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What are some of the different types of crime that terrorists engage in?

Terrorists generally engage in organized crimes to obtain financial support for their terrorist
activities. During the Cold-war era, terrorists were generally funded by Soviet Union or the
West. Post-cold-war era saw a reduction in funding from states and increased counterterrorism measures, thus the terrorist groups had to find new means to finance their main
purpose. Thus they resorted to crimes like bank-robberies, drug-trafficking, kidnappings etc.
The different types of crime that terrorists engage in are:

Drug Trade: Terrorist groups are involved in the cultivation, manufacture and
distribution of drugs around the world. It is used as a source of finance, and also
employed as method to weaken the enemies by providing drugs to them. An example
is Peru. In Peru one terrorist group obtains financial support by protecting drug
traffickers. Terrorist- drug connections have destabilized the Government of
Colombia, as reported by Bibes.

Smuggling: Terrorist Groups are involved in various types of smuggling, ranging


from arms smuggling to human smuggling. According to UN estimates, human
smuggling has grown to a $10billion per year global criminal industry. There are
evidences of two major west European nations involved in arms trafficking.

Kidnapping, Robberies and Extortion: Kidnapping of foreign nationals, prominent


personalities, hijacking airplanes etc. are used by terrorists to get their demands from
the Governments, and sometimes for financial resources. Members of Abu Sayyaf
Group and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front have been kidnapping foreigners and
aid-workers in the southern Philippines for profit.

Counterfeiting Goods and Money: Gale Nettles, who was convicted for his role in
plotting to bomb the Dirksen Federal building in Chicago, was also found guilty of
selling, exchanging and delivering counterfeited US notes. Another crime associated
with terrorists which is on rise is the sale of counterfeit goods. ImadHammoud and his
associates were convicted in March 2006 for carrying out cigarette trafficking ring,
worth millions of dollars, to fund the terrorist group Hezbollah.

Corruption and Bribery: Although not very rampant, terrorists attempt to reduce the
risks of being arrested by law enforcement agencies, and the scrutiny by bribing
officials. Some examples here bribery of US Government officials by several
individuals( FnuLnu, MurugesuVinayagamoorthy etc.) to protect the interests of
LTTE, a Sri Lankan terrorist group.

Immigration and Identity Crimes: To protect their identities, the terrorists are also
involved in a number of identity crimes. Leila Kahaled, a PFLP terrorist, underwent
several plastic surgeries to hide her identity so that she could commit more
skyjackings undetected.

Reference: http://myassignmenthelp.info/assignments/characteristics-of-terrorism/

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