

“In many instances, criminal groups, some closely connected to political elites, may have a vested interest in renewed and continued armed struggle to ensure their dominance over natural resources and trade routes.”

“Combating organized crime must be considered a significant factor in conflict prevention and resolution if we are to become successful in securing peace,” said Christian Nellemann, Head of the RHIPTO Center. “The report provides a new impetus for our continued efforts to stem these illicit flows and combat the threat transnational organized crime poses to peace, development and security,” he added. Criminal networks and their activities fuel violent conflict which in turn undermines the rule of law,” said Jürgen Stock, INTERPOL Secretary General. “The huge volume of illicit money being generated through the exploitation of natural resources is of great concern. 3 per cent – Money extorted through kidnapping for ransom.26 per cent – Illegal taxation, extortion, confiscation and looting.38 per cent – Environmental crime, including illegal exploitation of oil, minerals and gold.When incomes from these natural resources are combined with their illicit taxation and extortion (26%) by the same non-state armed groups, the figure becomes as high as 64%. The illicit exploitation of natural/environmental resources, such as gold, minerals, diamonds, timber, oil, charcoal and wildlife, is the single-largest overall category of threat finance to conflicts today, estimated at 38% share of illicit flows to armed groups in conflict. Of the USD31.5 billion in illicit flows generated annually in conflict areas, 96% goes to organized criminal groups, with this money helping fuel violent conflict.īased on public reports and criminal intelligence, the World Atlas identifies more than 1,000 routes used for smuggling and other illicit flows.

The World Atlas of Illicit Flows, compiled by INTERPOL, RHIPTO – a Norwegian UN-collaborating centre – and the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, provides the first consolidated global overview of their significance in conflicts worldwide. Organized crime takes the lion’s share of USD31.5 billion in illicit flows in and around conflict areasĪ new report warns that the illegal exploitation and taxation of gold, oil and other natural resources is overtaking traditional sources of threat finance, such as kidnapping for ransom and drug trafficking, which fund terrorist and militant groups.
