Organized crime - carried out by organized groups of criminals, often called the mafia. The scale, areas of activity - illegal trade in drugs, weapons, smuggling, etc., the methods used by criminals are different in different countries. This form of crime is generally characterized by a hierarchical structure with a clear distribution of the roles of participants, a high degree of cohesion, stability and secrecy, establishing connections with corrupt elements in the state apparatus and law enforcement agencies, as a rule, the widespread use of violent methods and racketeering.