Unpacking drug trafficking phenomenon through seaports: lessons from the Italian ports

ABSTRACT

This article aims to provide an analysis of the factors influencing the operational strategies of drug trafficking organisations in the context of seaports. It seeks to move beyond a monolithic representation of this complex phenomenon by investigating the intricate interplay between legal and illicit spheres, as well as the diverse methodologies employed in the illicit transportation of drugs from vessels to destinations outside of ports. Drawing from empirical evidence gathered in the Italian context, the results reveal that drug trafficking through seaports is a multifaceted endeavour influenced by a combination of endogenous and exogenous factors. Internal factors within the network, such as organisational structure (including network size, control mechanisms, and member accountability) and resources (human, material, and informational), play a pivotal role in shaping drug trafficking organisations’ strategies. Additionally, external factors, including maritime dynamics, port economics, cultural aspects, and institutional determinants, significantly impact decision-making processes within these criminal organisations.

KEYWORDS:

• Drug trafficking
• seaports
• organised crime

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. TEU (‘Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit’) is a unit of measure use to describe the capacity of container in shipping industry.

2. https://www.informare.camcom.it/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/X-RAPPORTO-NAZIONALE-economia-del-mare-2022.pdf

3. https://www.corrieredellacalabria.it/2020/01/11/ndrangheta-de-raho-le-rotte-della-droga-sembrano-infinite/

4. For a criminological analysis of organised crime in Italy see Lavorgna and Sergi (2014).

5. Court of Reggio Calabria 2019, p. 55.

6. Ivi, p. 55.

7. Ivi, p. 56.

8. Court of Genova, 2015, Sentence n. 4880/2015, p. 11.

9. Court of Reggio Calabria 2019, OCC n. 5299/2013, p. 22.

10. Court of Genova 6463/2015, p. 10.

11. Public Prosecutor Office of Reggio Calabria, 66/2015, p. 197.

12. Court of Reggio Calabria 2019, 5299/2013, p. 87.

13. Court of Reggio Calabria 2019, 5299/2013, p. 54.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Marco Antonelli

Marco Antonelli is post-doc research fellow at the Scuola Normale Superiore, Faculty of Political and Social Sciences. He works on the presence of mafia and criminal groups in Italy, on the relationship between organised crime, corruption and local governance systems, and on the study of organised crime groups’ interests in seaports. He is now working on new conflicts, social movements and labour exploitation.