Discuss the types of organised crime. Describe the linkages between terrorists and organised crime that exist at the national and transnational levels. (Answer in 150 words)

Organised crime is continuing, structured criminal activity conducted for profit, influence or control. Terrorist groups and criminal syndicates may cooperate despite different primary motives.

Types

• Mafia-style extortion and protection rackets; trafficking in narcotics, arms and persons; illicit mining and wildlife trade; cybercrime, counterfeiting and financial fraud.
• State-linked smuggling networks and prison-based or insurgent criminal economies are additional forms.

Terror–crime nexus

• Criminal groups provide arms, forged documents, transport, safe houses and money laundering to terrorists.
• Terrorist groups tax or control narcotics, kidnapping, illegal mining and extortion to finance operations.
• At national level, corrupt officials, porous borders, informal finance and local gangs enable logistics and recruitment.
• Transnationally, diasporic networks, hawala, cryptocurrencies, shipping routes and online platforms connect jurisdictions.

Strategy

• Intelligence fusion, financial investigation, extradition cooperation, border management, anti-trafficking measures and community policing are necessary while protecting due process.

Mafia; trafficking; hawala; money laundering; terror financing; criminal–terror nexus; intelligence fusion.