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, nongovernmental 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.