Supply Chains, Illicit Markets, and Terrorism: Understanding Organizations and Strategies (From Understanding and Responding to Terrorism, P 236-241, 2007, Huseyin Durmaz, Bilal Sevinc, et al., eds. -- See NCJ-224814)

• NCJ Number: 224835
• Author(s): Robyn R. Mace
• Date Published: 2007
• Length: 6 pages
• Sale Source: IOS Press
• Publication Format: Book Chapter
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: Netherlands

Annotation

This paper examines the complexity and common elements of supply chains and organizational environments across functions and international boundaries and identifies the link between illicit market activities and the funding of terrorist organizations.

Abstract

The global economy has facilitated a large market for illicit commodities in unauthorized or underground markets. Increasing global manufacturing and transport of goods results in opportunities for illicit marketers to cultivate and distribute products, posing challenges for enforcement agencies and legitimate companies. Opportunities for illegitimate and hidden income have attracted organized criminal enterprises, including terrorist groups. Electronic communications and global travel have revolutionized criminals’ ability to communicate and organize criminal activities across great distances. Organized crime and terrorist organizations have become more decentralized and difficult to identify as participants’ specialized knowledge and skills are increasingly mobile. New theoretical perspectives and research methods may be required in order to understand the dynamics of organized criminal enterprises as they adapt to accommodate economic and business-enforcement conditions, particularly regarding the international transportation of goods and communications/information technology. Innovative enforcement methods are required in order to undermine the structural opportunities for illicit markets. Specialized units, cooperative endeavors (working groups, task forces, and partnerships), and the alignment of intervention tactics and penalties are important, but they alone cannot address the problem. Comprehensive data and market-driven research and intelligence are needed to identify interdiction points and systemic vulnerabilities that provide opportunities for criminals. The private sector and the law enforcement sector have a common interest in dismantling and decreasing illicit markets, so they must work together in identifying and countering the criminal methods being used to divert and market stolen commodities. Also, a cross-national examination of arrestee commodity networks could assist in understanding the roles, structure, and flexibility of illicit commodity networks across transnational boundaries. 22 references