Organized crimes encompass various types, including drug trafficking, human smuggling, cybercrime, and money laundering. Links between terrorists and organized crime involve funding, logistics, and mutual interests, posing threats at national and transnational levels. These alliances complicate law enforcement efforts, demanding coordinated strategies to combat both.
UPSC Mains General Studies Paper – 3 Mains 2022
UPSC Mains Civil Services IAS Exam Question Paper – 2022
Approach
- Introducing the definition of organised crime and the factors .
- Describe the linkages between terrorists and organised crime at national as well international level.
- Accordingly conclude it.
Introduction
Understanding the organised criminal group as per UN convention against Transnational Organised Crime defines organised criminal group as:
- A group of three or more persons that was not randomly formed;existing for a period of time;acting in concert with the aim of committing at least one crime punishable by at least four years’ incarceration;
- In order to obtain, directly or indirectly, a financial or other material benefit.
Organised crimes are done with the motive of monetary gains by illegal means. Organised crimes are transnational in nature. Their presence is a great threat for the country’s security.
Body
Understanding the link between the organized crime and Terrorism:
- Terrorism and organized crimes (money laundering, drug trade, weapons trade, human trafficking, fake currency) are conjoined twins that pose a great threat to the world through their syndicate and their deadly effects.
- To carry out terrorist activity a lot of money is required, so terrorists engage in organized crime to fund their terrorist activity. Organized crime is the main source to generate money for terrorists.
- Due to the transnational nature of organized crime they host the terrorist and create opportunity for their growth in new areas.
- Terrorist groups use the established network of organized criminal groups for transfer of money.
- Organized crime groups provide smuggled arms and explosives to terrorist groups in exchange terrorist groups provide protection, drugs etc.
- They have a symbiotic relationship and their strong presence can be seen in the areas having ineffective governance. But all organized crime is not a terrorist act and not all terrorist acts are organized crime.
Linkages Between Organized Crime and Terrorism:
- Terrorist groups need arms and money to fight against security forces. The organised criminals and terrorist groups become clients of each other. Organised criminals groups smuggle arms, drugs, cattle, humans to generate money for terrorist groups.
- Terrorist organisations in India, especially in the northeast, mobilise funds by becoming couriers of illegal drugs and arms and at times even human beings from one point to another within the country.
- Terrorists are always in need of money. As they fail to mobilise large amount of money, they take help of organised criminals to exchange counterfeit currency with arms.
Examples showing relationship between organized crime and terrorism:
- In the Northeast, extortion is the fundamental basis for funding all forms of terrorism. In addition to this, kidnapping has been used extensively for spreading terror and raising funds.
- In J&K, counterfeit currency has been a major source of funding terrorism. Money laundering plays a significant role. Hawala (money laundering) transactions take place swiftly and effectively in Kashmir.
- In the Maoist terror movements, extortion is yet again a common phenomenon. They have also indulged in robberies of banks to fund their movement.
Conclusion
It’s important to note that while there are instances of collaboration between terrorists and organised crime, the nature and extent of these linkages can vary depending on the specific groups and contexts involved.
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