Transnational crime is a persistent issue that affects many countries, governments, and international organizations. Transnational crime is organized and carefully planned; moreover, the differences in laws and executive machinery between countries can help criminals to escape the punishment, which makes transnational crime difficult to fight and prevent (Reichel, 2013). The purpose of this essay is to discuss two types of transnational crime: human trafficking and terrorism, and to outline the U.S. efforts against these types of transnational crime.
Terrorism
International Response
The main organization that governs global anti-terrorism efforts is the United Nations, which governs the efforts of governmental and regional organizations that aim to combat terrorism. One of the key positive results of the global counter-terrorism efforts was the reduction of Al Qaeda’s presence both globally and in the Middle East, and the enhancement of travel safety. Following the 9/11 terror attack on the World Trade Center, which remains the deadliest terror attack in the U.S. history, the safety of global air travel became one of the key concerns.
Today, the vast majority of international airports have extensive screening procedures in place, which allows reducing the occurrence of hijackings and attacks using civilian aircraft. The global efforts against Al Qaeda also proved to be useful, as the presence of this organization decreased significantly since the 2000s. Improvement of worldwide migration policies, as well as surveillance, helped to decrease the flow of potential terrorists to Europe and the U.S.
However, as the counterterrorism efforts proved to be successful, a new terrorist threat emerged – ISIS. Contrary to Al Qaeda, which relied on sponsorship and criminal activity for its funding, ISIS is a territorial power that supports its activity through the trade of natural resources, such as oil and gas. Moreover, whereas Al Qaeda supported organized terrorist groups, such as the one involved in the 9/11 attack, ISIS uses the Internet and social networks to spread its message, which has led to the popularization of lone wolf terrorism.
To address the emerging threat effectively, it is crucial to enhance surveillance measures and to employ efficient IT strategies to diminish the ISIS’ presence online. Finally, another significant recommendation is to create a separate international organization focusing on terrorism. As the UN has many other functions, creating a unit focused solely on terrorism would enhance counterterrorism efforts.
People’s Role
With the rise of lone wolf terrorism, the people’s role in anti-terrorism efforts became more significant than ever before. Most of the lone wolf terrorists live in the midst of a community, which remains unsuspecting of the planned attack until it is too late. As shown by the 2016 Orlando club attack, there are times when the intelligence services do not recognize a threat based on online activity and personal surveillance.
However, there are certain warning signs that can help to identify a community member that could be planning a terror attack as a lone wolf. First of all, a lone wolf terrorist is likely to exhibit signs of personal grievance and moral outrage (Meloy & Yakeley, 2014). Secondly, as the ideology is spread using the Internet and social networks, lone wolves are dependent on virtual communities and tend to spend a lot of time online (Meloy & Yakeley, 2014).
Future terrorists may express radical thoughts and advocate for the principles of radical ideologies among their acquaintances, colleagues, or friends (Meloy & Yakeley, 2014). Recognizing these warning signs and reporting any suspicious individuals to the police could help to prevent terrorism.
The U.S. Efforts
After suffering the 9/11-terror attack, the U.S. became the leading force in the global war on terror. The American government initiated military actions in the Middle East to reduce the presence of Al Qaeda, while at the same time initiating a chain of local anti-terrorist efforts. The primary national agency that is tasked with preventing terrorism is the Department of Homeland Security. The DHS is responsible for preventing radicalization and recruitment, collecting and processing intelligence, and improving public awareness, as well as for preventing and responding to terror attacks (DHS, 2017).
FBI is also involved in the U.S. anti-terrorism efforts and is responsible for investigating potential and past terror attacks. FBI frequently coordinates its counter-terrorism efforts with the CIA, which is tasked with recognizing and analyzing potential terrorist threats.
Human Trafficking
International Response
As in the case of terrorism, United Nations is the primary agency tasked with countering global human trafficking. UN Office on Drugs and Crime works to investigate and prevent human trafficking, protect its victims, and prosecute the criminals responsible for human trafficking (UNODC, 2011). The global efforts were somewhat effective in spreading awareness about the issue and encouraging countries to work on investigating and preventing human trafficking to and from their lands (Reichel, 2013).
However, the actions of governments and international organizations remain fragmented and lack coherence, which affects the outcomes of anti-trafficking efforts. To prevent human trafficking effectively, it is crucial to set a transnational system for gathering intelligence on potential traffickers, preventing trafficking, and protecting victims. Strengthening the borders and improving border control to make it physically impossible for traffickers to smuggle people in or out of the country is also crucial to ensure the success of the initiative.
People’s Role
Victims of trafficking rarely attempt to seek help, which is why it is crucial to learn how to spot a victim of human trafficking in the local community or a crowd. The U.S. Office on Trafficking in Persons (OTIP, 2016) provides useful guidance on identifying a possible victim. First of all, trafficking victims are usually accompanied by their boss or another controlling person and avoid speaking on their behalf (OTIP, 2016).
As their ID and travel documents are taken away by their boss, they will fail to show a proof of ID (Jamison, 2006). They usually exhibit signs of fear and submission, especially in the presence of a controlling person. Lastly, as they are forced to work long hours and receive little to no care (Jamison, 2006), they appear unhealthy and malnourished but will avoid visiting a hospital or getting help.
The U.S. Efforts
The Department of State’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons is one of the key governmental organizations that work to investigate and prevent human trafficking to and from the United States. The Office is responsible for researching, investigating, and preventing cases of human trafficking, while at the same time protecting the victims and prosecuting the offenders. The Office on Trafficking in Persons, on the other hand, is primarily responsible for establishing and servicing reporting channels, such as The National Human Trafficking Hotline and the OTIP’s Human Trafficking Data Collection Project, as well as spreading public awareness.
Conclusion
Overall, transnational crime is the new challenge of the 21st century, which is a direct result of globalization and technological advancements (Finckenauer, 2000). The effectiveness International and U.S. efforts to address transnational crime vary greatly depending on the type of crime. Moreover, as the policies develop, transnational crime patterns also evolve, posing new threats and challenges to global security. Nevertheless, ensuring a systematic and comprehensive approach to global action against transnational crime will likely help to address the most pressing issues, reducing the incidence of transnational crime and weakening international criminal organizations.
References
Finckenauer, J. (2000). Meeting the challenge of transnational crime. National Institute of Justice Journal, 244(1), 2-7.
Jamison, G. (Writer, Director, & Producer). (2006). Lives for sale: Human trafficking. Web.
Meloy, R. J., & Yakeley, J. (2014). The violent true believer as a “lone wolf”–Psychoanalytic perspectives on terrorism. Behavioral Sciences & the Law, 32(3), 347-365.
Reichel, P. L. (2013). Comparative criminal justice systems: A topical approach (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). (2011). Human trafficking. Web.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Trafficking in Persons (OTIP). (2016). Pocket assessment card. Web.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). (2017). Did you know? Four ways DHS is working to prevent terrorism at home. Official Website of the Department of Homeland Security. Web.