PETRO PIRACY AND ORGANISED CRIME IN AFRICA: THE LINKAGES

Abstract

The paper examined the relationship between petro-piracy and organized crime in West Africa. The subject matter has evolved into an enterprise which mirrors underlying economic principles of business operations. The involvement of organised crime groups in primordial resource appropriation has altered dramatically the region’s energy landscape, accelerating a transition from an economy of greed to an economy of crime, underpinned by organised socio-economic structures which exploit the fragility of a manifestly troubled West Africa. Anchored on qualitative methodology, the paper relied on secondary sources of data collection. The paper found out that the historical background of maritime piracy on the Atlantic coast of West Africa can be traced to the wider context of globalization of commerce and criminality. The paper also revealed that the menace of crude oil theft in particular has developed into a well-organised business with the involvement of organised crime groups as several states and non-state actors converge on the corridor to exploit its vulnerabilities through unregulated resource appropriation, creating an economy of racket and a crude enterprise. The paper recommended, amongst others that government in the region should form a formidable intergovernmental organization that will control activities offshore.