Background

Drug trafficking and money laundering are two intricately connected transnational organised crimes affecting Jamaica. Traffickers smuggle illegal drugs to foreign destinations and receive substantial illicit profits. From the huge illicit funds, criminals launder money into legitimate businesses to hide its tainted origins from law enforcers. This situation continues to be a problem to Jamaica as it affects the transnational relationships between Jamaica and its trading partners and undermines the authority of the state. The study utilises the criminology theories of Rational Choice and Social Control for linking individual’s motivation to commit crimes to economic and social imperatives.

Method

Content analysis, desk-based review of governmental documents and laws along with the extant literature were utilised to provide a conceptual understanding of these problems. Key ResultThe main finding is that this problem ismultifaceted and transnational in nature with its solution lies in educating the youths, providing jobs and maintaining transnational cooperation between affected states.

Impact of Research

Policy recommendations are provided for addressing the criminal justice system, cooperation between states, vulnerable degenerating communities and at-risk-youth