UNIT III
TRANSNATIONAL CRIMES
Transnational Crimes- These are crimes taking place across national borders.
*also include crimes that take place in one country, but their consequences
significantly affect another country and transit countries may also be involved.
* Most of the causes of transnational crime are similar to the factors that drive
crime in general.
Transnational organized crime (TOC)- Refers to crime that is organized and
coordinated across national borders of more than one country and involves groups
or networks of individuals planning and executing illegal business ventures utilizing
systematic violence and/or corruption.
Transnational crimes
Examples:
1.Trafficking of persons
2. Environmental crimes
3. Economic crime
4. Cyber crimes
5.Cybersex crime
6.Priracy and armed Robbery against ships
7. Intellectual Property Theft
8. Cultural property theft
9. Illegal trafficking of small arms
10. Money Laundering
11. Terrorism
12. Drug trafficking
1. Trafficking of person- refers to the recruitment, transportation, transfer or
harboring, or receipt of persons with or without the victim’s consent or
knowledge, within or across the national borders.
2. Environmental Crime- The deliberate evasion of environmental laws and
regulations by individuals and companies in the pursuit of personal and
financial benefit.
3. Economic crimes- are illegal acts that are characterized by fraud,
concealment, or a violation of trust and are not dependent upon the
application of threat, physical force or violence.
4. Cyber Crimes- are characterized by hacking or unauthorized access to
computer systems or networks, or forcibly taking over a computer network
to destroy the system or data, modify data and programs, and stealing
information that can cause disruption to the network for personal gain or
political reasons.
5. Cybersex- shops are earning more or less P4M to P10M a month, with clients
mostly from the US and Germany. Shops charge clients the amount of
“$4.00/minute. With that the young model, who is also paid by minute is earning
an average of P100,000/mo with free board and lodging.
6. Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships- Tends to be concentrated in areas of
heavy commercial maritime activity or in a Regions with little or no maritime law
enforcement capacity.
• Today’s pirates are usually well organized and well equipped with advanced
communications weapons and highspeed craft.
7. Intellectual Property Theft- The act of any person who, with the intent to gain
but without violence against or intimidation of persons or force upon things, shall
take personal property, including intellectual property rights of another without
the latter’s consent.
8. Cultural Property Theft- Cultural properties include among others, antiques,
relics, artifacts and historical/ archeological/anthropological sites.
9. Illegal Trafficking of Small Arms- small arms are easy to buy, easy to use, and
easy to conceal or transport. Since they require little maintenance, they can last
for decades.
10. Money Laundering- is a crime whereby the proceeds of an unlawful activity
are transacted making them appear to have originated from legitimate sources.
11. Drug Trafficking- is a worldwide black market consisting of production,
distribution, packaging, and sale of illegal psychoactive substances.
12. Terrorism- the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, especially
for political purposes.
Transnational Organized Crime Groups
Well-known organized crime groups include:
● Russian Mafia.
Around 200 Russian groups that operate in nearly 60 countries worldwide.
They have been involved in racketeering, fraud, tax evasion, gambling, drug trafficking,
ransom, robbery and murder.
● La Cosa Nostra.
Known as the Italian-American mafia. The most prominent organized crime group in the
world from the 1920’s to the 1990’s. They have been involved in violence, arson, bombings,
torture, sharking, gambling, drug trafficking, health insurance fraud, and political and judicial
corruption.
● Yakuza
Japanese criminal group. Often involved in multinational criminals activities, including
human trafficking, gambling, prostitution, and undermining licit businesses.
● FukChing.
Chinese organized group in the United States. They have been involved in smuggling,
street violence, and human trafficking.
● Triads.
Underground criminal societies based in Hong Kong. They control secret markets and bus
routes and are often involved in money laundering and drug trafficking.
● Heijin
Taiwanese gangsters who are often executives in large corporations. They are often
involved in white collar crimes, such as illegal stock trading and bribery, and sometimes run
for public office.
● Jao Pho
Organized crime group in Thailand. They are often involved in illegal political and business
activity.
● Red Wa
Gangsters from Thailand. They are involved in manufacturing and trafficking
methamphetamine.
