Mob Rule

Organized crime is linked to trade in illegal drugs, human trafficking, poaching, internet scams, tax evasion or counterfeit goods – and relies on greed to lure cooperation of some law-enforcement and political leaders. The World Economic Forum estimates illegal activities represent 8 percent of global trade. “Mobsters thrive on instability,” Christian Caryl writes for Foreign Policy, whether its debt in the European Union or civil war in Syria. Caryl lists three concerns. First, the internet is a core problem, with crimes difficult to track among cross-border and opaque connections; one report suggests “half of the world’s securities exchanges came under attack by hackers last year,” which could mean “that web-based criminals are potentially in a position to destabilize the global financial system.” Second, banking or using ill-gotten gains should be tough, but too many lawyers, accountants and offshore tax havens provide support. Third, organized crime deplores good governance and transparency, and citizens have reason to worry about politicians who seek profit in office and afterward. – YaleGlobal