Organized Crime, Transit Crime, and Racketeering (From Crime and Justice in the Netherlands, P 163-215, 2007, Michael Tonry and Catrien Bijleveld, eds. -- See NCJ-220164)

• NCJ Number: 220169
• Author(s): Edward R. Kleemans
• Date Published: 2007
• Length: 53 pages
• Sale Source: University of Chicago Press
• Publication Format: Book Chapter
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This chapter presents and draws implications for the results of Dutch empirical research on organized crime and organized-crime policies in the Netherlands.

Abstract

Section I summarizes the key research findings on the nature of organized crime. After assessing the evidence of corruption, violence, and intimidation, and the interaction between organized crime and the legal economy, the author concludes that the concept of "Mafia-type" organized crime characteristic of America contradicts the phenomenon of organized crime in the Netherlands. An alternative concept of organized crime has been introduced in the Netherlands and is widely accepted in Dutch policy and research circles, it is based in the view that the primary business of organized crime is "transit crime" (international illegal trade, using the same opportunity structure that facilitates legal economic activities). This contrasts with the view that organized crime is interested in controlling economic sectors or regions. Further, organized criminal groups should be viewed as "criminal networks" rather than as pyramidal structures. Section II elaborates on these main points, with attention to their application in the illegal activities of drug trafficking, human trafficking for sexual exploitation, smuggling of illegal immigrants, arms trafficking, and trafficking in stolen vehicles. Section III describes major changes in organized crime policies in the Netherlands over the past two decades. Flexible "prompt intervention" strategies are more common than large-scale and lengthy strategies that have involved undercover work and controlled law-enforcement involvement in drug operations designed to identify the main players. These methods have been replaced by unobtrusive methods of collecting evidence, such as wiretapping and other "bugging" methods. These methods, however, may be more effective in countering "transit crime" than "racketeering" (corruption in specific economic arenas). 65 references