THREATS OF TRANSNATIONAL ORGANIZED CRIMES IN THE GULF OF GUINEA AND ITS PANACEA

Abstract

There are several categories of transnational crimes capable of disrupting the economy of

countries across the globe including the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) region. These crimes are Sea

Piracy, hijacking of land, organ trafficking, insurance fraud, money laundering and so on.

Specifically, the Coast for years, has been notoriously known for the flowing of cocaine from

the Andes via West Africa to Europe, flowing of methamphetamine from West Africa to Asia,

smuggling of migrants to Europe, trafficking of fire arms, transportation of fraudulent

essential medicines from Asia to West Africa and maritime piracy. However, globalization

and its dynamics, has enabled new forms of Transnational Organized Crimes (TOC).These

are: Petro-Piracy, kidnapping, Pirate-fishing also known as Illegal, Unreported and

Unregulated (IUU) fishing, and illicit Fishmeal and Fishoil Producing Factories atrocities

along the GoG shorelines and many others. The study seeks to investigate the factors that are

responsible for the transnational organized crimes in the region under study. The study will

also suggest tentative options that will help to combat emerging crimes in the area of study.

The study applies content analysis of secondary data. Data were sourced from journals, non

governmental organization annual reports, internet sourced materials. The study adopts

Routine Activity theory of crime and Queer Ladder Mobility theory to analyse the various

arguments of the discourse. The study finds that contemporary TOCs in the GoG have grave

implications on political, environmental and Socio-economics of the region. The study finds

that, lack of surveillance equipment, corruption lack of security personnel, lack of political

will, security complexity as a result of globalization, capitalism and other factors are

responsible for the numerous transnational organized crimes in the region. The study

suggests that, governments in the GoG area should invest in offshore in order not to create

vacuum for criminal networks to perpetrate crimes in the area