NCJ Number
209085
Journal
Forensic Examiner Dated: Spring 2004 Pages: 14-23
Date Published
2004
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This second part of a two-part article on drug smuggling describes the behavioral characteristics of the higher level phase-2 and phase-3 levels for drug smuggling as profiled in the three-phase model of smuggling presented in the first part of the article.
Abstract
The sole attraction of association within a phase-2 organization is smuggling drugs into a particular country or within the borders of the country and involves transporting drugs from their production source to cities that are relatively close to the sources for warehousing or distribution. Phase 2 subdivides into two subgroups; one is a constellation of close friends and the other is a looser social network of associates who have more broadly based connections, such as gang affiliation, company employment, or shared geographical area of residence. A unique aspect of phase-2 organizations is the three types of corporations that may be involved in illicit smuggling as phase-2 organizations. One is a corporation formed for the sole purpose of smuggling; the second is a corporation that was legitimate at the time of its creation; and the third type maintains a legitimate business plan while participating in smuggling. Regarding phase-3 individual smugglers and smuggling organizations, they have extensive experience with smuggling and have committed themselves to it as a career. All aspects of the organization are created and structured for the purpose of producing, transporting, and marketing drugs as efficiently and profitably as possible. What distinguishes phase-3 smugglers from legitimate business executives and their techniques of doing business is the use of intimidation, extortion, and murder as part of business methods for protecting and enhancing the business. Phase-3 smugglers aspire to create ever-expanding networks that encompass more and more markets across the world. Phase-3 organizations are likely to have the structure of multinational corporations that have multiple offices in numerous countries on several continents. Given their tremendous wealth, phase-3 organizations can purchase state-of-the art equipment and tools for enhancing the protection, efficiency, and expansion of their operations. One of the distinctions between the three phases of the smuggling model is the extent to which the organization has invested resources in monitoring and countering law enforcement activities against the smuggling operations. 1 table and 20 references