TRANSNATIONAL CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR SYMBIOSIS WITH THE ENVIRONMENT: FROM ILLICIT ACTIVITY TO ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE

Abstract

Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) are criminal groups that engage in criminal activities across several countries, in violation of domestic laws. Although this is not a recent or unknown phenomenon, TCOs have expanded significantly in recent decades. They are currently establishing operations in dense forests, indigenous lands, and environmentally protected areas, creating a form of symbiosis between the environment and crime. Brazil has witnessed the activities of these TCOs in its territory, including the exploitation of minerals, timber, and wildlife, the trafficking of weapons, and the use of the country as a logistical hub for Andean cocaine. In this sense, this article examines a phenomenon that deserves greater scholarly and public attention: the symbiosis between TCOs and the environment. Methodologically, this article is based on a literature review and concludes with a brief analysis of the current situation. As a result, the presence of these TCOs in Brazilian territory was demonstrated through their involvement in various criminal activities, co-opting native peoples, exploiting natural resources, and causing serious environmental damage, much of which is irreparable. The findings suggest that the topic is relevant both for high-level research (strategic studies) and for the development of public policies related to national security and defense.