CHAPTER FOUR

Typologies and Typical

Organized Crime
Activities
Albini and Mclllwain’s Typology of
Organized Crime
Albini and Mclllwain (2012) believe that
rather than trying to classify organized
crime into rigid typology, this
phenomenon is better understood when
viewed as a continuum of types in which
each is described as having certain
distinctive characters in common yet
some of these characteristics are found
in other types as well.
 They argued that there are four basic
types of organized crime that composed
this continuum:

political-social
organized crime
mercenary organized crime
in-group organized crime
syndicated organized crime
 Political-Social
Organized Crime

This type has long been considered by

many authorities as separate and distinct
threats from an ordinary criminal groups.
In a plethora of literatures, this type is
not considered as organized crime.
However, Albini and Mclllwain (2012)
considers it as organized crime. In “The
Organized Crime in Continuum,” Albini
and Mclllwain argued that organized
criminal activity does not allow for the
creation of clear-cut classification
boundaries since the same groups may
have characteristics that can place their
ventures into several categories at any
given time or these categories can
change overtime as the activity of any
given group changes itself
This type consist of those enterprises and
groups which, specifically, do not have
financial profit as their major goal. Instead,
it would be prudent to emphasize that these
groups and their crimes are motivated by
attempts to bring about what those engaged
in them view as social and/or political
change. Included here would be terrorists,
rebel, guerilla and other groups, as well as
traditional political machines, which seeks to
bring about the social and political change
through the illegal use of force and violence.
 Mercenary Organized Crime
Characterized by the outright goal of
making a direct and immediate profit for
the criminals involved.
Predatory in scope that they cause the
victim to lose money and/or property
through the use of force.
Profits are made through deception.
Profits are made through perpetuations of
various forms of confidence games.
 In-Group Organized Crime
Not a profit oriented one.
Daring and adventurous.
Go out in pack and in the context of
brotherhood.
This type of behavior is found among street
gang and also involve on gang behavior.
Evolves from thrill-seeker brotherhood who
shows toughness, bravery, and superiority
through street fight to highly syndicated
type engaged in drugs, gun smuggling, piracy
and the like.
 Syndicated Organized Crime
Referred to as “traditional organized crime”.
Their major purpose is the provision of illicit
goods and services to those members of
illegitimate society who seek those illicit
goods and services.
Involves on going enterprises that takes place
on a continuing basis and necessitate that
the customer or buyer must interact with
these organized crime group in order to
complete such transactions