CROSS BORDER CRIMES AND SOCIO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF ECOWAS DEVELOPMENT OF ECOWAS MEMBERS STATES THE NIGERIA EXPERIENCE
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Over the years various activities across the borders of ECOWAS member states have hindered sustainable economic growth and development in the Union (Orji, 2008
:?) Activities such as bunkering, terrorism, smuggling of banned items, drug trafficking, human trafficking and prostitution do not encourage socio-economic growth in developing nations such as Nigeria, Ghana, and Togo etc.
The desire to build a vibrant and sound economy is the desire of every patriotic ECOWAS member. This desire can
be demonstrated through total elimination or reduction of cross border crimes, and other activities that may hamper
the success of free trade policies currently formulated by the economic union.
Cross bordercrime represents a number of illegal and notorious activities carried out by individuals and groupsacross
national and international borders, eitherfor financial or economic benefits also socio political cum religious
considerations. It is a setof criminal acts whose perpetrators and repercussions go beyond territorial borders
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(Owolabi, 2009: 23).
Cross border crimes include human trafficking, money laundering, drug trafficking, arms smuggling or trafficking of
weapons, international terrorism, illegal oil bunkering, illicit trafficking in diamonds, business fraud, to mention but
these notable few.Organized 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
concealing banned items from one country to the other, human trafficking and major oil bunkering activities with
speed boats and vessels.
Some cabals involved in cross border crimes also take advantage of differences in legislation, legal systems and
traditions,which often seriously hamper state efforts to respond adequately to the threat of organized or cross border
crimes. Ortuno and Wiriyachai (2009: 56) have maintained that the past few years have been characterized by a significant
increase in global criminal activities such as money laundering, trafficking in human and nuclear technology
and material, the trade in human organs and migrant smuggling. At the same time, emerging crimes such as modern
piracy, and trafficking in toxic waste, counterfeit medicines, precious metals or natural resources have been added
to the list of traditional illegal activities such as prostitution, drug trafficking and arms trafficking.Most recently,cross
national crime has increased in scope and is characterized by increasingly global reach, involved in multiple forms of
criminal activity, expanding criminal markets to include large-scale financial fraud and cyber-crime. And the syndicates
are willing to protect their activities through violent and ruthless means, linked to international terrorist groups and
devising novel and notorious organizational strategies to deter capture (Luna 2008).
In Nigeria, the dimension of these criminal activities has increased. The emergence of militancy in the Niger Delta, and
the spade of kidnappings have created serious problems of insecurity. This is however done in connivance with
security agencies. This situation is scaring to foreign and local investors and impinges seriously on the socioeconomic development of society Drug trafficking like its twin sister, money laundering, has economic effect on
developing economies also. It places increasing demands on the public health services and the society at large. These
increasing demands and strains come in different forms,these will include serious epidemic like HIV/AIDS. The United
Nation Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reports that along the cocaine trafficking route,numbers of users and cases of HIV/AIDS is distinctly higher.It is also noted that a number of youths are involved in Drug trafficking and the
implication is that these youths stay out of school. Education, especially education being made available to the poor, is key to development in the way that it empowers people. This research intends to investigate and appraise cross -border crimes andits effect on the economy of Nigeria.
1.2. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Cross border crimes have slowed down growth and development rates in which most West African nations should
attain globalization and free trade zones have numerous advantages to an economy-either capitalist or mixed. These
benefits are enjoyed when due processes and legal activities between countries are carried out. However, in areas with some restrictions in trade, high unemployment rates, high poverty rates as often witnessed in most developing
nations, the reverse is the case. Revenue realizable from most products smuggled in and out of the nation is enough
to build schools, good roads and other social amenities in Nigeria.
Cross border criminal activities in West Africa straddle weak borders into specific geographical location in affected
countries where state capacity to respond to the threat and challenges posed by these illegal activities is equally
weak. The smuggling of goods, especially cocoa, timber, ivory and petroleum products across national borders is
most prevalent along Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria and Burkina Faso corridors of the sub-region.Cross
border crimes are increasingly becoming sophisticated by each passing day with devastating consequences on the
economies of countries, particularly Third World countries. The tendency is that, these crimes affect monies available
to government to provide basic amenities for the poor. These basic amenities may include medical or health facilities,
education, housing, income and the provision of other infrastructural facilities like road electricity, water and others.
Ordinary business men, women and sometimes rebels and criminal gangs are involved in the smuggling of these and
other products. These goods are smuggled in vehicles or on foot, using secret and illegal routes across the borders to
evade special regulations, levies or taxes, thereby making more income through the cross border action of these
products. For instance Nigeria, Senegal and Ivory Coast were named and shamed for allegedly fuelling the illegal Ivory Trade.
Having largely wiped out their own elephant population, the three countries were believed to be importing and selling tonnes of ivory which had been poached in nearby countries.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The main objective of the study is to examine cross border crimes and socio-economic development of ECOWAS
member states. Specific objectives of the study are:
- To identify various cross border crimes perpetuated in ECOWAS member states.
- To examine the challenges posed by cross border crimes and how these challenges affect the socio-economic
growth of Nigeria in particular and other ECOWAS member states. - To appraise the effectiveness of various machineries put in ground by the government to curb cross border crimes.
CROSS BORDER CRIMES AND SOCIO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF ECOWAS DEVELOPMENT OF ECOWAS MEMBERS STATES THE NIGERIA EXPERIENCE