From Drug Traffickers to Human Smugglers: Ways To Explore Organized - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

From Drug Traffickers to Human Smugglers: Ways To Explore Organized Crime Sheldon X. Zhang, Ph.D. San Diego State University Department of Sociology 5500 Campanile Drive San Diego, CA 92182-4423 Tel: (619) 594-5449; FAX: (619) 594-1325 Email: xzhang@csusm.edu

What Do They Share in Common? ◦ Drug Trafficking Organizations ◦ Human Smuggling Organizations

Views on Organized Crime ◦ Structural ◦ Corporate Model ◦ Enterprise Model ◦ Structural Continuum ◦ Social Networks ◦ ethnic groups, ◦ friends and family members, etc.

My Views on Exploring Organized Crime Territorial Non-Territorial ◦ Hierarchical with discernible ◦ Non-hierarchical leadership structure ◦ Task force orientation ◦ Command driven ◦ Collaborative rather than command ◦ Clear division of labor driven ◦ Varied in sizes ◦ Clear division of labor ◦ Small groups

Operations Territorial Non-Territorial ◦ Local or neighborhood ◦ Trans-territorial ◦ Short term projects ◦ Self-perpetuating with stable patron- client relationship ◦ Entrepreneurial ◦ Tendency towards monopoly ◦ Rules and regulations set by participants ◦ Coordinated through specialized tasks ◦ Official corruption ◦ Official corruption

Identity and Membership Territorial Non-Territorial ◦ Association through fortuitous social or ◦ Restricted/exclusive membership family contacts ◦ Recruitment based on connection ◦ Membership based solely on logistical and capability needs ◦ No formal rituals ◦ Time-honored traditions, rituals and ◦ No group identity or articulated code of conduct organizational rules ◦ Life time membership ◦ Membership operational and loyalty non- obgliatory ◦ Multi-generational

Role of Violence Territorial Non-Territorial ◦ To enforce contract ◦ To enforce contract ◦ To eliminate competition ◦ To coerce client cooperation ◦ To discipline group members ◦ To maintain control during smuggling/trafficking operations ◦ To resolve inter-triad conflicts

Dyadic Transactions Contacts Vehicle who know Fee Government operators potential collecotrs officials migrants Client Document Transportor Receiver Vendors Recruiter Other Logistic Other Safehouse Financial Other Other Recruitors snakeheads suppliers snakeheads snakeheads operators guarantors snakeheads

Sequential Uncertainty Dyadic Serial Transactions Dependency • Limited clientele • Self preservation • Opportunities • Small and close social • Operational complexity • Profit protection • Illegal movement networks • Sporadic launches • Threat of law • Limited hiearchy • Operational Hazards enforcement • Clear division of labor • Payment problems • Temporary alliance Focal Concerns Unpredictable Market

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