NCJ Number
197907
Date Published
July 2002
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This paper draws together information on one aspect that various Australian illegal markets have in common, namely, networks of transportation.
Abstract
Illicit markets for any commodity typically involve organized transport across borders to sources of demand. This may involve concealment in packaging and couriering, perhaps requiring the collaboration of those in the business of packing and unpacking shipping containers and the bribing of customs officials. Once in the market nation, the commodity will be sold to consumers either illicitly or by means of insertion into legitimate markets. Such a network is closely analogous to the international drug market. Given the common structure of these networks of transport and distribution, as well as the common nature of the skills required to effectively operate underground trading links, it is logical to determine whether the same personnel are involved in the movement of some or all of these illicit goods. This paper considers such "multi-competent" smuggling networks. In so doing, it describes four forms of illicit markets: from illicit source to illicit transport to illicit destination market; from illicit source to illicit transport to licit destination market; from licit source to illicit transport to illicit destination market; and from licit source to illicit transport to licit destination market. Descriptions and examples of the various forms of illicit markets are described. There is evidence that criminal networks involved in transport for illicit markets deal in a variety of commodities. This diversity of goods carried by criminal networks may be viewed as a potential weakness, since law enforcement officials can target the illicit market most accessible for investigation and thus reach organized crime groups involved in a number of illicit markets; for example, pirated goods transported by criminal networks will reach a much wider consuming public than smuggled drugs and arms. The end consumers of these products may be more open to reporting the suppliers of contraband goods, providing consequent links for the police to the traffickers of the more dangerous and hidden commodities. The efficient functioning of detection and apprehension structures requires that investigators be fully aware of the nature of illicit transport networks and the particular qualities of the various goods they transport. 12 references