Read the following text. Following the title of the text brainstorm words you expect to find in it. Write the vocabulary list of possible words that you could find in that text.

Make sure you understand the meaning of the following words and word-combinations:

transnational organized crime

a tendency to oversimplify

to subjugate human trafficking victims

to ensure contract compliance

to resolve disputes

to commit crimes

intimidation and corruption

to acquire wealth and control territory

a means of strengthening preventive capabilities

electronic surveillance

undercover operations

laundering of criminal proceeds

suspicious financial transactions

tampering and counterfeiting

workable global strategies

to combat transnational organized crime

 Methods of combatting transnational organized crime

The threat posed by transnational organized crime is often misunderstood. There is a tendency to oversimplify, and, in particular, to equate the damage done by organized crime with the amount of violence associated with the market. But the threat posed is much deeper than a body count, tragic though this loss of life may be. Many forms of organized crime do involve violence or the threat of violence. For example, to subjugate human trafficking victims, violence or the credible threat of violence is almost always present. In other markets, violence is needed to ensure contract compliance and to resolve disputes. Professional criminals may seek to minimize the extent of violence to ensure the smooth flow of profits and to avoid unwanted attention. 

To effectively combat transnational organized crime, its structural characteristics and operational methods should be taken into account in devising strategies, policies, legislation and other measures designated to combat it. A critical analysis of transnational crime revealed an organisation which exists to commit crimes; has hierarchical links which enable its kingpins to control the organisation, use of violence, intimidation and corruption to acquire wealth and control territory and market, and launders the proceeds in furtherance of infiltration of legitimate economics. Organized crime groups have potential for territorial expansion beyond national borders and links with other criminal organisations. It is apparent therefore, that any stratagem aimed at combating organized crime must be the product of the knowledge of these organisations and their dynamics, statistics and information should, at every given opportunity, be collated, analysed and appropriately disseminated for use by law enforcement agencies.

• Legislation penalizing participation in criminal associations or conspiracies, and imposing criminal liability on corporate bodies is necessary as a means of strengthening preventive capabilities;
• Reliable evidence gathering techniques, such as electronic surveillance, undercover operations and controlled delivery should be considered in national law;
• Encouraging the cooperation and testimony of members of organized criminal gangs by limiting the disclosure of the address and identity of witnesses, and protection programme of witnesses and their formation;
• Defeating the economic power of criminal organisation through criminal law measures with appropriate sanctions and sentences and regulatory mechanisms. The laundering of criminal proceeds must be criminalised;
• Legislative and regulatory measure that limit financial security, ensure adequate record keeping and impose an obligation for the identification and reporting of suspicious financial transactions;
• Strengthening of the supervision of passport issuance and the endorsement of protection of passports against tampering and counterfeiting; and
• Promotion through mass media campaigns that stimulate public awareness of the evils of organized crime; the need for public participation in its prevention and the promotion of public security.

Added to the above, and most importantly on the domestic front, should be the establishment and management of courageous, incorruptible law enforcement agencies to arrest, investigate and prosecute culprits of transnational organized crime to a logical conclusion. Currently in Nigeria, the government is reorganising, re-modernizing her security agencies especially the Police Force to squarely face the challenges of the new trends in the transnationalization of crime. Transnational organized crime is an international activity that calls for nation states to poll their resources to collectively enhance peaceful, economic, social growth and development for the mutual benefit of all. Consequently, there should be in place workable global strategies to effectively combat transnational organized crime within the framework of criminal justice processes.

Questions to discuss:

1. Why is the threat posed by transnational organized crime often misunderstood?
2. Do many forms of organized crime involve violence or the threat of violence?
3. Why do professional criminals seek to minimize the extent of violence?
4. What should be done to effectively combat transnational organized crime?
5. Do organized crime groups have potential for territorial expansion beyond national borders?
6. What methods and techniques are needed to combat international organized crime?
7. What reliable evidence gathering techniques should be considered in national law?
8. What do you know about the protection programme of witnesses and their formation?
9. Is reporting of suspicious financial transactions of great importance in organized crime fighting?
10. How can mass media stimulate public awareness of the evils of organized crime?
11. What measures are most importantly to introduce on the domestic front?
12. Should there be workable global strategies to effectively combat transnational organized crime within the framework of criminal justice processes?