Organized crime around the globe

This panel will explore the structures and methods used by organized crime groups in different countries as well as the convergence of crime and terror. To begin with, the Irish organized crime milieu has been recognized for its distinction, derived from its characterization as ‘family gangs,’ its international mobility nature, and the influence of paramilitary groups. Another prominent illustration of mafia families is in the city of Palermo in Italy where their criminal activities have been suppressed after the 1990s - whether due to the loss of influence or their option to stay low-profile.

In Mexico, the main counter-organized crime policy has been the ‘kingpin’ strategy which aims at neutralizing criminal leaders. This, in turn, is associated with an increase in homicides and extortions in the country while the rate of kidnapping has been more muted. Finally, they will discuss the crime-terror nexus after the fall of the ISIS Caliphate in Iraq where organized crime still persists today, owing to the hybrid criminal-political entities that continue to destabilize the country.