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Journal Article 1: Natarajan, M., Zanella, M., & Yu, C. (2015). Classifying the variety of drug trafficking organizations. Journal of Drug Issues, 45, 409–430.

Abstract: A standard typology of drug trafficking organizations would assist in interpreting the results of studies made of these organizations. Several such typologies have been proposed, and this study examines a widely cited typology that was developed in the 1990s using New York City court data. The typology has two dimensions, organizational tasks and structure. It satisfactorily encompassed the trafficking organizations identified in two new samples: 39 organizations prosecuted in New York City in 1997-2007 and 50 organizations prosecuted during the same period by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The findings supported the generalizability of the typology. They also suggest that drug trafficking organizations adopt a structure congruent with their external environment, including the market for drugs, the type of drugs, ethnicity of those involved in distribution, use of technology in communication and distribution, and levels of law enforcement. Implications of fuller knowledge about the structure and functioning of drug trafficking organizations for research and policy are discussed.

Journal Article 2: DiRienzo, C. E., & Das, J. (2017). Human trafficking and country borders. International Criminal Justice Review, 27, 278–288.

Abstract: The primary purpose of this study is to empirically test whether neighboring countries within the Schengen region have similar human trafficking prevalence rates. It is argued that the free flow of persons across borders in the region impacts human trafficking in two ways. First, it lessens many of the transportation challenges and costs faced by human traffickers. Second, it enhances the ability of traffickers to acquire knowledge about neighboring countries in regard to policing, demand for trafficked persons, and terrain, which enables trafficking networks to spread. The Moran Index, a measure of spatial autocorrelation, is used to test the hypothesis using the Global Slavery Index’s proportion of country population living in slavery, a proxy for human trafficking. The Moran Index is significant and positive in the Schengen region, indicating that country neighbors within the region tend to have similar human trafficking prevalence rates. The Moran Index is calculated in other global regions (Africa, Asia, and North and South America) in addition to Schengen border itself, and the index is insignificant in these areas, which offers evidence that the relationship between neighboring countries within the Schengen region is unique. Policy implications of these findings are offered.