The transnational dimension of organised crime: an investigation into the operational structure of cybercrime in Nigeria

Abstract

The world of Transnational Organised Crime (TOC) is a complex and multifaceted one. At present, no part of the world is immune from the corrupting influence and destabilising effects of Transnational Organised Crime. Their influence is global, and in certain circumstances, their convergence poses the greatest risk. The purpose of this article is to examine existing literature on TOC and demonstrate that the development of Information & Communication Technology (ICT) and globalisation has led to the expansion and complexity of criminal organisations that take advantage of these changes for financial gain. The study focused on how cybercrime perpetrators in Nigeria learn in practice. Collaboration is found as a pivotal element in the learning process and is commonly characterised by both informal and contractual engagement between young people who are interested in cyber criminality and others who have substantial expertise in the illicit industry. A total of 29 cybercrime perpetrators were recruited on purpose with the semi-structured interview approach to gather qualitative data. A range of themes was identified through the use of NVivo (v.12), a qualitative software, and subsequently analysed using a content qualitative analytical tool. This study employs a qualitative methodology to explore various dimensions of the social learning process,information-sharing practises, group dynamics, and network paradigm of cybercrime perpetrators in Nigeria. Results indicate that the operational framework of cybercrime in Nigeria is complex and heavily reliant on co-offending, criminal apprenticeship, and criminal mentoring. Respondents emphasised that these elements give direct support in the context of criminal activities. The paper concludes that transnational crime cannot be effectively addressed from a national standpoint; rather, a concerted international and regional effort is required to enhance the fragile capacities of states, subregions, and regional organisations