Published in April 2018

Regional Perspectives: Pacific Islands Region - added in November 2019

Regional Perspectives: Eastern and Southern Africa - added in April 2020

 

 
  This module is a resource for lecturers  

 

Introduction

 

Organized criminal groups do not only provide illicit goods and services. These criminal enterprises also use methods like intimidation, violence, corruption and duress to create a demand for their services, rather than merely exploit an existing market. By using these and other coercive methods, organized criminal groups infiltrate businesses and governments.

This Module reviews the elements of organized crime that underlie infiltration of business and government, demonstrating how corruption, bribery, extortion, and money-laundering are used by organized criminal groups to expand their domain, maintain control over a market or activity, and protect the enterprise from disruption by legal authorities.

Topics covered

  • Bribery
  • Corruption
  • Extortion
  • Extortion racketeering
  • Loansharking
  • Money-laundering
  • Liability of legal persons

Learning outcomes

  • Understanding of the crimes that underlie the concept of infiltration of business and government.
  • Distinguishing the similarities and differences among corruption, bribery, extortion, money-laundering.
  • Applying the elements of these offences to case studies of organized crime.
  • Assessing the ways in which infiltration of business and government is central to the existence of many organized criminal groups. 
 

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