Mid Term Essays

Midterm Name Institution Course and Code Professor Date Midterm Question 1 The transnational organized criminal organization that will be analyzed here is the Black Axe. In particular, Black Axe was established in 1977 as a pan-African Black Student confraternity at Benin University in Edo State, Nigeria (La Lime, 2024). However, the operations of this organized criminal network have expanded to other countries, including France, the United States, Italy, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Brazil, South Africa, and Canada among others. Notably, Black Axe engages in various types of criminal activities, such as kidnapping, drug dealing, human trafficking, sex worker management, money laundering, cybercrime, extortion, and Internet fraud (Scholz, 2024). In October 2024, INTERPOL said that Black Axe is well-known for cyber-related financial fraud internationally. For example, INTERPOL’s “Operation Jackal III,” which was initiated to investigate the criminal activities conducted by Black Axe, seized around $3 million in assets and apprehended 300 suspects during this operation (La Lime, 2024). Over the years, Black Axe has been a successful organized criminal organization with annual proceeds exceeding $5 million. Specifically, Black Axe has many members in different countries who are willing to undertake the criminal activities they are assigned. In Nigeria, it is a renowned criminal network that has perpetuated a culture of violence, brutality, juridicial impunity, and political corruption. The members of Black Axe call themselves Axemen. They compete with other criminal networks over territory, such as the Supreme Eiye Confraternity, Vikings, and the Maphites. For example, between 2006 and 2021, Nigeria recorded about 6,000 deaths related to Black Axe gang activities across thirty one states (La Lime, 2024). The most profitable criminal activity that enables Black Axe to accumulate more finances resources and popularity is the cybercrime. This crime transcends Nigeria’s geographic boundaries. For instance, Black Axe members engage in advance-fee scams through email and numerous of them have become cybrecriminals, specializing in defrauding individuals and businesses locally and internationally. The proceeds of cybercrime are laundered to various organized criminal networks globally. The availability of financial resources has contributed to the success of Black Axe, since it can acquire all the tools needed for conducting criminal activities, including black axes and technologies. Additionally, Black Axe has been successful since it has a solid organizational structure. This organized criminal organization has leaders who ensure that operations are conducted well and precisely. In reality, that is the primary reason contributing to its success domestically and globally. For instance, the president of Black Axe is helped by the council of elders to make crucial decisions. Zonal executive councils are headed by a chairperson. In addition, zone leaders help in managing operations in various geographical areas. Nigeria municipality has about 60 zones. Chief priests are responsible for organizing rituals and making amulets to protect Black Axe members. Butchers organize attacks and enforce discipline. “Cryers” ensure effective communication among members and “ihaze” acts as treasurers. Due to the rise of the Internet, Black Axe engages in financial fraud globally (Lazarus, 2024). The most common ways of financial fraud used by the members of this organized criminal network are scams and cybercrime. The organizational structure of Black Axe makes this organized criminal group to be highly adaptive since there is a leadership hierarchy and take opportunity of cybercrime activities to enrich themselves. As a result, Black Axe’s operations have not been shaken by Operations Jackal III, since the organization’s leaders do everything to protect its members. Question 2 In the same manner that technology has significantly changed individuals’ lives, it has also impacted the growth of organized crime, particularly during the past two decades. Currently, numerous organized crime organizations are using sophisticated technologies to communicate and conduct their operations over the web (Nicola, 2022). For instance, those involved in information breaches usually find the market for stolen data in the black market, which is found on the dark web. During the past two decades, the technology has continually changed. Among the things that have made it possible for organized criminal groups to manage their operations on the Internet, are the increased processing power of electronic gadgets, such as computers, tablets, and smartphones, and the access to free information on the web. Moreover, the web facilitates anonymity, meaning that cybercriminals can conceal their identities to avoid being arrested by law enforcers (Marker, 2024). For instance, those criminals transacting on the Internet ensure that they use fake identities to mislead police officers who might be on the radar waiting to arrest them. In addition, the web has improved the way individuals communicate and send money. Numerous social media platforms exist that cybercriminals can use to enhance their operations anonymously. The rise, acceptance, and usage of digital currencies and cryptocurrencies have also promoted criminal activities. Today, it is possible to send millions of dollars within a few hours on the web. For example, let’s assume a scenario where hackers of organized crime groups get data of people’s social security numbers, birth dates, physical address, and names. That can help them to create and verify various money transfer apps through identity theft. These apps are then used to launder funds that have been obtained illegally on the Internet through scamming and credit card fraud. As such, members of organized criminal networks can engage in fraudulent activities without using any information that can be used to trace back to them. They have also known how the government and law enforcers trick them. Notably, they can avoid the set traps, making it extremely difficult for them to be arrested. In some cases, members of organized cri...