Best Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime Podcasts (2024)

1
Mohamed Amra and the gangs of Marseille 36:01

4h ago36:01

36:01

In May 2024, a prison van was attacked at a highway toll in Normandy, France. In dramatic footage shared on social media, a black SUV, driving the wrong direction, rammed into the prison van just as it went through the barriers. Then gunmen, dressed head-to-toe in black and armed with Kalashnikov rifles got out and started shooting at the van, kill…

1
The War in Ukraine & Arms Trafficking 15:31

8h ago15:31

15:31

Ukraine (9/10) and Russia (8.5/10), alongside the former Soviet states of Moldova and Belarus, have some of the highest scores for arms trafficking in the Global Organized Crime Index. This is due to the significant levels of weapons and ammunition left over at the end of the Soviet period. In addition to the high levels of arms trafficking across …

1
The Netherlands, illicit drugs and Western Balkans organized crime 17:18

2M ago17:18

17:18

The Netherlands is an important global trading hub, with Rotterdam being one of the worlds largest container ports in the world. The country's high quality infrastructure and the well known liberal approach to drugs makes the Netherlands attractive to organized criminal groups. And those originating in the Western Balkans have long been active in t…

1
South Africa, the taxi industry, and assassinations 13:54

2M ago13:54

13:54

The largely unregulated taxi industry in South Africa has long been associated with violence., as taxi associations clash with one another over control of lucrative routes. Taxi-related violence ranges from shoot-out at taxi ranks to targeted hits on influential players in the industry, often sparking retaliatory killings, resulting in the deaths o…

1
Regional Approaches to Tackling Cybercrime - views from South East Asia 17:47

2M ago17:47

17:47

This second podcast episode on cybercrime and critical technologies in South East Asia starts to explore what the possible regional and indeed global responses might be to tackling these entrenched and growing threats. With the support of the Australian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and our partner, Lydekker, the GI-TOC has been exploring t…

1
The Long Tail: Cross-Channel Migrant Smuggling (France to the UK) 54:41

2M ago54:41

54:41

On the 1st May 2024, 711 migrants successfully crossed the Channel between France and the UK in small boats. This year is so far on track to see the highest number of crossings on record. This highly industrialised illicit industry estimated to be worth hundreds of millions of Euros, has seen the coast of northern France demarcated between competin…

1
Cybercrime in South East Asia: views from the region 14:37

3M ago14:37

14:37

This episode explores the challenges that cybercrime and the exploitation of critical technologies pose in Indonesia and the Philippines and the broader South East Asia region. With the support of the Australian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and our partner, Lydekker, the GI-TOC has been engaging across the region to understand the specific…

1
Nigeria and Kidnappings 23:40

3M ago23:40

23:40

In March this year, gangs of armed men on motorcycles descended on a school in north-western state of Kaduna in Nigeria, kidnapping over 280 children. In the same week a similar mass kidnapping took place in the north-eastern state of Borno. Over the past few years, kidnappings have been a real issue in Nigeria, but have recently been in decline. S…

1
Brazil, Rio, and Militias 20:16

4M ago20:16

20:16

Brazil has long had a problem with mafia-style groups, according to the Global Organized Crime Index, with 8 out of 10, that places the country 3rd in South America. One such group are the so-called militias, made up of former and serving members of military police or law enforcement. The militias groups have sought to profit from the housing marke…

1
LockBit: Is this the end? 34:36

4M ago34:36

34:36

LockBit, the world's largest ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) provider suffered a very public takedown by an international law enforcement task force, Operation Cronos. The ransomware behemoth quickly relaunched just days later. But in a world where trust is key, might the reputational damage be too great? This is the story of the rise of LockBit, it…

1
Cocaine & Montenegrin criminal groups 13:46

5M ago13:46

13:46

Montenegrin organized crime groups have risen through the criminal underworld to become key components of the global cocaine trade. From Latin America to global shipping, and from ports to European markets, they control the entire chain. But with such a lucrative trade comes violence. Over the last decade, several dozen Montenegrins and Serbians ha…

1
Where next for the cybercrime convention? 15:53

5M ago15:53

15:53

This episode reflects on what was supposed to be the concluding session of the UN’s ad Hoc committee that had been set up to negotiate a new convention on cybercrime. Following seven negotiating sessions over two years, each lasting two weeks and costing almost a million dollars each for the UN, member states have not come to agreement on what the …

1
Russia, War & Organized Crime 46:02

5M ago46:02

46:02

Russian organized crime has a mythology attached to it - the brutal tattooed men of the Vory v Zakone. But those days are long in the past, rapid globalisation saw a new type of organized criminal take the reins in the Russian underworld, spreading their influence as criminal facilitators across the world. But the war in Ukraine has changed that. I…

1
The history, policies and practice of drug control in Asia 26:23

5M ago26:23

26:23

In this episode, our speakers will discuss the latest special issue from JIED, which addresses the history, policies and practice of drug control in Asia. Including, historical landmarks such as drug control policy developments at the national level, which shaped the international regime over the last two centuries; public health and the history of…

1
Gold Mining in West Africa 17:47

5M ago17:47

17:47

The gold mining sector in West Africa has increased significantly in recent years. But this is also a region bereft by political instability following several recent coups, extremist groups, foreign criminal actors and organized crime networks all operate here, artisanal and small-scale miners are often targeted by such groups. According to the Glo…

1
Papua New Guinea and Illegal Logging 13:58

6M ago13:58

13:58

Papua New Guinea, the island nation in Oceania, is rich in biodiversity. But the rainforests that cover the country are also sought after by logging companies, sometimes illegally. PNG is the largest exporter of timber to China, where it is then distributed around the world. There are a number of criminal markets that are particularly prevalent in …

1
Monitoring: What is going on in Ecuador? 28:15

6M ago28:15

28:15

At the start of the year masked gunman burst into a television studio in Guayaquil, Ecuador. The cameras were live and the entire event was broadcast. The video shows gang members shouting at staff, pushing them to the ground, threatening them with guns and explosives. These pictures subsequently travelled around the world. But this event was just …

1
Haiti: Criminal Governance & Civil Society 11:48

6M ago11:48

11:48

The small Caribbean nation of Haiti has seen a surge in gang violence over the past few years. According to the Global Organized Crime Index, there is a high level of mafia-style groups (8.5 out of 10). These gangs have captured large swathes of the economy. With names like G-Pep, 400 Mawozo, Baz Pilate, and G9, these gangs compete for control, lea…

1
Gang violence and the human rights and security crisis in Haiti 13:26

6M ago13:26

13:26

In this episode, Ian talks to William O'Neill, the UN's designated expert on the human rights situation in Haiti. In the context of the escalating and untrammelled gang violence in Haiti, and the unprecedented security and human rights crisis, O'Neill explains how the multilateral system is responding. How will the multinational police mission led …

1
GI-TOC - ECOSOC: Getting official status at the UN 31:20

7M ago31:20

31:20

This episode explores how 'ECOSOC consultative status' enables NGOs to engage on policy issues at the UN, and how GI-TOC finally gained its accreditation earlier this year. The episode also discusses the challenges NGOs face in gaining this status, and in more generally engaging in multilateral settings. Presenter(s): Ian Tennant, Head of Vienna Mu…

1
Fentanyl and Third Gen Gangs Latin America 1:09:29

8M ago1:09:29

1:09:29

This panel will assess illicit networks and fentanyl in Brazil, Mexico, and other Latin American countries using the 3rd GEN Gang literature and criminal insurgency as lenses. Fentanyl and other synthetic drugs have risen in importance and in the political rhetoric surrounding them due to high numbers of overdose deaths particularly in the United S…

1
How to build an Anti-Mafia association outside Italy: methods, difficulties, successes 1:08:37

8M ago1:08:37

1:08:37

We will share our experiences in the great environment of the 24 Hours Conference on Global Organised Crime. Particularly how mafiaindanke e.V. was founded, the difficulties we encountered and how we managed to find our role in the public discourse. During the discussion, we will show the audience one possible way we can respond as a civil society …

1
Ndrangheta in East Germany 1:03:36

8M ago1:03:36

1:03:36

Axel Hemmerling, Ludwig Kendzia, David Klaubert and Margherita Bettoni spent three years investigating when and how the Calabrian 'ndrangheta arrived in East Germany. They looked into newspaper archives, searched property register files, used FOIAs and talked to several sources in Germany and in Italy. In the process, they came across a major, stil…

1
Open Data for Anti-Corruption: Case Studies from Around the World 1:05:05

8M ago1:05:05

1:05:05

One of the most efficient tools for promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance is open data technology. This panel will offer examples of how open data platforms can be used effectively and will consider opportunities for expanding the use of such data to improve good governance in Southeast Asia. The panel aims to shed light on th…

1
Southeast Asia's Drug Trade: Developments and Challenges 1:03:33

8M ago1:03:33

1:03:33

During this session, panellists will discuss the latest developments, challenges, and outlooks on Southeast Asia's drug trade, alongside UNODC’s ongoing support to enhance cross-border collaboration and information sharing. The region's drug trade has been marked by a decade of growth in the production and trafficking of synthetic drugs, particular…

1
Crime and Conflict in Pakistan 1:08:11

8M ago1:08:11

1:08:11

This Roundtable Discussion will examine the interplay between politics and economics in the frontier peripheries and urban heartlands of Pakistan. Speakers Junaid Qureshi, Director European Foundation for South Asian Studies Dr. Prem Mahadevan, Specialised in research on organised crime, intelligence and irregular warfare. Taha Siddiqui, The Dissid…

1
Drugs, Thugs and Terrorism: the experience of India 1:02:27

8M ago1:02:27

1:02:27

This Roundtable Discussion will examine the question of how organized crime and political militancy interact in the Indian context. It will look at the role of mafia syndicates in perpetrating international terrorism, and will focus on Mumbai’s D-Company and drug gangs along the India-Pakistan border. The Mumbai bombings of 1993, which were carried…

1
Environmental organized crime 1:04:34

8M ago1:04:34

1:04:34

This panel will discuss the main issues with illegal natural resources export and illegal tourism as well as the criminal activities, in relation to “China's mafia invasion” of the East Siberia region which was historically linked to the Silk Road. They will then talk about criminal law versus environmental direct action in democratic societies wit…

1
Understanding & Responding to ‘Cuckooing’ 1:08:11

8M ago1:08:11

1:08:11

The practice of ‘cuckooing’, where vulnerable people have their homes taken over, has generated significant policy and practice attention across the UK over the last ten years. While not exclusively, this has often been associated with the workings of illicit drug markets, with connections made to the activities of organised crime and the supply mo…

1
PAGAD vigilantism and South Africa state capacity to respond to Organized Crime 1:00:25

8M ago1:00:25

1:00:25

The Director of GITOC, Mark Shaw, will discuss his new book Breaking the Bombers: How the Hunt for PAGAD Created a Crack Police Unit. This talk touches on the features, implications, and risks associated with vigilantism, as well as the most effective responses within the framework of the rule of law, aiming to reduce violence and curtail criminal …

1
Cryptocurrency and Money Laundering 14:55

8M ago14:55

14:55

The Global Organized Crime Index features two new indicators - Cybercrime and Financial Crimes. In this episode Thin sits down with the Head of Cyber Threat Intelligence at Chainalysis, Jacqueline Koven, to discuss a topic that straddles both of these indicators, money laundering through cryptocurrency. According to Chainalysis, nearly $23.8 billio…

1
Monitoring: Ovidio Guzmán and the Kingpin Strategy 20:48

8M ago20:48

20:48

'The King is dead, long live the King!' In September 2023, Ovidio Guzmán López, the son of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzmán, stood in a courtroom as a series of charges were laid out, including his alleged role as a leader of the Sinaloa Cartel. There is a long list of cartel and organized crime leaders over the past few decades who have been targeted thr…

1
The UN Cybercrime Treaty: A threat to press freedom? 15:08

8M ago15:08

15:08

In this episode, Ian Tennant talks to Amy Brouillette of the International Press Institute to discuss the risks that the treaty negotiation poses to freedom of the media. This is one of many risks and challenges that remain to be resolved as delegates await a final draft treaty to discuss at the concluding session in early 2024. Presenter(s): Ian T…

1
Ecuador: Politics, violence, and organized crime 13:20

8M ago13:20

13:20

The assassination of Ecuadorean presidential candidate, Fernando Villavicencio in August this year made international headlines. A campaigner who railed against organized crime and corruption, his murder in Quito was one act in a downward spiral of violence in Ecuador. Local gangs and international criminal organisations have increased their influe…

1
Illicit Financial Flows in the Western Balkans 41:05

9M ago41:05

41:05

“If you can do it without consequences, then you should do it”. What are illicit Financial Flows, or IFFs? And why do they matter? Every illicit market, from drug trafficking, people smuggling, the illegal wildlife trade, arms trafficking etc. all are connected to IFFs. IFFs are about the movement of money across borders that is illegal in some way…

1
Monitoring: A Month of Drug Seizures 12:02

10M ago12:02

12:02

In September 2023, there were four large cocaine seizures in and around the Atlantic Ocean - off the coast of Ireland, West Africa, Brazil, and Cape Verde. The flows of cocaine that traverse the Atlantic travel mainly by sea, from the huge bulk carriers to small fishing vessels or sailing boats. Much of this illicit drug ends in the cocaine markets…

1
Illegal Rare Earth Mining in Myanmar 13:28

10M ago13:28

13:28

Myanmar in Southeast Asia topped the global list for levels of criminality (8.15/10) in the latest Global Organized Crime Index. From arms trafficking (9/10) to the synthetic drugs trade(10/10), and mafia-style groups (9.5/10) to state-embedded actors (9/10), Myanmar has high levels almost across the board for criminal markets and actors. The count…

1
“They don’t ******* withdraw it” - Scam Call Centres in Ukraine 40:31

10M ago40:31

40:31

Scam call centres are a blight on the lives of anyone unfortunate enough to have any dealings with them. They come to you with promises of a short cut to wealth, to fix a non-existent issue with your computer, claiming to be from a charity, threatening you with arrest for unpaid taxes. There are 70 million of these phone calls worldwide every day a…

1
Colombia: In the face of crime and violence 43:53

12M ago43:53

43:53

For over half a century armed groups in Colombia have battled one another and the state across the country. The FARC, ELN, AUC, AGC, and the infamous drug cartels, have committed untold atrocities on everyday Colombians. These groups use violence to control the local population and to assert territorial control over illicit drug production and traf…

1
Investigating Financial Crimes 25:33

12M ago25:33

25:33

The category of 'Financial Crime' is to be added to the upcoming version of the Global Organized Crime Index. In this bonus episode Thin sits down with Nick Lewis, the Global Head of Integrated Intelligence and Investigations at Standard Charter Bank, to discuss the difficulties of financial crime investigations and what is needed to improve the si…

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Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime Podcasts

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