Drug Trafficking Careers. A Qualitative Study of Trajectories in Serious Drug Crime
Aim
This study will produce in-depth knowledge about the dynamics and processes that shape individuals' pathways into and out of serious drug crime that will qualify discussions in academia and inform law enforcement responses, preventive efforts to identify early intervention points and reintegrative programs aimed at avoiding crime recidivism.
Background
Serious drug crime is a multi-billion-dollar industry and a significant problem globally and in Denmark. Due to Denmark’s position as both a destination market and the main drug gateway to other Nordic countries, Danish authorities have increased maximum penalties for serious drug crime and intensified law enforcement efforts. Serious drug offenders thus today constitute the largest group within the Danish prison population (21%). In 2018, it was estimated that the Danish state spends approximately DKK 4 billion annually on combating drug crime, which is 3 times as much money as was spent on substance abuse treatment. Despite the massive resources spent, efforts to reduce serious drug crime have had only limited success. One reason for this is that our understanding of serious drug criminals and their criminal trajectories is limited.
The Study
We conduct qualitative interviews with 60 individuals (40 men and 20 women) who have been convicted of serious drug crimes such as smuggling, sales and producing larger quantities of illegal drugs. The aim is to recruit individuals with different operational experiences, including "managers" (planning and organizing functions), "middle managers" (who have been responsible for daily operations) and "employees" (who have been employed to carry out the actual crime). The interviews will uncover:
- What life-trajectories and turning points support entries, continuities and changes in serious drug crime careers?
- What structural, subjective and relational factors influence individuals’ permanent or temporary desistance from serious drug crime?
- What structural, subjective and relational factors cause some individuals to re-enter serious drug crime after a longer period of being crime-free?
- How does gender influence the shaping of serious drug crime careers?
The project will run from June 2025 to May 2028.
Funding
The project is funded by The Independent Research Fund Denmark.
