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Dutch herbal cannabis from Spanish soil: The involvement of Dutch criminals in illicit herbal cannabis cultivation in Spain
Thu, September 12, 4:00 to 5:15pm, Faculty of Law, University of Bucharest, Floor: 2nd floor, Room 3.06Abstract
The involvement of Dutch criminals in the illicit cultivation of herbal cannabis is a niche in drug-related transnational organised crime. In this study we applied crime scripting and social network analysis to gain insight into their roles and positions.
One of the sources examined concerns a drug network of 12,133 unique accounts and their drug-related communications (i.c. relationships) within the closed encrypted communications network PGP Safe.
Within this drug network, Dutch-speaking organisers of herbal cannabis cultivation were identified that coordinate separate criminal (business) processes of herbal cannabis cultivation and trafficking. These organisers of herbal cannabis cultivation are not indispensable for the cultivation as such, as the illicit cultivation of cannabis is widespread in Spain. However, they are relevant to the trafficking of the herbal cannabis because they have access to and are part of a large transnational drug network. Moreover, they use the network for international trafficking of other drugs since they are mainly involved in poly-drug trafficking. Therefore they are active within various drug-related (business) processes, and they utilize their relationships in the network for that purpose as well.
Organisers of herbal cannabis cultivation are also not indispensable as contacts within the drug network due to its size and robustness. However they do require the network that enables them to carry out their drug-related criminal activities. The drug network can on the other hand only exist by the grace of all its participants and their activities. Interdependence therefore occurs not only at the individual level (i.e. at the level of the herbal cannabis cultivation organisers) but also at the system level.