Crime Watch: Drugs and money, prime motivators of crime

Criminals are normally motivated by money, and terrorists need someone to do their deeds. The two are a deadly combination throughout the world.

The motivation for crime is money, and criminals are motivated by the quest for cash. Easy to commit crimes that attract little attention and have a good payoff attracts the petty criminal. Criminals look for crimes to increase their income. Terrorists are also looking for money, preferably 'off the record' money, to conduct their illicit activities. They also benefit from expendable labor and a good distribution system. The two are a natural match for the street pharmaceutical industry.

Everyone is familiar with the concept of 'organized crime'. Since the movie the ‘Godfather’, and more recently the movies we watches on the home videos have become accustomed to how organized crime works. There's the inner circle, or family; and the outer circle is comprised of petty criminals who run errands and do odd jobs for significant pay.

These petty criminals become quite used to working with an essentially anonymous organization and expects directions to be both vague and explicit at the same time: Example "here, take this to this address and the person sitting by the water fountain on the third floor will take it and pay you." By following these simple directions without asking any questions, the criminal receives a good rate of pay. It doesn't matter which group is paying him, he simply does the work and collects his pay. Today's organized crime is terrorism, not the movies on the home video, but the rewards (and dangers) are the same.

Terrorist organizations that use petty criminals have a seemingly endless supply of essentially expendable manpower. If the criminal is caught, he or she doesn't even really know who is paying them. "Some fellow who wears a Yankees jacket" is a very vague description, and use of over-the-counter, no contract cell phones makes it impossible to trace the user. The result is a perfect set up for organized crime to run drugs or other criminal activities.

All across Africa and the world if no mistake, petty criminals and drug dealers plan peddling of drugs within their home. The whole set up is already in place right from the house of the peddler. The benefit of hiring local street guys for distribution and sales have been cut off in some countries while in some, it is a new beginning. The criminal would not even know they were involved with any activity other than the usual ways of looking for money or business.

If using the petty criminal makes sense, then using organized crime units already in existence is particularly smart. Organized crime exists in nearly every town and city in Africa. They have extensive distribution networks in place, a great deal of cash, and an established network of runners (those pesky petty criminals again) and workers. And just as valuable to the peddlers, they have no moral qualms about harming those who might try to get in their way.

The combination of easy money and a ready supply of distribution agents make the combination of drugs and crime a real challenge to law enforcement agency. Keep yourself informed of this growing threat and stay away from individual and organized crimes.