Carefully read the Melzer and Shelley article. This week you will focus on the first case study discussed in the article. In the abstract to the article, the authors’ state that:

R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company’s alleged deliberate sales of its products in Iraq in contravention of the UN embargo and U.S. law. R.J. Reynolds used criminal actors as suppliers and provided financial compensation to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), a recognized terrorist organization, and Uday Hussein (Saddam Hussein’s son) to facilitate this transport.

Carefully read the R.J. Reynolds case study and address each of the following issues in an essay of 1,100-1,500 words:

1. Evaluate whether R.J. Reynolds was functionally an organized criminal organization. Be sure to offer support for your position drawing from the article, textbook, and any other sources you deem necessary.
2. Assess why and how an otherwise reputable company would risk its corporate reputation through involvement with terrorists.
3. Assess whether there exists a practical distinction between organized crime and terrorism in this specific case study.
4. at least 2 sources other than textbook required.

• Chapter 6 in the textbook
• Melzer, Sharon A., Shelley, Louise I. (2008). The nexus of organized crime and terrorism: two case studies in cigarette smuggling. International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice, 32, No. 1.
  • http://traccc.gmu.edu/pdfs/publications/illicit_trade_publications/Shelley_Melzer.pdf
• Europol Warns Organized Cybercrime Is Booming
  • http://www.securityweek.com/europol-warns-organized-cybercrime-booming COMPREHENSIVE STUDY ON CYBERCRIME – United Nations http://www.unodc.org/documents/organized-crime/UNODC_CCPCJ_EG.4_2013/CYBERCRIME_STUDY_210213.pdf
• Comprehensive Study on Cybercrime – United Nations
  • http://www.unodc.org/documents/organized-crime/UNODC_CCPCJ_EG.4_2013/CYBERCRIME_STUDY_210213.pdf