Transnational crime
Encyclopedia
Transnational crimes are crime
s that have actual or potential effect across national border
s and crimes which are intra-State but which offend fundamental values of the international community. The term is commonly used in the law enforcement
and academic
communities.
The word "transnational" describes crimes that are not only international (that is, crimes that cross borders between countries), but crimes that by their nature involve border crossings as an essential part of the criminal activity. Transnational crimes also include crimes that take place in one country, but their consequences significantly affect another country. Examples of transnational crimes include: human trafficking
, people smuggling
, smuggling/trafficking of goods (such as arms trafficking and drug trafficking
), sex slavery, terrorism
offences, torture
and apartheid. Transnational organized crime (TOC) refers specifically to transnational crime carried out by organized crime organizations.
Transnational Crimes may also be crimes of customary international law
or international crimes when committed in certain cricumstances. For example they may in certain situations constitute Crimes against humanity.
Crime
Crime is the breach of rules or laws for which some governing authority can ultimately prescribe a conviction...
s that have actual or potential effect across national border
Border
Borders define geographic boundaries of political entities or legal jurisdictions, such as governments, sovereign states, federated states and other subnational entities. Some borders—such as a state's internal administrative borders, or inter-state borders within the Schengen Area—are open and...
s and crimes which are intra-State but which offend fundamental values of the international community. The term is commonly used in the law enforcement
Law enforcement agency
In North American English, a law enforcement agency is a government agency responsible for the enforcement of the laws.Outside North America, such organizations are called police services. In North America, some of these services are called police while others have other names In North American...
and academic
Academia
Academia is the community of students and scholars engaged in higher education and research.-Etymology:The word comes from the akademeia in ancient Greece. Outside the city walls of Athens, the gymnasium was made famous by Plato as a center of learning...
communities.
The word "transnational" describes crimes that are not only international (that is, crimes that cross borders between countries), but crimes that by their nature involve border crossings as an essential part of the criminal activity. Transnational crimes also include crimes that take place in one country, but their consequences significantly affect another country. Examples of transnational crimes include: human trafficking
Human trafficking
Human trafficking is the illegal trade of human beings for the purposes of reproductive slavery, commercial sexual exploitation, forced labor, or a modern-day form of slavery...
, people smuggling
People smuggling
People smuggling is defined as "the facilitation, transportation, attempted transportation or illegal entry of a person or persons across an international border, in violation of one or more countries laws, either clandestinely or through deception, such as the use of fraudulent documents"...
, smuggling/trafficking of goods (such as arms trafficking and drug trafficking
Illegal drug trade
The illegal drug trade is a global black market, dedicated to cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of those substances which are subject to drug prohibition laws. Most jurisdictions prohibit trade, except under license, of many types of drugs by drug prohibition laws.A UN report said the...
), sex slavery, terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
offences, torture
Torture
Torture is the act of inflicting severe pain as a means of punishment, revenge, forcing information or a confession, or simply as an act of cruelty. Throughout history, torture has often been used as a method of political re-education, interrogation, punishment, and coercion...
and apartheid. Transnational organized crime (TOC) refers specifically to transnational crime carried out by organized crime organizations.
Transnational Crimes may also be crimes of customary international law
Customary international law
Customary international law are those aspects of international law that derive from custom. Along with general principles of law and treaties, custom is considered by the International Court of Justice, jurists, the United Nations, and its member states to be among the primary sources of...
or international crimes when committed in certain cricumstances. For example they may in certain situations constitute Crimes against humanity.