CROSS BORDER CRIMES AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF ECOWAS MEMBER STATES: THE NIGERIA EXPERIENCE.

CROSS BORDER CRIMES AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF ECOWAS MEMBER STATES: THE NIGERIA EXPERIENCE.

Chapter one

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Over the years, numerous actions outside the borders of ECOWAS member states have inhibited the Union’s long-term economic growth and development. Activities such as bunkering, terrorism, smuggling of prohibited products, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and prostitution do not promote socioeconomic growth in developing countries like Nigeria, Ghana, and Togo.

Every patriotic ECOWAS member desires to establish a dynamic and sound economy. This ambition can be exhibited by completely eliminating or reducing cross-border crimes and other actions that threaten the effectiveness of the economic union’s current free trade policy.

Cross-border crime refers to a variety of unlawful and notorious crimes carried out by people and groups across national and international borders for financial or economic gain, as well as sociopolitical and religious concerns.

It is a collection of criminal activities whose perpetrators and consequences extend beyond territorial boundaries (Owolabi, 2009: 23).

Cross-border crimes include people trafficking, money laundering, drug trafficking, arms smuggling or trafficking, international terrorism, illegal oil bunkering, diamond trafficking, and commercial fraud, to name a few.

Organised criminal groups carry out their illicit activities using major technological tools such as information networks, the financial system, and other sophisticated means

while other crude methods include smuggling prohibited items from one country to another, human trafficking, and major oil bunkering activities with speed boats and vessels.

Some cabals engaging in cross-border crimes take advantage of variations in legislation, legal systems, and traditions, which frequently impede governmental efforts to respond appropriately to the threat of organised or cross-border crime.

According to Ortuno and Wiriyachai (2009: 56), the last several years have seen a considerable growth in worldwide criminal activities such as money laundering, human and nuclear technology and material trafficking, human organ trade, and migrant smuggling.

At the same time, new crimes such as modern piracy and trafficking of toxic waste, counterfeit medications, precious metals, or natural resources have joined the ranks of established unlawful operations like prostitution, drug trafficking, and arms trafficking.

Most recently, cross-national crime has grown in breadth and is distinguished by an increasingly global reach, involvement in many forms of criminal activity, and the expansion of criminal markets to encompass large-scale financial fraud and cybercrime.

And the syndicates are willing to use violent and merciless tactics to defend their activities, including links to international terrorist groups and the development of unique and notorious organisational strategies to avoid capture (Luna 2008).

In Nigeria, the scope of these criminal activities has expanded. The rise of militancy in the Niger Delta, as well as the spate of kidnappings, have exacerbated security concerns.

This, however, is done in collaboration with security agencies. This condition scares foreign and local investors and has a significant impact on the socioeconomic development of society.

Drug trafficking, like its twin sister money laundering, has an economic impact on developing nations as well. It places increased demands on public health services and society as a whole. These increasing demands and strains take various forms, including major epidemics such as HIV/AIDS.

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), there are significantly more users and HIV/AIDS cases along the cocaine trafficking route. It is also noted that a number of youths areinvolved in Drug trafficking and the implication is that these youths stay out of school.

Education, particularly education made available to the poor, is critical to development because it empowers individuals. This research attempts to investigate and appraise cross -border crimes andits influence on the economy of Nigeria.

1.2. Statement of the Problem

Cross border crimes have slowed down growth and development rates at which most West African nations should accomplish globalization and free trade zones have various advantages to an economy-either capitalist or mixed.

These advantages are realised when proper processes and legal activities between countries are carried out. However, in locations with trade restrictions, high unemployment, and high poverty rates, as is common in most developing countries, the opposite is true.

Most things smuggled into and out of Nigeria generate enough revenue to establish schools, roads, and other social amenities.

Cross-border criminal operations in West Africa cross weak borders and occur in specific geographical locations in impacted nations, where the capacity to respond to the threat and obstacles posed by these unlawful activities is equally limited.

Smuggling of goods across national borders, particularly cocoa, lumber, ivory, and petroleum products, is most common along the sub-region’s corridors in Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso.

Cross-border crime is getting more sophisticated by the day, with severe effects for countries’ economies, particularly in the Third World.

These offences tend to have an impact on the government’s ability to provide basic necessities to the impoverished. These essential amenities may include medical or health facilities, education, housing, income, and the provision of other infrastructure services such as roads, power, and water.