Organised Crime in International Environmental Crime

Abstract

In this paper, I will first examine organised crime as a criminological concept and its different theoretical approaches, and then I will analyse the concept of organised criminal group as a concept in international law. I will then examine the structure and functioning of organised crime groups on the basis of my own and various international research. This will be followed by a detailed analysis of international environmental crime. Following the division of the various international organisations (UNODC, INTERPOL), I will describe in detail the different areas: fisheries crime, which essentially involves the significant overfishing of fishing quotas in international waters (overfishing), but also includes unauthorised fishing on the territory of certain countries. Illegal logging, both for the illegal acquisition of farmland and for the sale of illegally harvested timber to the furniture and paper industries. Pollution-related crime, which includes illegal waste trafficking or illegal production by individual farmers, or significant overruns of pollution quotas causing environmental damage. Illegal wildlife trade: the demand-side trade of animal and plant species protected by international conventions across borders or continents. All environmental crimes are characterised by their combination with other serious crimes, such as corruption, violent crime and money laundering.