Global Initiative Network Member, Louise Shelley, Professor and Director of the Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center (TraCCC) at the School of Public Policy at George Mason University, recently briefed the United States Department of Homeland Security Select Committee on current and developing trends in illicit financial activity that may be used to support ongoing plots and operations by global terrorist organizations against the United States and the West.

Prof. Shelley put a focus on three emerging forms of criminal activity and illicit trade that are financing and enabling terrorist groups:

1.  Gold laundering in the Americas, citing the Global Initiative report “Organised Crime and Illegally Mined Gold in Latin Americas”
2. Organ trafficking and the illicit trade in kidneys.
3. Illicit pesticides.

Other experts discussed the role of charities fraud and antiquities looting.

Watch Prof. Shelley’s testimony here: