criminal organization; organized crime group
Refers to a group or syndicate engaged in systematic criminal activity, such as the yakuza, mafia, or cartels.
The police arrested the leader of the criminal organization.
Criminal group activity is increasing in this area.
暴力団 specifically refers to a violent gang or yakuza group, while 犯罪集団 is a broader term for any criminal organization.
犯罪組織 is a near-synonym, but 集団 emphasizes the group aspect, while 組織 stresses the structured, organized nature.
Compound of 犯罪 (crime) and 集団 (group, collective). The word follows standard Sino-Japanese word formation patterns.