Transnational crime refers to crime that takes place across national borders.

An article in the journal International Political Sociology shows that the significance of transnational crime is poorly understood but has had profound consequences for the ordering of the world system. James Sheptycki, Professor of Criminology at York University explores the interdisciplinary study of the global system by using the perspectives of critical criminology. Crime definition and control have been central aspects of governance since the early modern period and this is no less true now that governance has become transnational or global. The article suggests that the contemporary global system is ripe with existential anxieties that are symptoms of momentous historical change and argues that, for good or bad, crime definition and control have become crucial to the transnational condition. The fears suggested by the term transnational crime have been used to justify increasing policing powers. This increase in global policing power is detrimental to efforts to democratize the world system. "Critical insight is crucial if we are to break out of the current cycle of fear and insecurity which means seeing through the fog of globalization crisis talk," Sheptycki notes. "Theories from criminology are a useful addition to international political sociology and there seems little doubt that such insights will be called upon again and again as crime and insecurity are repeatedly muscled onto the agenda of global governance."

Transnational crimes are crimes that have actual or potential effect across national borders and crimes [1] which are intra-State but which offend fundamental values of the international community. The term is commonly used in the law enforcement and academic communities. The word "transnational" describes crimes that are not only international (that is, crimes that cross borders between countries), but crimes that by their nature involve border crossings as an essential part of the criminal activity. Transnational crimes also include crimes that take place in one country, but their consequences significantly affect another country. Examples of transnational crimes include: human trafficking, people smuggling, smuggling/trafficking of goods (such as arms trafficking and drug trafficking and illegal animal and plant products and other goods prohibited on environmental grounds (eg banned ozone depleting substances), sex slavery, terrorism offences, torture and apartheid. Transnational organized crime (TOC) refers specifically to transnational crime carried out by organized crime organizations.

Transnational Crimes may also be crimes of customary international law or international crimes when committed in certain cricumstances. For example they may in certain situations constituteCrimes against humanity.

SECTION 3. POWERS AND FUNCTIONS. The Center shall have the following powers and functions; 1. To establish, through the use of modern information and telecommunications technology, a shared central database among government agencies for the information on criminals; methodologies, arrests and convictions on the following transnational crime. a. illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs and sychotropic substances; b. money laundering; c. terrorism; d. arms and smuggling; e. trafficking in persons; f. piracy; and g. other crimes that have an impact on the stability and security of the country;

concept :
Nevertheless, the European Union strategy on the prevention and control of organised crime 20 adopted by the Council of Justice and Home Affairs in 2000, describes the concept of organised criminal activity as dynamic by nature. It need not be confined to rigid structures. It has shown itself to have the capacity to be entrepreneurial, business-like and highly flexible in responding to changing market forces and situations. Furthermore, it states Organised criminal groups are generally not confined by national

borders. They often form partnerships within and outside the territory of the European Union, either with individuals or with other networks for the commission of single or multiple offences Moreover, they are taking advantage of the free movement of money, goods, personnel and services across the European Union. As a result of the increased sophistication of many organised criminal groups, they are able to utilise legal loopholes and differences between Member States, exploiting the anomalies in the various systems. So, while the relevance of the transnational illicit activities carried on by organised crime is stressed, nevertheless the notion of transnational is not adopted for describing the change in the nature of the traditional local based OC but it is considered as a reorganisation of traditional OC activities driven by the need to response to a whole range of political changes.

Nature:

Schlegel argues that the very nature of transnational crimes demands an interorganizational response from law enforcement (Schlegel, 2000), and that local law enforcement agencies will never have the capacity to adequately respond to these crimes alone. At the same time, local law enforcement patrol city streets and towns daily and, as a result, have an intimate knowledge of those communities they serve. They have developed strong and close This document is a research report submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice. This report has not been published by the Department. Opinions or points of view expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. Caliber Associates 9 relationships in those communities and can offer vital street-level intelligence to federal agencies in investigating transnational crimes (Berger, 2001). Under ideal circumstances, each

agency would bring their respective expertise to the table, and play an indispensable part in investigating and prosecuting a case.

Schlegel (2000) argues that the very nature of transnational crimes demands an interorganizational response from law enforcement, and that local law enforcement agencies will never have the capacity to adequately respond to these crimes alone. At the same time, local law enforcement patrol city streets and towns daily and, as a result, have an intimate knowledge of those communities they serve. They have developed strong and close relationships in those communities and can offer vital street-level intelligence to federal agencies in investigating transnational crimes (Berger, 2001). Although local law enforcement is not designed in its interest, training or mission to address transnational crime, it is well positioned; indeed, it plays a critical role in the investigation and prosecution of transnational crime. Local law enforcement agencies need to be prepared to collaborate with federal agencies to respond to these crimes as well as move proactively to prevent and deter crimes.

CATEGORY OF TRANSNATIONAL CRIME

The UN has identified 18 different categories of transnational crime. These are (i) Money laundering (ii) Terrorist activities (iii) Theft of art and cultural objects (iv) Theft of intellectual property (v) Illicit traffic in arms (vi) sea piracy (vii) Hijacking on land (viii) Insurance fraud (ix) Computer crime (x) Environmental crime (xi) Trafficking in persons (xii) Trade human body parts (xiii) Illicit drug trafficking, (xiv) Fraud bankruptcy (xv) Infiltration of legal business (xvi) Corruption (xvii) Bribery of public officials, and (xviii) Other offences committed by organized criminal groups[11].

TYPES OF TERRORISM: State Terrorism

creative commons license

Many definitions of terrorism restrict it to acts by non-state actors.

But it can also be argued that states can, and have, been terrorists. States can use force or the threat of force, without declaring war, to terrorize citizens and achieve a political goal. Germany under Nazi rule has been described in this way.

It has also been argued that states participate in international terrorism, often by proxy. The United States considers Iran the most prolific sponsor of terrorism because Iran arms groups, such as Hizballah, that help carry out its foreign policy objectives. The United States has also been called terrorist, for example through its covert sponsorship of Nicaraguan Contras in the 1980s. Bioterrorism

U.S. Government

Bioterrorism refers to the intentional release of toxic biological agents to harm and terrorize civilians, in the name of a political or other cause.The U.S. Center for Disease Control has classified the viruses, bacteria and toxins that could be used in an attack. Category A Biological Diseases are those most likely to do the most damage. They include:

Cyberterrorism

Anthrax (Bacillus anthracis) Botulism (Clostridium botulinum toxin) The Plague (Yersinia pestis) Smallpox (Variola major) Tularemia (Francisella tularensis) Hemorrahagic fever, due to Ebola Virus or Marburg Virus

Cyberterrorists use information technology to attack civilians and draw attention to their cause. This may mean that they use information technology, such as computer systems or telecommunications, as a tool to orchestrate a traditional attack. More often, cyberterrorism refers to an attack on information technology itself in a way that would radically disrupt networked services. For example, cyberterrorists could disable networked emergency systems or hack into networks housing critical financial information. There is wide disagreement over the extent of the existing threat by cyberterrorists. Ecoterrorism

Ecoterrorism is a recently coined term describing violence in the interests of environmentalism. In general, environmental extremists sabotage property to inflict economic damage on industries or actors they see as harming animals or the natural enviroment. Thes have included fur companies, logging companies and animal research laboratories, for example. Nuclear terrorism

courtesy of Department of Homeland Security

"Nuclear terrorism" refers to a number of different ways nuclear materials might be exploited as a terrorist tactic. These include attacking nuclear facilities, purchasing nuclear weapons, or building nuclear weapons or otherwise finding ways to disperse radioactive materials. Narcoterrorism Narcoterrorism has had several meanings since its coining in 1983. It once denoted violence used by drug traffickers to influence governments or prevent government efforts to stop the drug trade. In the last several years, narcoterrorism has been used to indicate situations in which terrorist groups use drug trafficking to fund their other operations.

Types of terrorism

A view of damages to the U.S. Embassy in Beirut caused by a terrorist bomb attack, April 1983

Sbarro pizza restaurant bombing in Jerusalem, in which 15 Israeli civilians were killed and 130 wounded by a Hamas suicide bomber.

In early 1975, the Law Enforcement Assistant Administration in the United States formed the National Advisory Committee on Criminal Justice Standards and Goals. One of the five volumes that the committee wrote was entitled Disorders and Terrorism, produced by the Task Force on Disorders and [69] Terrorism under the direction of H.H.A. Cooper, Director of the Task Force staff. The Task Force classified terrorism into six categories. Civil disorder A form of collective violence interfering with the peace, security, and normal functioning of the community. Political terrorism Violent criminal behaviour designed primarily to generate fear in the community, or substantial segment of it, for political purposes. Non-Political terrorism Terrorism that is not aimed at political purposes but which exhibits conscious design to create and maintain a high degree of fear for coercive purposes, but the end is individual or collective gain rather than the achievement of a political objective. Quasi-terrorism The activities incidental to the commission of crimes of violence that are similar in form and method to genuine terrorism but which nevertheless lack its essential ingredient. It is not the main purpose of the quasi-terrorists to induce terror in the immediate victim as in the case of genuine terrorism, but the quasi-terrorist uses the modalities and techniques of the genuine terrorist and [70] produces similar consequences and reaction. For example, the fleeing felon who takes hostages is a quasi-terrorist, whose methods are similar to those of the genuine terrorist but whose purposes are quite different. Limited political terrorism Genuine political terrorism is characterized by a revolutionary approach; limited political terrorism refers to acts of terrorism which are committed for ideological or political motives but which are not part of a concerted campaign to capture control of thestate. Official or state terrorism "referring to nations whose rule is based upon fear and oppression that reach similar to terrorism or such proportions. It may also be referred to as Structural Terrorism defined broadly as terrorist acts carried out by governments in pursuit of political objectives, often as part of their foreign policy.