How Operational Crimes Sustain the Cocaine Pipeline in Colombia

• In Event: Drug-crime links

Abstract

This paper examines the operational crimes that sustain the cocaine trade in Colombia, offering an interdisciplinary analysis of their structure and function. Using analytical frameworks such as crime script analysis, the rational choice perspective, and the value chain framework, the study identifies and systematically categorises these crimes to reveal the mechanisms through which they enable and sustain the cocaine trade. By integrating crime science with business administration tools, particularly the value chain framework, this research demonstrates how interdisciplinary approaches can enhance the understanding of organised crime operations. The findings provide a foundational layer for broader risk and harm assessments, contributing to more effective policy and enforcement strategies aimed at identifying and disrupting the criminal activities underpinning the cocaine trade.

Authors

• Juliana Gómez Quintero, University College London

• Hervé Borrion, University College London

• Spencer Chainey, University College London