In what ways has organised crime in India evolved to become more complex and harder to detect?

Organised crime in India has undergone significant changes over the years, becoming more sophisticated, diverse, and difficult for law enforcement agencies to detect and control. This evolution is driven by technological advancements, globalization, and changing criminal strategies.

• Use of Technology: Criminals now use encrypted communication, darknet, and digital financial tools, making their activities less visible and harder to trace.
• Diversification of Activities: Organised crime groups have expanded beyond traditional activities (like smuggling and extortion) into cybercrime, human trafficking, counterfeit currency, and financial frauds.
• Transnational Networks: Indian organised crime has developed international linkages, collaborating with foreign syndicates for drug trafficking, arms smuggling, and money laundering.
• Layered Operations: Criminals use shell companies, complex financial transactions, and multiple intermediaries to mask their activities and identities.
• Infiltration into Legal Businesses: Organised crime syndicates invest in real estate, film industry, and legitimate businesses to launder money and gain social legitimacy.
• Corruption and Political Nexus: Some groups establish links with corrupt officials and politicians, which helps them evade law enforcement and continue operations undetected.
• Fragmentation and Decentralisation: Instead of large, hierarchical gangs, many groups now operate in small, loosely connected cells, making surveillance and crackdown more difficult.
• Use of Violence and Intimidation: While still present, violence is now more targeted and subtle, reducing public visibility and law enforcement attention.

These factors collectively make organised crime in India more invisible and complex, posing new challenges for traditional policing methods.