Concerted efforts are essential for Member States to effectively tackle the growing nexus between organized crime and terrorism, which affects all global regions and has the potential to undermine the rule of law and jeopardize regional stability, security, and development.
At the 33rd Session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, a side-event titled 'Introduction to the new UNODC-UNICRI Initiative on the Nexus between terrorism and organized crime in Africa: Responses to emerging threats and new dynamics' unveiled a comprehensive strategy to tackle this pressing challenge.
There is increasing recognition that terrorists can benefit from organized crime, whether domestic or transnational, through trafficking in arms, persons, drugs, cultural property, the illicit exploitation and trafficking of natural resources such as oil, precious metals and minerals, as well as timber, charcoal, and wildlife, the abuse of legitimate commercial enterprise, non-profit organizations, external donations, crowdfunding and proceeds of criminal activity, including kidnapping for ransom, extortion, bank robbery, as well as transnational organized crime at sea.
UNICRI’s Acting Director, Leif Villadsen, addressed leaders at the first G7 Rome-Lyon Group Heads of Delegation Meeting on 18 April and proposed solutions to tackle the threat of increasing crime in the two vital areas of synthetic drug trafficking and the use of emerging technologies for crime and exploitation.
The meeting, hosted by Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, was the first under the Italian Presidency.
Over the past years, the terrorism threat has surged in the Sahel, leading to a gradual spill-over effect into countries within the Gulf of Guinea. This phenomenon remains a source of concern, given that terrorism and organized crime groups mutually benefit from shared resources, activities, and experiences, leading to increased funding for illegal trafficking and violence.
