Opinion
Systems Of Organised Crime
Organised crimes can be defined as unethical acts carried out deliberately by groups of like-minded people in pursuit of definite purposes, interests or goals. A legal doctrine of mens-rea would suggest that what determines criminality is the prior motive or intent behind an action. Truly, all is not offence that men call crime, because an offence that men call crime, because an offence committed in self-defence and under grave provocation, has an extenuating degree of culpability. Therefore, not all organised crimes are run by criminal syndicates.
One system of organised crimes is the commonly known syndicate called mafia, or cosa nostra because of its Italian origin. It is usually formed by drug barons to protect their chain of secret but illicit activities. It also expanded to include and accommodate wider criminal groups ranging from business to political syndicates that seek to protect their activities by force and guile. Interlopers, rivals and nosy but uncooperative security agents can be taught hard lesson.
Cult system consists of diverse groups of gangsters who are usually youthful apprentices who operate under some patrons. They are more of agents serving the interests of clandestine elite syndicates. Epistemology or belief and ideological considerations feature in cult phenomenon, whereby some occult, fetish practices are common. Thus, Voodoo and witch-related orgies are common elements in cults, under the guise of religion. Secrecy, exclusiveness and ruthlessness feature in the cult system.
Piracy system of organised crimes range from buccaneers, highway robbers, to plagiarists and expert counterfeiters. For example, there are syndicates that specialise in producing currency notes of any nation, for a fee. Similarly, drugs or any other product can be reproduced, fake but looking no different from an original sample. Nigeria was a victim, not only of circulation of fake drugs, but also counterfeit currency notes. Prior to 1977, one naira note exchanged for two dollars, but we know the current exchange rate; thanks to greedy Nigerians who love money more than their country.
Guild system consists of professional bodies and trade groups who, by means of monopolies, place other people and the general public in a position of helplessness. Ruthless and exclusive in their exploits and activities, material gains and a stranglehold on the economy are the features of the guild system. Competitors who try to create a balance system in the political economy can always be sabotaged and knocked out of business. With strong connections in the bureaucracy, the guild system is an elitist group of smooth operators.
Crytocracy is another high-level cabal whose domain is the security and intelligence wing of the state or political administration. It would be safe not to delve into the deep and troubled waters of this system. Just a few hints: It takes rugged crime bursters to be able to fish out ruthless criminals. Therefore, top level of the security services are trained experts in every field of crimes, including 244 ways of killing human beings, as a countervailing force in the crime world. Sadly, some become stooges!
Business Cartel, like the guild system, consists of big business and company owners, government contractors and consultants. Whether national or multinational in nature and size, large conglomerates usually have ferocious servants or consultants who can carry out special and clandestine jobs when such needs beckon. State agencies can also hire or retain some experts in the task of fixing complicated situations, including damage-control stunts and image laundering. Usually drawn from retired top security agents, establishment spin doctors are faceless operators who can enjoy legal and diplomatic immunity.
Yahoo system are electronic and Internet fraudsters, capable of hacking into top-secret information and personal details, for a fee. They form into a formidable and dangerous group of smart criminals who can rob and decode any information for themselves, or for who may pay and use their services. They can be so smart and connected that it becomes difficult to pin them down without the help of international police units. They serve as accomplices and partners of other criminal syndicates, operating at international levels.
Vendetta or revenge system, like cult wars, is the ruthless show of power and supremacy, arising from old grouses and duplicities. Whether between criminal groups, nations or races, this system of criminality can last for many generations especially where land seizures, humiliations and prejudices are involved. When it involves religion then terrorism can feature as a payback for old crimes or plunders. Is there no criminality in religious proselytism?
Indoctrination system goes along with aggressive proselytism whereby force and compulsion are used to convert pagans and unbelievers into a faith professed to guarantee salvation. Historically, there had been cases where people were slaughtered for refusing to embrace a prescribed faith and of heretics and backsliders being burnt alive in the stake by hirelings of religious authorities. Thus crimes include, not only acts of brutality and bigotry to enforce conversion, but indoctrinating people to hate and have no dealing with others of a different faith.
Undoubtedly there had been extremism both in religion and politics bordering on criminality, in which unethical and brute actions had featured. There was the case of Rev. Jim Jones and the Guyana tragedy in which hundreds of adherents were forced to take poison and die, rather than “return to the world”. On the political side we had had volunteers who would rather commit suicide than not have “Abacha as life President of Nigeria” . Yes, Youths Earnestly Asked for Abacha, YEAA! Call it party system!
The most faceless system is the one that operates under the guise and cover of governance, with security operatives as tools. Hence, fishermen can be arrested rather than bandits as suspects that allegedly attempted to kill a state governor. Yet a group claimed responsibility for the “show” as some warning signal! Some criminal syndicates operate with such audacity that overwhelms security agents, while others operate as “parallel government” that can make a society ungovernable. There are also those who make national refineries unworkable!
Dr. Amirize is a retired lecturer from the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt.
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