Organised-Crime-in-NZ-2010-Public-Version

INTRODUCTION
According to the United Nations (UN), transnational organised crime is a major threat to human security, impeding the
social, economic, political and cultural development of societies worldwide. Organised crime groups throughout the
world are involved in a range of criminal activities including drug trafficking, human trafficking, firearms trafficking,
environmental crime, cyber crime and money laundering. As part of the global community, New Zealand is not immune
to the organised crime threat. A number of organised crime groups, both domestic and international, are involved in a
range of illegal markets impacting on New Zealand.
Organised Crime in New Zealand 2010 aims to provide insight into the nature and extent of the threat in New Zealand.
The analysis in this report draws from information provided by a range of agencies from the New Zealand Government
and the private sector. Open source research on national, regional and global trends relating to organised crime is also
included. Further, the report highlights efforts that aim to disrupt and dismantle organised crime in New Zealand.
DEFINING AND IDENTIFYING ORGANISED CRIME
New Zealand has signed and ratified the UN Convention Against Transnational Organised Crime that defines an
organised criminal group as ‘a structured group of three or more persons, existing for a period of time and acting in
concert with the aim of committing one or more serious crimes 1 in order to obtain, directly or indirectly, a financial or
other material benefit’. Under New Zealand domestic law, membership of an organised criminal group is punishable
pursuant to Section 98A of the Crimes Act 1961, and could result in up to 10 years imprisonment. Section 98A draws
from the UN definition but also includes penalties for group violence, or committing crimes overseas, that if committed
in New Zealand, would be an offence.
“Today’s organised crime networks are more agile and inventive, quick to embrace new technologies
and seek out new markets and supply routes. They run like sophisticated and modern multi-national
businesses”.
United Kingdom, Home Office 2009
A number of groups engaged in organised crime in New Zealand are traditional, in the sense that they operate as
a structured group with a rigid hierarchy. However, consistent with international trends, some organised groups
impacting on New Zealand are fluid, flexible and dynamic criminal networks, where structure is less obvious.
Increasingly, these organised crime groups expand and contract depending on criminal opportunities. In this way, the
networks are entrepreneurial and often use facilitators and specialists, as well as legitimate businesses, to facilitate their
illicit activities. While organised crime definitions provide a useful starting point, defining and identifying organised
crime groups is problematic due to their continuing evolution and the complexity of emerging networks. Despite the
challenges in defining and identifying organised crime groups, those involved are linked by two common characteristics;
they all pose a risk to New Zealand and they are largely motivated by financial gain.
1 The UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime defines serious crime as conduct constituting an offence punishable by a maximum deprivation of liberty at least
four years or a more serious penalty.
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