summary

Ideologically and politically motivated cybercrime groups

Prior to September 11 2001, terrorism and organised crime were usually considered

separate entities because they did not share the same motivating factor (e.g. making a

political statement vs. profit). In recent years, there has been a noted convergence

between terrorism and organised crime where “two sides of the ‘organised’debate

may in fact find greater solace, reward and operational fluidity through a

combination of their efforts”(McCusker 2006:266). A recent press release by the FBI also noted that ‘[i]nternational organized criminals provide logistical and other

support to terrorists, foreign intelligence services, and foreign governments, all

with interests acutely adverse to those of U.S. national security’(FBI 2008b:

unpaginated).

Warren (as cited in Charlton 2005) also noted that ‘Al Qaeda has turned to organi

[s]

ed crime groups for their money laundering expertise.’Crimes commonly

associated with organised criminal groups (e.g. scam and fraud schemes, identity

and immigration crimes, the counterfeit of goods, and illegal weapons procurement)

are also precursor crimes used by terrorist groups to raise funds (e.g.

Todayonline 2007). A recent indictment involving a foreign narcotics kingpin

(designated under the US Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act) alleged that

the accused led an international heroin-trafficking organisation that channelled

heroin proceeds in the U.S. to financially support the Taliban between 1994 and

2000 (US DoJ 2007d).

Criminal organizations can become ideological over time. In South Asia, they

seem to have acquired ideological or religious predispositions that motivate, not

merely cover, their actions. And they have increasingly become involved in

supporting terrorist activities. Terrorist groups rely upon organized crime for the

weaponry and munitions they require for terrorist attacks and insurgencies. To

transport these goods, they use routes that have been carefully constructed by

the criminal gangs, who in return seek from the terrorist groups training in the

use of guns and explosives and safe passage (for a price) through militant

territory. The two groups are further connected by the drug trade: both are

financially dependent on narcotrafficking (Lal 2005: 294)

A distinction should, however, be drawn between crimes in which ICT is the

object or the target of offending; and crimes in which technologies are the tool in

the commission of the offence. The latter category incorporates two levels of

reliance on technologies: offences which are enabled by technologies (i.e. in which

a computer is required for the commission of the offence); and offences which are

enhanced by technologies

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