Organised crime or criminal organisations are transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralised enterprises run bycriminals for the purpose of engaging in illegal activity, most commonly for monetary profit. Some criminal organisations, such asterrorist organisations, are politically motivated. Sometimes criminal organisations force people to do business with them, as when a gang extorts money from shopkeepers for so-called "protection".^[1] Gangs may become disciplined enough to be considered organised. An organised gang or criminal set can also be referred to as a mob.^[2]

In the United States, the Organized Crime Control Act (1970) defines organised crime as "The unlawful activities of [...] a highly organised, disciplined association [...]".^[3] Criminal activity as a structured group is referred to as racketeering and such crime is commonly referred to as the work of the Mob. In the UK, police estimate organised crime involves up to 38,000 people operating in 6,000 various groups.^[4] In addition, due to the escalating violence of Mexico's drug war, the Mexican drug cartels are considered the "greatest organised crime threat to the United States" according to a report issued by the United States Department of Justice.^[5]