This month The University of Queensland hosts the annual Transnational Organised Crime Program – an international research and learning initiative.
UQ News caught up with course convenor, Criminal Law Professor Andreas Schloenhardt from the T.C. Beirne School of Law, to get an overview.
Globally the most prevalent type of organised crime remains the illicit trade in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
Given the high demand, including in Australia, and the massive supply from source countries, illicit drugs are also the most profitable criminal business.
For this reason, we’ve seen recent record seizures of cocaine smuggled across the Pacific.
Similarly, trafficking in arms, fauna and flora, people – such as the smuggling of migrants – are transnational industries generating large profits for criminal organisations.
The players involved encompass a great range of groups ranging from hierarchically structured organisations such as the Mafia or Chinese triads, to associations such as outlaw motorcycle gangs.
For more details see: From the Godfather to bikie gangs
