How is organized crime defined?

The definition of organized crime highlights the structured and planned nature of criminal activities that are orchestrated by powerful groups, often characterized by a hierarchical organization. This type of crime typically involves ongoing criminal enterprises that seek profit through illegal means, which can include drug trafficking, human trafficking, extortion, and more.

Organized crime groups operate systematically, maintaining strict control over their operations, using violence or the threat of violence to enforce loyalty and compliance, and often corrupting legal and political systems to protect their interests. This distinguishes organized crime from other forms of criminal activity that might be more sporadic or less structured.

In contrast, crime committed by individuals without connections suggests isolated acts which lack the organization and planning seen in organized crime. Random violence implies unplanned, chaotic acts rather than the strategic operations managed by a group. Lastly, cyber-based criminal activities, while potentially sophisticated, fall within a broader category that may not necessarily align with the classic definition of organized crime, especially when they do not involve a hierarchical structure or collective criminal enterprises. Thus, the correct characterization of organized crime focuses on its organized, controlled, and group-oriented nature.