Abstract
International crime generally refers to crimes dealing with international criminal law, war crimes, or crimes against peace or humanity. However, it may also include a subset of crimes under the heading of transnational crimes; these include trafficking of arms, trafficking of drugs, money laundering, smuggling of cultural artifacts, and human smuggling or trafficking. A couple of news article will be evaluated to illustrate examples of international and transnational crimes.
Keywords: transnational crime, international crime
Transnational and International Crimes
International crimes include traditional crimes that come under the jurisdiction of international crime laws. Transnational crimes are defined by the United Nations as “offenses whose inception, prevention, and/or direct or indirect effects involve more than one country” (Finckenauer 2000). This type of crimes includes crimes such as human smuggling or trafficking, and the smuggling or trafficking of drugs and weapons.
The following two news articles are examples of an international and a transnational crime.
Mexican Border Patrol Agents Arrest Man Wanted for Murder in the United States
A California man was arrested at the U.S.-Mexican border while attempting to cross into Mexico. The border patrol officers discovered there was a warrant for his arrest on suspicion of murder after they ran his fingerprints in their law enforcement database to verify his identity. The officers turned the man over to the Los Angeles Police Department (Los Angeles Times 2012).
The identity check was conducted as part of routine procedures at border crossings under international law crime agreements between the United States and Mexico. Each year, border patrol officers from each side of the border arrest thousands of fugitives who try to cross the border to escape arrest. As such this crime falls under the international crime category.
Canadian Search and Rescue Crew Save Five Men off the Coast of Nova Scotia
Five men were rescued from drowning off the coast of Nova Scotia after their vessel ran into trouble. Three other passengers are missing and one died at the hospital. Officials conducting the investigation suspect this is a case of human smuggling. The Public Safety Minister said the rescued men are from Russia, Ukraine and Georgia and are claiming refugee status. Military officials do not know any details of the vessel---either its origin, destination, or purpose for being at sea (ABC News 2012).
This case concerns suspected human trafficking and as such must be considered a transnational crime.
References
Finckenauer, James O. (2000). Meeting the challenge of transnational crime.
National Institute of Justice Journal. July. Web. 7 Apr. 2012. https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/jr000244b.pdf
“Man Wanted for Murder is Arrested by Border Patrol Agents.”
Los Angeles Times. Web. 7 Apr. 2012. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/04/man-wanted-for-murder-is-arrested-by-border-patrol-agents.html
“Canada Investigating Human Smuggling on Boat.” ABC News. Web. 7 Apr. 2012.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/canada-investigating-human-smuggling-boat-16016931
