Chinese organized crime and situational context: comparing human smuggling and synthetic drugs trafficking

Abstract

This article criticizes the 'ethnic' conception of organized crime and puts forward an alternative view that does not put ethnicity first, but rather social networks and situational context. It focuses upon Chinese organized crime, a phenomenon where the preoccupation with ethnicity is paramount, and compares findings from extensive research into two different transnational criminal activities that are carried out by Chinese offenders in the Netherlands. The first topic, human smuggling, is well researched, whereas research into the second topic, trafficking in precursors (the basic ingredients for the production of synthetic drugs), is largely lacking. The article highlights the major theoretical and empirical similarities and differences between these two criminal activities and discusses the relevance of the main findings for theory and research.

The SAGE Handbook of Social Network Analysis

“…However, while this network had little "formal organization," it did not lack what might be called "network organization": there were elements of local clustering and stratification of centrality. Similar conclusions are reached by several other recent studies of smuggling and trafficking, such as Kenney's (2007) analysis of the Colombian drug trade, Heber's (2009a) analysis of drug traffickers in Stockholm, Desroches's (2005) study of drug trafficking in Canada, Xia's (2008) review of organizational structures in Chinese organized crime, and several studies of human smuggling and trafficking (Kleemans, 2009;Lehti and Aromaa, 2006;Soudijn and Kleemans, 2009;Surtees, 2008;Zhang, 2008;Zhang and Gaylord, 1996).…”

A Survey Study on the Profile of Human Smugglers in Turkey

“…Most studies conclude that human smugglers do not describe themselves as criminals, but rather as "humanitarian assistants" or "service providers" (Staring, 2003;Zhang et al, 2007;Soudijn & Kleemans, 2009). The current study's finding that 50% of human smugglers (87 individuals) did not perceive illegal migration as a crime is similar to those previous studies' findings.…”

“…A research indicates that there is a relation between smugglers and migrants, which is completely commercial and based on trust (Batsyukova, 2012). In various studies migrant smugglers describe themselves as "service providers" than criminals (Staring, 2003;Zhang, Chin, & Miller, 2007;Soudijn & Kleemans, 2009). The 2010 report published by the UN Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) states that some of the migrant smugglers illegally took African pregnant women to Spain or France to help them for free birth (UNODC, 2010).…”

The “Good” Smuggler: The Ethics and Morals of Human Smuggling among Syrians

“…with Webb and Burrows 2009). This perception was largely shared by those migrants who had requested their services (see also Van Liempt and Doomernik 2006;Soudijn and Kleemans 2009;Sanchez 2015;Staring 2003;Zhang 2007).…”