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The organisational setup of criminal networks is very diverse. Some are strictly hierarchical, while others are loose, decentralised and informal. Some are composed of just 3 network members, while others have more than 100. How criminal actors are organised and how large or small the networks are, does not necessarily correlate to the threat they pose. Nonetheless, to understand how to identify, prioritise and tackle criminal networks, it is relevant to outline these characteristics.
More than half of the most threatening criminal networks have a hierarchical structure, with various layers of power and responsibilities, a clear division of tasks and internal systems of control and discipline. Most of these networks are described as mafia type organisations, outlaw motor cycle gangs (OMCGs), Thieves in Law or cartels.
The other half of the most threatening criminal networks are more fluidly organised, either around a central core group, or loose and decentralised. Criminal networks organised in such a way have come more to the fore since 2020, when the analysis of communications between criminals using cryptophones revealed this more networked, fluid landscape of criminal actors.
The size of most threatening criminal networks varies a lot. The exact size and boundaries are difficult to determine – network members can remain under the radar, membership evolves over time, and some individuals may be external service providers rather than embedded in the network.
The largest groups are often hierarchically structured, and on many occasions are family or clan-based (such as mafia-families) or OMCGs. The extent to which all members are involved in criminal activities and form part of the criminal network requires further information and analysis.
Smaller networks often operate at a regional or local level, relying on external partners, while larger networks can operate at an international level and carry out more complex operations. Drug trafficking operations rely on fluid networks of contacts that connect different levels of activity. The sharing of responsibilities at various points in the trafficking chain across different networks means that trafficking operations are more complex than if they were organised end-to-end by a single group.
Leadership has been identified as a role of critical importance within the most threatening criminal networks. These leaders are high-level decision makers who manage criminal operations, assign tasks to members and sometimes also supervise the finances of the network. The importance of this role correlates with the finding that most criminal networks are hierarchically structured with strong leadership, or centred around a core group of key members. Decentralised criminal networks can also have a clear leadership style. Strong leadership, no matter the exact structure, is an important characteristic of the most threatening criminal networks.
Leadership is in most cases considered irreplaceable, while middle-management is considered easier to replace. This is also corroborated by the finding that most leaders either operate from the country of main activity or their country of origin.
Leaders distance themselves physically from criminal operations in exceptional cases, either as a countermeasure against detection or because of detention. In both scenarios, they are able to keep lines of communication and delegation open, and continue to coordinate their criminal business remotely. (see also: The spectrum of leadership: proximity and beyond).
Some hierarchically structured criminal networks, such as certain OMCGs and Italian mafia, consider the leader important but replaceable. This may be because strategies to ensure strong, continued leadership are ‘institutionally’ embedded in the network. Examples include succession within the criminal family and ‘recurrent election’ of leaders. A restructuring or split in different branches, coupled with a re-division of leadership and tasks is another strategy to ensure continued leadership.
Detention and conviction of leadership or other high-value targets do not necessarily halt the networks’ criminal business. Leaders often continue to coordinate criminal operations from prison, even over extended periods of time, allowing the network to maintain its dominance. Some networks also demonstrate a high degree of resilience and agility with multiple key network members imprisoned.
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