To fight organized crime, one needs to first clean up society. Instead of relying on crime to provide social services, the state should focus on providing the necessary goods and services, ensuring low unemployment, the functioning of normal educational and ideological institutions, and lawful means for resolving social conflicts. This is particularly important in the case of organized crime, which is usually controlled by a small number of leaders. In such a case, the most effective measures would be those directed toward neutralizing these leaders, which might ultimately lead to the disintegration of the entire arrangement.
In addition to illicit goods, illegal enterprises may also include gambling, prostitution, and other activities. The main sources of income for these criminal groups have been narcotics and gambling, as well as loan companies. These institutions charge usurious rates of interest and collect debtors through violence. A similar scenario can be found in labour racketeering, which involves control of union leadership to further illegal activities. Some of these illegal enterprises are legal and are often profitable.
Transnational cooperation between countries can help to fight organized crime, but it is also necessary to take into account the economic purpose of these activities. A key element of an effective response is to take a global perspective on the problem, and to develop an integrated response that addresses multiple factors that contribute to its growth and proliferation. For example, cooperation between countries can help to support the development of national capacities by sharing resources, which will allow them to better use these resources according to international law.
