawn to the fact that, in recent times, the danger is not even the possibility of bribery of officials by criminal groups, but the gradual entry of members of criminal organizations and, even, their leaders and organizers into power structures, state administration, control and law enforcement bodies. Another problem we have outlined above is the lack of training and lack of professional experience of law enforcement officers in the fight against organized crime. The dismantling of the Organized Crime Offices and the establishment of Strategic Investigation Departments and their subordinate departments had a mixed effect on the results of combating crime. Positive, in our opinion, is the accession to the body of experts in the detection and investigation of crimes of economic orientation, as organized crime at the present stage, as noted above, aimed at including the commission of these crimes. The negative tendency is, in our opinion, the turnover of personnel, due to the sometimes rather harsh and unfair conditions of competitive selection of candidates, the lack of individual approach to the staff with many years of work experience. One way to solve this problem is to train specialists in strategic investigations departments in universities with specific conditions of study, followed by a mandatory internship under the guidance of mentors for at least three years.

Organized Crime, the State, and Paramilitarism

2020 ◽  
pp. 64-114
Author(s):  
Uğur Ümit Üngör
Keyword(s):  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Organized Crime ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
The State ◽  
Private Interests ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Criminal Organizations ◽  
Criminal Groups ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Law Making

How are paramilitarism and crime related to each other? Empirical studies of paramilitarism make abundantly clear that (organized) crime plays an important role in paramilitarism: the trade in illicit commodities and services and the fact that criminal gangs operate in secrecy are two phenomena that are closely related to paramilitary activity. The influences seem to run both ways: criminals benefit from paramilitarism, and paramilitarism often engenders crime. In many examples, entire organized crime structures have collided with states and paramilitary units. This chapter offers a deeper look at the relationships between paramilitarism and crime. It looks at how criminal organizations are coveted by states if the tasks at hand necessitate the need for trust that characterizes interpersonal relationships within criminal groups. The relationship is mutually beneficial, because it allows criminal groups to achieve a form of respectability, preserve their assets, and develop their activities by influencing law-making and extending their network. The chapter examines these shared interests and trade-offs, discusses organized crime in peace and wartime, and draws several paramilitary-criminal profiles of those who pursued not only wealth and private interests, but also political power.

scholarly journals Counteracting Criminal Communities (Criminal Organizations) and Leaders of the Criminal World: Destructive Trends, a Search for New Legislative Solutions

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 723-734
Author(s):  
Tatyana Yakusheva
Keyword(s):  
Russian Federation ◽  
Criminal Law ◽  
Organized Crime ◽  
Strict Liability ◽  
Criminal Policy ◽  
Criminal Organization ◽  
Criminal Code ◽  
Criminal Organizations ◽  
Judicial Investigation ◽  
The Russian Federation

The criminal law policy of Russia should follow the general national political course and, thus, be well-considered, stable and corresponding to key postulates declared in the Constitution of the Russian Federation as the charter document of the state. The situational character of the legislative approach in using such means of implementing criminal policy as the criminalization and de-criminalization of actions is unacceptable; it leads to the de-systematization of legislation and difficulties in law enforcement. The interference in the choice of means of criminal law impact on organized crime poses a special danger when it is ill-conceived and not based on objective needs. The author analyses mistakes made by lawmakers in the process of formulating and upgrading norms aimed at counteracting criminal communities (criminal organizations) as the highest forms of organized crime, as well as persons who organize and manage them. The author also draws attention to the negative trends of unsubstantiated toughening of criminal repressions, of using terminological instruments not characteristic of criminal law regulation, and poorly conceived implementation of legislative initiatives for narrowing the scope of Art. 210 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. It is concluded that the principle of justice has been violated, the judicial-investigation system has been undermined, and there is a threat of strict liability and unconstitutionality in the proposed legislative initiative of limiting the scope of Art. 210 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, if the fate of the norm of liability for business fraud is taken into consideration. Based on the conducted analysis of criminal law norms on criminal community (criminal organization) as a form of complicity and as an independent crime, court practice, statistical indices, international experience, existing opinions of a number of scholars and personal legal position, the author formulates suggestions within a conceptually new approach to modernizing criminal legislation in the analyzed sphere.

Part II Predominant Security Challenges and International Law, National and Transnational Security, Ch.12 Transnational Organized Crime

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hauck Pierre ◽  
Peterke Sven
Keyword(s):  
Organized Crime ◽  
Global Justice ◽  
Crime Control ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Legal Regime ◽  
Transnational Organized Crime ◽  
Security Challenges ◽  
Illegal Activities ◽  
Criminal Groups ◽  
Governance Transparency

This chapter focuses on transnational organized crime (TOC), pointing out some of the impacts attributed to this cross-border delinquency and its ties and linkages with other legal and illegal activities and actors. With the growing recognition that combating TOC requires more effective international cooperation, an impressive international legal regime has been constructed around this subject matter. A good part of this framework consists of so-called ‘suppression conventions’ that oblige State Parties to criminalize certain ‘evils’, to enforce relevant domestic laws, and to cooperate with each other in the persecution of these illegal activities. An often-downplayed problem is that these instruments are ‘rooted in the crime control policies of powerful Western states’, supposedly serving as models for other governments. They therefore tend to impose duties that are rather difficult to comply with for States with fragile institutions, often incapable of effectively delivering essential goods, such as safety and security. Against this background, it is increasingly acknowledged amongst both scholars and practitioners that tackling TOC requires the use of a broader and far more differentiated approach which addresses not only the multiplicity of non-State actors who have links to organized criminal groups (such as rebels and terrorists), but also the promotion of good governance, transparency, and professional ethics. The sound implementation of this approach must be seen as pivotal for achieving both global justice and security.

scholarly journals Countering the Australian ‘ndrangheta: The criminalisation of mafia behaviour in Australia between national and comparative criminal law

2016 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 321-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Sergi
Keyword(s):  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Criminal Law ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Organised Crime ◽  
Comparative Approach ◽  
Paper Briefly ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Illegal Activities ◽  
Organised Crime Groups ◽  
Criminal Groups

Mafia-type criminal groups belonging to, or originated from, the Calabrian ‘ndrangheta from Southern Italy, have been object of recent academic research and media attention in Australia. The Australian ‘ndrangheta, as qualified form of organised crime, poses new challenges for law enforcement in the country. This paper briefly looks at the strategies to fight organised crime in Australia, with specific focus on anti-association laws. By using a comparative approach, the paper will look at the criminalisation of mafias as qualified forms of organised crime in other two jurisdictions, Italy and the USA, to advocate for an effective mafia criminalisation in Australia. In conclusion, this paper will argue that, in order to also fight mafia phenomena, criminal law in Australia should focus on behaviours of organised crime groups rather than only on the criminalisation of proscribed associations and their illegal activities.

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