Organised crime, violence and development: Topic guide

Abstract

Organised crime ranges from protection economies and extortion rackets to cybercrime, oil theft, money laundering, counterfeiting, maritime piracy and the trafficking and/or smuggling of people, firearms, illicit drugs, and wildlife. It is sometimes associated with violence, but there is no strong correlation between them. Conventional law enforcement and security approaches to tackling organised crime are insufficient, and can sometimes be counterproductive. The development of broader, integrated approaches is key, but remains a work in progress