Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime

⛓️💥 Our aim is to disrupt criminal activity and illicit markets. 📚 Our research is used by governments, business, organizations and many others trying to make communities safer. 🌐 Our presence worldwide is extended and growing. There is a lot of work to be done. But, together, we can build a safer future for all 🤝

🧑💻Russia’s dead drop model is now reaching countries worldwide, becoming a prominent new threat in the global drug trade. Leveraging technology and anonymous transactions, this model is rapidly expanding across Asia and Europe, challenging traditional law enforcement approaches. Authorities and international bodies must understand the implications of this scalable, decentralized model and find ways to counter its spread. Our report explores this phenomenon in detail: https://buff.ly/4fKIOJ2 #DeadDrop #DrugPolicy #IllicitEconomies #Russia

The Global Organized Crime Index 2023 paints a stark picture: criminality is on the rise, but #resilience isn't. 🇲🇲 #Myanmar, the highest-ranking country in criminality, exemplifies the challenges we face. The 2021 coup has entrenched organized crime, turning the country into a hub for industrial-scale criminal enterprises. Here, hundreds of thousands are trafficked into forced criminality, highlighting a troubling grey zone where victims and perpetrators are often one and the same. ⚖️ Building resilience against such crime demands more than just a strong criminal justice system. It requires nuanced strategies to protect those caught in the web of #organizedcrime, whether they are victims, perpetrators, or both. As we push for justice, we must also ensure that human rights are upheld, recognizing the complex realities of those involved. Read more in this blog: https://buff.ly/3Xer1np #OCIndex

2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣4️⃣ challenged and inspired us to push further in the fight against organized crime. From launching new observatories and publishing groundbreaking reports to driving multilateral action and building resilience worldwide, it’s been a year of impact. Explore our 2024 highlights👇 #2024Wrapped #Wrapped #YearInReview #OrganizedCrime

℞🇪🇺The booming illicit trade in prescription opioids across Europe is a growing concern. 📲 On Dutch Telegram channels alone, over 30,000 messages were exchanged in a single week about drugs like #oxycodone and #tramadol. These pharmaceuticals, often diverted from legal sources, are sold at prices as low as €8 per pill. Our recent report highlights how this overlooked market could act as a gateway for more potent synthetic opioids, raising the specter of a European opioid crisis. Organized crime’s minimal involvement in this sector suggests a blind spot in current enforcement priorities. By addressing these unregulated markets, policymakers and law enforcement can curb a potential public health crisis before it escalates. Explore the full findings and implications: https://buff.ly/3Bb5aVI #Europe #DrugPolicy #OpioidCrisis

💬 What do we talk about when we talk about organized crime? The usual ways of defining organized crime are insufficient and no longer capture the complexity of this phenomenon. These concepts are useful for understanding what organized crime is ⬇️ Read more in our “Intersections” report: https://buff.ly/3XNmjNY

🍃How would coca leaf and cocaine further regulation in Peru 🇵🇪 impact law enforcement, local economies, and organized crime? The shift could bring potential economic benefits and legal recognition of coca as a consumer good, but enforcement challenges loom large. With limited state capacity to oversee legal supply chains, gaps could emerge, potentially benefiting organized crime. Drawing insights from other regulated commodities, this analysis shows why thoughtful regulatory structures are key to meaningful reform. Full insights here: https://buff.ly/4gp0tXD #DrugPolicy #OrganizedCrime

⛏️Did you know that artisanal gold mining in Burkina Faso 🇧🇫 provides livelihoods for millions—yet also fuels armed conflict? Groups like #JNIM tax miners and position themselves as defenders against state regulation. This dual role strengthens their control and complicates policy interventions. How can states disrupt these dynamics without alienating communities? Our report with ACLED explores innovative solutions tailored to the realities on the ground. 📖 Dive into the details: https://lnkd.in/eQi65ypd #ArmedGroups #IllicitEconomies #WestAfrica

🇽🇰💸 Debt traps in Kosovo: Illegal moneylending is leaving vulnerable people at risk of losing homes, cars, and more. 🦈 Despite being a widespread issue, loan sharking rarely leads to convictions. What can be done to address this? Check the full analysis in our recent Risk Bulletin: https://buff.ly/4gp9pf9 #Kosovo #Debt #Loans

🌍 North Africa and the Sahel have been increasingly important regions for migrant movement, human smuggling and human trafficking since the late 1990s. The regions currently comprise key corridors for migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and the Middle East transiting towards Europe, as well as important origin countries in their own right. Since 2016, we have engaged in regular monitoring of the political economy of human smuggling and trafficking in North Africa and the Sahel, a process that was expanded and formalised in 2018 with the establishment of the North Africa and Sahel Observatory (NAS-Obs). This work has resulted in annual country reports focused on human smuggling and trafficking, as well as some cross regional or thematic reports. The 2024 series covers country reports on #Libya, #Tunisia, #Morocco, #Mali, #Niger, #Chad and #Sudan. Check the reports here: https://buff.ly/450WziN #NorthAfrica #Sahel #Migration #HumanRights