ORGANIZED CRIME 4
Running head: ORGANIZED CRIME 1
Organized Crime
Name
Institution
Definition of Organized Crime
Organized crime relates to the category of criminal activity where the perpetrators are members of a highly centralized grouping that intends to engage in criminal activity, or that is actively involved in an instance of crime with the aim of making profits or money (Deborah B., & Bryan-Low, 2011). The syndicate may be at the local, national, or transnational levels and often have a central figure or leader; from within whom all other members derive power. In certain other cases, the objective or the reason for these groups of organized criminals may be for the sake of political reasons, which includes the fight for specific territories and natural resources.
The most common organized crime groupings often thrive in the international drug rackets or in terror cells, which domineer local boundaries and exert pressure on the locals to levy taxes directly to them for financial sustenance. Drug-related organized crime groups are the common in the United States primarily due to the influence of Mexican, Columbian, and Russian drug cartels.
Elements of an Organized Crime Group
In any social setting where there are groupings involved in organized crime, there are specific characteristics or elements that betray such groupings core activities and actions. For instance, organized crime tends to succeed in settings where the core activities include the supply of illegal goods and services. In the given context, the core activity involves the sale and distribution of hardcore drugs. The extent to which such groups excel in such environments is often due to the reality that a massive number of individuals are willing to pay for the drugs or the illegal service/ product an aspect that encourages the growth and the expansion of such groups. The second element relates to the underlying goal or objective of these organized groups. In most cases, the primary motivation is the need to make money or profits, which then allows such groups to expand the business and to also payout various individuals in authority who then protect and hide the activities of these crime – oriented groups.
The other critical reasons for the engagement of these crime syndicates in coordinated action are due to the need to derive power, pride, reverence, and control from their assumed position of authority. The need to grow and expands therefore often tends to determine the extent to which such groups are willing to go in the course of protecting their place in the social setting. The third element relates to the fact any organized crime grouping has what they may refer to as the boss or the central figure. In most of the cases, the boss does not take an active role in the management of the processes within the organization since there are subordinates who deal with the issues at the lower level. The boss is highly revered and may have minimal public appearances due to the underlying legal implications. The boss is, however, at the center of the syndicate’s existence.
The assertion means that by targeting the central figure, it is possible to dismantle the entire racket. The fourth elements may refer to the extent of loyalty and passion that the members in such rackets show towards the central figure and the organization by extension. The members in such cases are extraordinarily loyal and seem to be ready to do anything to defend the honor of the syndicate (Deborah B., & Bryan-Low, 2011). The groups often take the members through a process of oath taking where the members sweat allegiance through oaths and initiations. The affirmations serve to show the underlying degrees of loyalty observable among the members. The other common element is the possible ramifications in the case that a member decides to exit or defy the central leaders’ command.
The actions may range from death to extreme extents of punishments, which seek to instill fear or possible repeat offenders. Finally, most of the activities of organized crime groups are deeply hidden and remains a mystery to those without the organization. For instance, the description of the illegal drug markets as the underground market is an indication of the concealed nature of this organized crime groups.
Summary of Columbian, Mexican, and Russian Organized Crime
The Columbian drug syndicate is among the world’s most revered organized crime groups. The groups have over the years adopted cocaine as the primary drug of choice in the international drug racketeering markets. The cartels, in this case, include the Medellin and the Cali cartel is that over the years developed a culture of impunity in their approach to drug trafficking. The Columbian drug cartels have therefore been able to identify certain loopholes within the American setting, which they use to introduce drugs such as Cocaine and other hard drugs (Zabyelina, 2015). The Oficina de cover is among the most visible drug-related structures and establishments that seem to have an upper hand mainly due to their financial might. The extent of financial might, in this case, seems to form an essential premise on which these Columbian drug establishments can pay and buy off authorities as their partnership with local crime syndicates to push drugs into the markets.
However, the more significant concern in the United States currently relates to the realities of the Mexican organized crime groups and the truth that Mexico has a historical background of notorious drug lords with the ability to break from public prisons due to their power, connections, and money. The Sinaloa cartel is among the most essential organized crimes in the country, which seems to continuously undergo a process of transition and metamorphosis a trend, which makes it almost impossible to track or trace their operations. The fact that Mexico has overly influential leaders of these drug syndicates who have the financial might and the connections means that when they have business in the United States, they may use the same influence to advance the drugs agenda in the country. Russia is the other country, which presents apparent concerns for the United States due to the reality that the nation has powerful mafias who operate with impunity and almost control the authorities in the national and international settings.
The Bratva is a practical example of the Russian Mafia and the extent of power that these organized groups in Russia yield. The three groups have two things in common, which makes them overly powerful (Zabyelina, 2015). The first is the reality that they have the financial muscle, while the second is the existence of powerful connections, which makes these syndicates impossible to implicate in a court of law. For instance, with net revenue of $ 8.5 billion, the Bratva cartel is almost untouchable an aspect that makes the expansion of such a group into the United States entirely possible.
Organized Crime, Money Laundering, and Legitimate Business
The factual premise of organized crime indicates a trend that has over time undergone observable metamorphosis as the drug cartels find ways of survival and an umbrella to hide from the hawk-eyed local and international law enforcement agencies. The assertion introduces this research to the link between legit business and the interests of organized criminals. In essence, it has been observed that historically drug cartels have hidden behind legit companies such as casinos and clubs with the view of using such businesses as a decoy in the course of undertaking money laundering and other illegal activities in the guise of legal business.
The aspect of money laundering involves the need to conceal the money obtained from various illegal activities and eventually use such cash in the legal business, which then tends to work towards reducing the suspicions that would otherwise emerge (Cassella, 2003). The role of foreign banks in the course of promoting money laundering is observable especially in the case of an individual such as beast. In essence, once beast can sell drugs inside and outside the United States, the proceeds of such activities may end up in foreign banks, where it is incredibly impossible to trace the source of such money.
The USA Patriot Act of the year 2001 is among the laws, which may be applied in the course of dealing with Beast. The law requires that banks must be willing to collaborate with law enforcement agencies in the process of ensuring that there are timely detection and prosecution of all money laundering activities. The Federal drug policy law in the United States is the other critical part of legislation with significant implications in the case. The regulations provide extreme punishments to drug traffickers, which include extradition to face charges in the United States in case the individual is found culpable. The United States v. Santos is one of the most recent examples of a case of money laundering and drug trafficking that led to considerable public attention. The court, in this case, relied on the underlying Federal laws on drug trafficking and the laws on Money laundering to affect the prosecution of the suspect.
In the end, it is also possible to capture Beast, ensure his prosecution because of the changing scope of laws on the issue of money laundering, and drug trafficking. However, one of the apparent challenges, which may affect the course of the investigation, is the reality that Beast has connections with various authorities, which may complicate the process of studies.
Deborah B., & Bryan-Low, C. (2011, March 21). U.S. Banks Oppose Tighter Money Rules. Retrieved from https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704355304576214852895407540
Cassella, S.D. (2003). Reverse money laundering. Journal of Money Laundering Control. 7 (1) 92–94.
Zabyelina, Yuliya (2015). Reverse money laundering in Russia: Clean cash for dirty ends. Journal of Money Laundering Control. 18 (2), 202–221.