Eco-Solve

Monitoring online illegal wildlife trade: Focus on the maritime and marine dimensions

Monitoring online illegal wildlife trade:

...The last decade and a half have seen an alarming surge in illegal wildlife trade (IWT) on the internet. However, a dearth of data regarding the scale of the market, its dynamics, operations and ramifi...

Posted on 11 Jun 2025

EAS-Obs

Trouble at home: Russia’s looming demobilization challenge

Trouble at home:

...Russia is facing a growing security threat from within. The return of tens of thousands of veterans from the Russo-Ukrainian war, including a large number of convicted criminals, is triggering a surge...

Posted on 10 Jun 2025

Author(s): Mark Galeotti

UN-TOC Watch

A return to consensus at the UN? Despite global tensions, the CCPCJ agreed on key resolutions to counter organized crime

...The UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) held its 34th session in Vienna from 19 to 23 May. This followed the tumultuous March session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CN...

Posted on 09 Jun 2025

Author(s): Ian Tennant, Olivia Neuray, Morgan Fox, Maxime Lechat, Moucclin Mambone

Eco-Solve

A plastic problem: European waste destined for Türkiye

A plastic problem

...Since 2018, Türkiye has become the primary destination for Europe’s plastic waste, absorbing more than half of the EU’s total plastic waste exports. This shift follows tightening regulations in A...

Posted on 04 Jun 2025

Author(s): Lauren Young

Gold Watch

Mapping Ghana’s expanding gold sector

Mapping Ghana's expanding gold sector

...Ghana is one of the world’s leading gold producers, and artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) plays a crucial role in the country’s economy and the livelihoods of its people. Many miners tu...

Posted on 04 Jun 2025

Author(s): Marcena Hunter, Gideon Ofosu-Peasah

SEE-Obs

Neighbours of conflict: Arms trafficking in Türkiye, Bulgaria and Greece

Neighbours of conflict

...More than 90% of firearms in Türkiye are unlicensed. In Greece, over half of all weapons are unregistered. And in Bulgaria, Turkish-manufactured gas guns transit legally before being converted into l...

Posted on 02 Jun 2025

Author(s): Aleksandar Srbinovski, Trpe Stojanovski

SA-Obs

Western Cape gang monitor – Issue 5

Western Cape gang monitor

...The past quarter has seen major incidents of taxi and gang-related violence, concentrated in areas such as Vrygrond, Hanover Park and Ottery. Our research team continually gathers and maps granular da...

Posted on 30 May 2025

APA-Obs

Compound crime: Cyber scam operations in Southeast Asia

Compound crime

...Cyber scam operations have surged across Southeast Asia since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, evolving into a transnational organized crime crisis of staggering proportions. In this report, we exp...

Posted on 29 May 2025

UN - Security and Rights

Peacekeeping in retreat: Rethinking how to deal with organized crime in conflict settings

...Peacekeeping is in crisis. Despite a dramatic rise in violent conflicts in many parts of the world, the United Nations has not deployed a new peace mission since 2014. Several large operations have be...

Posted on 28 May 2025

Author(s): Walter Kemp