The study of the relationship between corruption and organizational crime does not mean looking into an ambiguous problem that requires analysis and presentation of convincing evidence that affirms or negates that relationship.

It simply aims at finding solutions, developing mechanisms to combat cyber and institutional corruption, and preventing two phenomena that are two sides of the same coin.

These solutions lie primarily in dismantling that relationship and cutting the umbilical cords that bind them and promote their spread.

The relationship between corruption and organizational crime is like that of the soul and body: they serve as a backbone to one another. Crimes classified as patterns of corruption are organized crimes where administrative structure plays a role in corruption and in building organizational channels to connect with corrupters.

However, there is a need to illustrate the relationship between corruption and organizational crime by focusing on common elements from technical, legal and forensic perspectives, and on the consequent different control measures and prevention programs to adopt by different cultural communities in a world where distances, interests and multicultural conflicts converge.

It is known that organized crime syndicates are involved in the following:

Commission of traditional organized crimes such as drug trafficking, sex trade, money laundering, arms trafficking, contract killings and extortion.

Recruiting, seducing and controlling public officials and law enforcement officials in various ways such as granting them free access, food and gifts, and giving them financial incentives to ensure their cooperation while the crimes are being committed.

Hiring young people of great minds, controlling them with various temptations in order to exploit them in new crimes that require the use of high technologies, especially in banking institutions, government departments, significant databases and cyber technology.

Inviting businesspersons, politicians and dignitaries by various means, involving them in fun sessions with women and gays, and taking pictures of them in disgraceful situations to use later in blackmail and exploitation.

Attracting police officers and providing them with gifts and bribes so that they will help when necessary.

Today, organized crime with its modern patterns where high-tech information and communication is used, require scientific knowledge that is beyond the capacity of members of classic organized criminal group who used to come from vulnerable social classes, who received poor levels of education and who would have nothing to lose in their communities.

There is no question that, such people are completely incapable of dealing with modern systems used in commercial transactions, banking institutions, e-government programs and cyber security, which have become a feature of this era in all national and international transactions.

Therefore, it has become imperative for organized crime gangs to involve in cybercrimes to decode encryption algorithms with more advanced techniques and tools, and hack public and private sectors institutions to complete their transactions. Organized crime, by its deviant economic and commercial nature, requires passing through certain legal channels, such as crossing international ports, customs centers, tax services, ID check, and transport and communication techniques.

In order for organized crime operations to flow through these legal channels by illicit means, the above-mentioned agencies and institutions have to be hacked and people recruited to provide the facilities required.

Dimensions of the relationship between corruption and organizational crime:

The dimensions of the relationship between corruption and organizational crime are illustrated by an examination of the elements that constitute corrupt activity and organized crime activities associated with organizational crime.

Preventive measures and details of reported corruption cases also help to understand the dimensions of the relationship between the two phenomena. However, the secrecy of organizational corruption often makes it impossible to discover such dimensions.

It is clear that some corruption and organizational crime characteristics are similar and matching, thus reinforcing the view that there is an organic relationship between the two phenomena. Such characteristics are: 

Organizational crime and corruption crimes of various types aim at obtaining personal interest.

Both phenomena take money and influence as a weapon to achieve the goals.

Violence is not used as in organized crime.

The perpetrators exploit the organizations and administrative units where they work to commit corruption offences instead of the phantom offices and companies used by organized and organizational crimes.

They both use high-tech information and communication of their jobs.

They both perform transactions in top secret.

The people involved in the two phenomena have weak religious belief, poor civic education and low commitment to values.

This similarity in the mechanisms of organizational crime and corruption is the gateway to the growing relationship between the two phenomena. The relationship is not just an overlap in the legal definition and the theoretical concept, but there is a complementarity between the criminal activities of the two phenomena.

It is certain that corruption helps organized crime and that the latter stimulates corruption from several aspects, most importantly:

Involved people in corruption will not report organized crime activities.

Public officials provide advice to organized crime offenders.

Facilities provided by law enforcement personnel to organized crime syndicates in terms of planning to commit a crime,

during the commission of a crime, after the crime was committed, and while offenders are in prisons.

Confidential information provided to criminals. 

Helping perpetrators of organized crime by concealing evidence and influencing the course of justice.

On the other hand, organized crime gangs encourage those involved in corruption offences by:

Offering attractive financial inducement to public servants.

Assisting public officials who accept to deal with them by promoting and helping them take over vital positions through their

influence at senior levels and within political parties.

Providing them with job opportunities if held accountable.

Protecting and defending them if prosecuted.

Portraying some collaborators with organized crime gangs as important society figures as a model that motivates others to engage in organized corruption.

Emirati writer and researcher

Member of the UAE Authors and Writers Union

Adel Abdullah Humaid