In this paper, I will first examine organised crime as a criminological concept and
its different theoretical approaches, and then I will analyse the concept of organised
criminal group as a concept in international law. I will then examine the structure
and functioning of organised crime groups on the basis of my own and various international
research. This will be followed by a detailed analysis of international environmental
crime. Following the division of the various international organisations (UNODC, INTERPOL),
I will describe in detail the different areas: fisheries crime, which essentially
involves the significant overfishing of fishing quotas in international waters (overfishing),
but also includes unauthorised fishing on the territory of certain countries. Illegal
logging, both for the illegal acquisition of farmland and for the sale of illegally
harvested timber to the furniture and paper industries. Pollution-related crime, which
includes illegal waste trafficking or illegal production by individual farmers, or
significant overruns of pollution quotas causing environmental damage. Illegal wildlife
trade:
the demand-side trade of animal and plant species protected by international conventions
across borders or continents. All environmental crimes are characterised by their
combination with other serious crimes, such as corruption, violent crime and money
laundering.
