ABSTRACT
Because organized crime tends to be associated with the exploitation of various illicit markets (drugs, firearms), it is easy to forget that organized crime is not necessarily victimless. In fact, it rarely is. There are very few organized criminal activities that do not sooner or later involve a serious form of victimization. Organized crime victimizes a great number of people, even if many of the victims do not necessarily understand exactly how they have been victimized and by whom. We can think of victims of elaborate frauds, human trafficking, trafficking in firearms, drug dealing, or extortion. Criminal organizations never hesitate to use fear and intimidation. That is precisely how they usually perpetuate themselves and avoid detection and prosecution. The sad reality is that, given the opportunity, criminal groups will always prey on economically, culturally, or otherwise isolated or excluded groups.
