Deep Dive: Exploring Organized Crime on Stitcher

42 minutes | May 25, 2022

P2 - Killing the Power of the Pen: Violence against journalists in Mexico

Part 2 - "I fear for my life" In 2019, journalist Lourdes Maldonado rose from her seat to speak to President Andrés Manuel López Obrador at a press conference - it was during this moment she said "I fear for my life" due to a long running legal dispute. Three years later, and just days after that case had been ruled in her favour, she was gunned down outside her home. Officials blamed a local cartel group, but critics were not and still are not convinced by this version of events. There is little trust between officials and journalism, and when it comes to violence against journalists in Mexico, with impunity levels over 90% it is not a surprise. This is a story about impunity, a hostile political climate, censorship, and the families left behind with those directly affected. Speakers: https://www.icij.org/journalists/marcela-turati-munoz/ (Marcela) https://www.icij.org/journalists/marcela-turati-munoz/ (Turati Muñoz), Mexico, is a reporter for the magazine https://www.proceso.com.mx/ (Proceso), where she reports about human rights, social development, and the impact of drug violence and its victims. She is also the co-founder of https://quintoelab.org/ (Quinto Elemento Lab). https://globalinitiative.net/profile/miguel-angel-leon-carmona/ (Miguel) https://globalinitiative.net/profile/miguel-angel-leon-carmona/ (Ángel León Carmona) - a Mexican Journalist in Veracruz. Griselda Triana, Author of https://globalinitiative.net/analysis/murdered-disappeared-journalists-mexico/ (The Forgotten Ones: Relatives of murdered and disappeared journalists in Mexico) and wife of Javier Valdez. https://twitter.com/siriagastelum?lang=en (Siria Gastélum Félix), https://globalinitiative.net/profile/siria-gastelum-felix/ (Resilience Director at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime) https://twitter.com/polomaldonadog?lang=en (Leopoldo Maldonado) - Regional Director, Office for Mexico and Central America, https://www.article19.org/regional-office/mexico-and-central-america/ (Article 19). https://twitter.com/jahootsen (Jan-Albert Hootsen), Mexico Representative / Representante en México, https://cpj.org/author/jan-albert-hootsen-cpj-mexico-representative/ (The Committee to Protect Journalists.)

42 minutes | May 9, 2022

P1 - Killing the Power of the Pen: Violence against journalists in Mexico

Part 1 - "It’s a message of terror, to stop asking questions" Mexico is known as one of the most dangerous places to be a journalist on the planet, and 2022 is on record to be the deadliest yet. https://cpj.org/2022/01/mexican-journalist-jose-luis-gamboa-stabbed-to-death-in-veracruz/ (José Luis Gamboa Arenas), a journalist from Veracruz became the first to be killed this year, the body of https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mexico-journalist-killed-luis-enrique-ramirez-ramos/ (Luis Enrique Ramírez Ramos), a Sinaloan journalist was found in Culiacán on May 5th taking to total to nine. So how has Mexico got to the point where so many journalists and media workers are being attacked and killed? This is a story of bravery in the face of surveillance, intimidation and violence, extreme corruption, organized crime, shockingly high levels of impunity, censorship and a hostile political climate. Update: May 11th 2022 - https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/two-journalists-killed-mexican-state-veracruz-2022-05-09/?taid=6279ad5d61df9100010d1f12&utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter (Two more journalists) were murdered in Veracruz as they sat in a car - Yessenia Mollinedo and Sheila Garcia. The total now has risen to 11. Speakers: https://www.icij.org/journalists/marcela-turati-munoz/ (Marcela) https://www.icij.org/journalists/marcela-turati-munoz/ (Turati Muñoz), Mexico, is a reporter for the magazine https://www.proceso.com.mx/ (Proceso), where she reports about human rights, social development, and the impact of drug violence and its victims. She is also the co-founder of https://quintoelab.org/ (Quinto Elemento Lab). https://globalinitiative.net/profile/miguel-angel-leon-carmona/ (Miguel) https://globalinitiative.net/profile/miguel-angel-leon-carmona/ (Ángel León Carmona) - a Mexican Journalist in Veracruz. Griselda Triana, Author of https://globalinitiative.net/analysis/murdered-disappeared-journalists-mexico/ (The Forgotten Ones: Relatives of murdered and disappeared journalists in Mexico) and wife of Javier Valdez. https://twitter.com/siriagastelum?lang=en (Siria Gastélum Félix), https://globalinitiative.net/profile/siria-gastelum-felix/ (Resilience Director at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime) https://twitter.com/polomaldonadog?lang=en (Leopoldo Maldonado) - Regional Director, Office for Mexico and Central America, https://www.article19.org/regional-office/mexico-and-central-america/ (Article 19). https://twitter.com/jahootsen (Jan-Albert Hootsen), Mexico Representative / Representante en México, https://cpj.org/author/jan-albert-hootsen-cpj-mexico-representative/ (The Committee to Protect Journalists.) Additional Reading https://globalinitiative.net/analysis/murder-journalists-mexico-threat-democracy/ (Murder of journalists in Mexico a threat to democracy) (GITOC) https://globalinitiative.net/analysis/murdered-disappeared-journalists-mexico/ (The forgotten ones: Relatives of murdered and disappeared journalists in Mexico) (GITOC) https://cpj.org/2022/01/marcela-turati-on-the-chilling-implications-of-mexicos-probe-into-her-reporting/ (Marcela Turati on the chilling implications of Mexico’s probe into her reporting) (Committee to Protect Journalists) https://rsf.org/en/rsf-publishes-report-veracruz-journalists-and-state-fear (Veracruz: journalists and the state of fear (Reporters Without Borders)) https://www.article19.org/region/mexico/ (Mexico Archives (Article19)) https://forbiddenstories.org/case/the-pegasus-project/ (The Pegasus Project (Forbidden Stories)) https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/sep/27/javier-duarte-mexico-veracruz-guilty-sentenced-corruption (Mexico: 'worst governor in history' sentenced to nine years for corruption) - Javier Duarte, former governor of Veracruz, pleaded guilty to charges of criminal association and money laundering (The Guardian).

38 minutes | Apr 11, 2022

"You beat me" - Part 3: Clan del Golfo: The Fall of Otoniel

As the net begins to close on Otoniel, life on the run is hard. Deep in the jungles of Úraba, he never stays in a single place for more than two nights, he no longer communicates using phones and he stays away from urban centres for fear of capture. But he still runs the largest organized criminal group in Colombia. One by one, other senior members of Clan del Golfo are picked off. But Otoniel continues to evade law enforcement in a constant game of cat and mouse. But now, Operation Agamemnon is in full swing with Search Bloc, the Colombian army and international partners hunting Otoniel - and when he is finally captured it's reported that he said "You beat me". This is part 3 of Clan del Golfo: The Fall of Otoniel. Speakers: https://twitter.com/AngelitaOlayaC (Angela Olaya), the Co-founder and Senior Researcher at the Conflict Responses Foundation in Colombia. https://twitter.com/tobymuse?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor (Toby Muse), Foreign Correspondent, documentary filmmaker and author of the book Kilo: Life and Death inside the secret world of the cocaine cartels. https://twitter.com/jmantillaba?lang=en (Jorge Mantilla), the Director of Conflict Dynamics and Organized Violence, Ideas for Peace Foundation and a member of the https://globalinitiative.net/profile/jorge-mantilla/ (GI network) Related Links: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/111/1117558/kilo/9781529103410.html (Toby Muse - Kilo: Life and Death inside the secret world of the cocaine cartels) https://insightcrime.org/colombia-organized-crime-news/dario-antonio-usuga-otoniel/ (Insight Crime - Dairo Antonio Usuga "Otoniel" Profile) https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/Exclusive-Gulf-Clan-Colombias-Biggest-Paramilitary-Group-20180402-0026.html (teleSUR - A Look into 'Clan del Golfo,' Colombia's Largest Paramilitary Group) https://www.elcolombiano.com/colombia/paz-y-derechos-humanos/siete-lineas-guiaran-al-ejercito-nacional-FH3889799 (el Colombiano - Siete líneas guiarán al Ejército nacional) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPFWvYbMbfc (Los Informantes - Las chicas del clan: alias ¿Otoniel? y su red de prostitución de menores) https://www.elheraldo.co/colombia/somos-hombres-de-dios-el-mensaje-de-alias-otoniel-al-papa-399745 (el Heraldo - “Somos hombres de Dios”, el mensaje de alias Otoniel al Papa) https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/colombian-police-capture-sister-clan-del-golfo-leader-otoniel-2021-03-18/ (Reuters - Colombian police capture sister of Clan del Golfo leader Otoniel) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcTtIgdUeYY (El Tiempo - Cayó alias Otoniel, el narcotraficante más buscado del país | El Tiempo) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uO7LOUcY2Gk (Semana - Presidente Iván Duque entrega detalles de la captura de alias Otoniel) https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/24/columbias-most-wanted-drug-lord-otoniel-captured-by-armed-forces (The Guardian - Colombia’s most-wanted drug lord, Otoniel, captured in jungle hideout) https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-59026214 (BBC - Colombia's most wanted drug lord Otoniel captured) https://insightcrime.org/news/urabenos-after-otoniel-what-becomes-colombia-largest-criminal-threat/ (Insight Crime -The Urabeños After Otoniel - What Becomes of Colombia's Largest Criminal Threat?)

48 minutes | Mar 28, 2022

"Don't text or call me" - Part 2: Clan del Golfo: The Fall of Otoniel

35 minutes | Feb 21, 2022

"He's an animal" - Part 1: Clan del Golfo: The Fall of Otoniel

In late 2021, the leader of Clan del Golfo (The Urabeños) Dairo Antonio Úsuga, aka "Otoniel", was captured by the Colombian police. President Iván Duque said that the arrest was only matched by the fall of Pablo Escobar in the 1990s. Over the course of two episodes we look at the birth of Clan del Golfo out of the ashes of the right-wing paramilitary movement in Colombia. We'll explore their involvement in illicit markets such as drug trafficking, illegal mining, human trafficking, sexual exploitation, and how they use extreme violence and targeted assassinations to spread fear. So who is Otoniel? Well, a prominent drug trafficker, Daniel "El Loco" Barrera, after being captured by Colombian police, warned them that about Otoniel, repeatedly saying..."He's an animal". Speakers: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-liliana-olaya-castro-211ab261/ (Angela Olaya), the Co-founder and Senior Researcher at the Conflict Responses Foundation in Colombia. https://twitter.com/tobymuse?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor (Toby Muse), Foreign Correspondent, documentary filmmaker and author of the book Kilo: Life and Death inside the secret world of the cocaine cartels. https://twitter.com/jmantillaba?lang=en (Jorge Mantilla), the Director of Conflict Dynamics and Organized Violence, Ideas for Peace Foundation and a member of the https://globalinitiative.net/profile/jorge-mantilla/ (GI network) Related Links: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/111/1117558/kilo/9781529103410.html (Toby Muse - Kilo: Life and Death inside the secret world of the cocaine cartels) https://insightcrime.org/colombia-organized-crime-news/dario-antonio-usuga-otoniel/ (Insight Crime - Dairo Antonio Usuga "Otoniel" Profile) https://colombiareports.com/agc-gulf-clan/ (Colombia Reports - Gaitanista Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AGC) / Gulf Clan) https://insightcrime.org/colombia-organized-crime-news/auc-profile/ (Insight Crime - AUC Profile) https://cisac.fsi.stanford.edu/mappingmilitants/profiles/popular-liberation-army#highlight_text_16057 (Mapping Militants, CISAC, Stanford) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IShkCM-aMXI (El Semana - Daniel "El Loco" Barrera arrested) https://www.hrw.org/report/2010/02/03/paramilitaries-heirs/new-face-violence-colombia (Paramilitaries’ Heirs: The New Face of Violence in Colombia - Human Rights Watch) https://library.fes.de/pdf-files/bueros/kolumbien/11089-20150116.pdf (The Last Man Standing? The Rise of the Urabenos - Jeremy McDermott) https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-colombia-sexcrimes-idUKKBN0NI1O120150427 (Reuters - Virgins recruited as sex slaves for Colombian drug lords - reports) Full Reading List to be provided soon.

34 minutes | Jan 10, 2022

Killing in Silence: The Global Assassination Monitor

56 minutes | Dec 7, 2021

Plastics for Profit

In this episode we look at the criminal involvement in the plastic waste industry. The lucrative global market in plastic waste is expected to be reach over $50 billion US Dollars by 2022. From Mafia groups to poly-crime networks, the temptation for organised criminal groups and bad actors to get a slice of this market is too hard to resist - and so corners are cut, laws are ignored, and irreversible damage is done. Alongside this, some waste management companies are used as Fronts to conceal other illicit activities like human trafficking, drug trafficking, prostitution, and various financial crimes like money laundering, tax evasion, mis-invoicing. Paper: https://globalinitiative.net/analysis/illicit-trade-plastic-waste/ (Plastic for Profit: Tracing illicit plastic waste flows, supply chains and actors) Speakers https://twitter.com/VirginiaComolli (Virginia Comolli), Research Manager, https://globalinitiative.net/profile/virginia-comolli/ (Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime) https://twitter.com/ismawati64 (Yuyun Ismawati), Special Advisor at the https://twitter.com/FokusNexus3 (Nexus3 Foundation ) https://www.linkedin.com/in/willie-wilson-a9665a51/ (Willie Wilson), Vice Chair and Private Sector Engagement Lead, https://www.interpol.int/en/Crimes/Environmental-crime/Pollution-crime (INTERPOL Pollution Crime Working Group) https://twitter.com/Sedat_Gundogdu1?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor (Sedat Gündoğdu), Marine Biologist at https://www.cu.edu.tr/ (Cukurova University) in Turkey Reading https://globalinitiative.net/analysis/illicit-trade-plastic-waste/ (Plastic for Profit: Tracing illicit plastic waste flows, supply chains and actors), Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GITOC) https://www.fatf-gafi.org/publications/environmentalcrime/documents/money-laundering-from-environmental-crime.html?hf=10&b=0&s=desc(fatf_releasedate) (Money Laundering from Environmental Crime), Financial Action Task Force (FATF) https://www.interpol.int/en/News-and-Events/News/2020/INTERPOL-report-alerts-to-sharp-rise-in-plastic-waste-crime (INTERPOL report alerts to sharp rise in plastic waste crime), INTERPOL https://16edd8c0-c66a-4b78-9ac3-e25b63f72d0f.filesusr.com/ugd/13eb5b_61a1f065f1024bd0b62478f83229a209.pdf (Plastic Waste Management and Burden in Indonesia), https://www.nexus3foundation.org/ (Nexus3 Foundation) https://16edd8c0-c66a-4b78-9ac3-e25b63f72d0f.filesusr.com/ugd/13eb5b_907439e852d14544824343170a823ad4.pdf (Global Shell Game: Fate of re-exports of seized illegal imports of waste from the USA to Indonesia), Nexus3 Foundation https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-53181948 (Why is UK recycling being dumped by Turkish roadsides?), BBC News https://www.gov.uk/government/news/biffa-fined-15-million-for-reckless-export-breach#:~:text=Household%20waste%20left%20unsorted%20in%20second%20conviction.&text=Biffa%20Waste%20Services%20Ltd%20has,be%20exported%20to%20developing%20countries. (Biffa fined £1.5 million for 'reckless' export breach), gov.uk https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jul/30/uk-waste-firm-fined-15m-for-exporting-household-waste (UK waste firm fined £1.5m for exporting household waste), The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/law/2021/jan/14/three-victims-of-trafficking-and-modern-slavery-to-sue-biffa (Three victims of trafficking and modern slavery to sue Biffa: The claimants were moved from Poland to the UK and placed in work with waste firm), The Guardian

62 minutes | Sep 27, 2021

Crossing the Line: India and Myanmar

In this episode we tell the story of a region, the "Seven Sisters", otherwise known as the Indian Northeast and one town in particular, Moreh, and the relationship with neighbouring Myanmar. Moreh sits just on the Indian side of the border and has become a hub for multiple illicit flows that pass through - timber, gold, firearms, wildlife, counterfeits, people, and illicit drugs. The Indian Northeast is undeveloped and has suffered multiple insurgencies over the decades. Often forgotten by governments who have eyes squarely focused on the giant neighbour to the North, China, and the geostrategic games taking place between the world's two most populous nations. Underpinning it all is the uncertainty of the brutal military coup in Myanmar in February this year. Speakers https://globalinitiative.net/profile/prem-mahadevan/ (Prem Mahadevan), Senior Fellow at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime https://twitter.com/thinink?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor (Thin Lei Win), Burmese journalist, living and working in Europe https://twitter.com/ajai_sahni?lang=en (Dr Ajai Sahni), Executive Director of the https://www.satp.org/satporgtp/icm/profiles/director.html (Institute for Conflict Management) https://www.utas.edu.au/profiles/staff/social-sciences/nicholas-farrelly (Nicholas Farrelly), Professor and Head of Social Sciences at the University of Tasmania in Australia This podcast is based on the paper: https://globalinitiative.net/analysis/india-myanmar/ (Crossing the Line: Geopolitics and Criminality on the India-Myanmar border). Research What On Earth? podcast - https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-m7fcu-fee646 (Episode 12 - Myanmar: ‘Anybody investing in the natural resource sector is, in essence, supporting the military’). Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA). https://eia-international.org/forests/myanmars-tainted-timber-and-the-military-coup/ (Myanmar's tainted timber and the military coup), Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA). https://www.globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/natural-resource-governance/jade-and-conflict-myanmars-vicious-circle/ (Jade and Conflict), Global Witness https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/meth-syndicate/ (The hunt for Asia’s El Chapo), Reuters https://www.ft.com/content/2e9ee221-cba4-483d-8799-c2a356af4cb4 (How Myanmar coup fuelled rise in illegal drugs trade), The Financial Times https://www.traffic.org/publications/reports/reported-wildlife-poaching-in-india-more-than-doubles-during-covid-19-lockdown/ (Indian wildlife amidst the COVID-19 crisis: An analysis of poaching and illegal wildlife trade), TRAFFIC

50 minutes | Sep 6, 2021

Fishy Business

This is a story of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, complex corporate structures, human trafficking, arms smuggling, corruption and the capture of state institutions. In this collaborative episode with https://open.spotify.com/show/16O8hbitelGOw86mdV2VYY?si=tazVewwMQ9OHC3oeAE_1rA&dl_branch=1 (Africa and the Global Illicit Economy), we travel to the rich fishing grounds off Puntland in Somalia and a fleet of vessels known as the "Somali 7", before looking into a politically connected company that has an uncanny ability to operate either outside or just on the fringes of the law. This podcast is based on the report Fishy Business: Illegal Fishing in Somalia and the capture of state institutions. Presenter: Lindy Mtongana Speakers: https://twitter.com/puntlandpirates?lang=en (Jay Bahadur), Researcher and Investigator at the https://globalinitiative.net/profile/jay-bahadur/ (Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime.) https://twitter.com/kgpetrich?lang=en (Dr. Katharine Petrich), visiting assistant professor incoming at the https://www.middlebury.edu/institute/ (Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey, California) https://twitter.com/ian_urbina/ (Ian Urbina), Investigative Journalist and author of https://www.theoutlawocean.com/the-book/ (The Outlaw Ocean.) https://twitter.com/austinjbrush?lang=en (Austin Brush), Senior Analyst at https://c4ads.org/ (C4ADS) Additional Reading Jay Bahadur, GITOC - https://globalinitiative.net/analysis/illegal-fishing-somalia/ (Fishy Business: Illegal Fishing in Somalia and the capture of state institutions) Ian Urbina - https://www.theoutlawocean.com/the-book/ (The Outlaw Ocean.)

26 minutes | Jun 24, 2021

Guinea-Bissau Part 2: Pau de Sangue (Blood Timber)

In the wake of the 2012 'Cocaine Coup' in Guinea-Bissau the illegal logging trade exploded, largely driven by huge demand for rosewood logs in China - a species protected under international law. By 2014, such was the extent of this illicit trade, civil society pressured the new government to introduce a five-year moratorium on timber exports. Now, in 2021, as the government seems poised to lift the moratorium, there is fear that there could be a resurgence in illegal logging causing irreparable damage to the environment. Guests Obento Branco Catami (Regional Delegate for Forestry and Wildlife in the Cacheu region). Ude Fati (Economist, Head of Voz di Paz) Fodé Mané (University of Bissau) Tânia Gomes (President of the Association of Friends of Guinea-Bissau) https://twitter.com/Lucia_Bird_Ruiz (Lucia Bird) Ruiz-Benitez de Lugo, https://globalinitiative.net/profile/lucia-bird-ruiz-benitez-de-lugo/ (Senior Analyst, Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime) Reading https://globalinitiative.net/analysis/illicit-logging-guinea-bissau/ (Deep-rooted interests: Licensing illicit logging in Guinea Bissau) https://eia-global.org/reports/20181212-guinea-bissau-authorized-plunder-report (Authorized Plunder in Guinea-Bissau) - Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) https://globalinitiative.net/analysis/cocaine-politics-guinea-bissau/ (Breaking the vicious cycle: Cocaine politics in Guinea-Bissau) https://globalinitiative.net/analysis/seidi-ba-cocaine-trial-bissau/ (The Seidi Bá cocaine trial: A smokescreen for impunity?) Presenter: Jack Meegan-Vickers

50 minutes | Apr 28, 2021

Cabo Delgado: Africa’s Forgotten Insurgency

On March 24th 2021, Islamist insurgents carried out an attack on the coastal town of Palma in the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado. The days of fighting, looting, massacres, private military contractors, and dramatic rescues led to thousands more people fleeing to escape the violence. The attack took place just a few kilometres from Total’s $20 billion-dollar natural gas project on the Afungi peninsula and in the same province as the huge ruby fields of Montepuez. Last year the Global Initiative asked how this ongoing insurgency is impacting the illicit flows that travel through the region – after the attack at Palma, we have decided to revisit this subject. This is a collaborative episode between https://open.spotify.com/show/16O8hbitelGOw86mdV2VYY?si=EQs7h3n0QZ6G0iHWggCtYQ (Africa and the Global Illicit Economy) and https://open.spotify.com/show/6E7aHufUzNzGi8f9tXcdBx?si=rXatQLQ9TeqaeRGritaDnA (Deep Dive: Exploring Organized Crime). Presenter: https://twitter.com/LindyMtongana (Lindy Mtongana) Speakers: https://twitter.com/adriano_nuvunga (Prof. Adriano Nuvunga) – Director of the https://cddmoz.org/ (CDD Mozambique) https://twitter.com/zenaidamz (Zenaida Machado) – Senior Researcher, https://www.hrw.org/about/people/zenaida-machado (Human Rights Watch) https://twitter.com/ConsSynergies (Alastair Nelson) – Senior Fellow, https://globalinitiative.net/profile/alastair-nelson/ (Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime) https://twitter.com/JohannPegleg (Johann Smith) – Independent Security Analyst in Mozambique Colonel Lionel Dyck – CEO of the of https://www.dyckadvisorygroup.com/ (Dyck Advisory Group (DAG)) Reading: https://globalinitiative.net/analysis/esaobs-risk-bulletin-17/ (Observatory of Illicit Economies in Eastern and Southern Africa – Risk Bulletin Issue. 17) https://globalinitiative.net/analysis/triangle-vulnerability-swahili-coast/ (A Triangle of Vulnerability: Changing patterns of illicit trafficking off the Swahili coast) Podcast: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/3ccff45d-ac6b-472e-b8fb-1c9183e9c1d9 (Deep Dive: Exploring Organized Crime – Insurgency and illicit trade in Northern Mozambique) https://www.occrp.org/en/daily/14154-experts-mozambique-s-insurgents-framed-as-criminals-and-terrorists ('Criminals and Terrorists': Framing Mozambique's Insurgency - OCCRP) https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/03/29/hundreds-missing-after-mozambique-attack (Hundreds Missing After Mozambique Attack: Government Should Provide More Information About Situation in Palma) Amnesty International: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2021/03/mozambique-civilians-killed-as-war-crimes-committed-by-armed-group-government-forces-and-private-military-contractors-new-report/ (Mozambique: Civilians killed as war crimes committed by armed group, government forces, and private military contractors.) Producer: Jack Meegan-Vickers https://globalinitiative.net/ (Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime)

34 minutes | Apr 16, 2021

Guinea-Bissau Part 1: Civil Society and Illicit Markets

A look at how a self-interested political and military elite used profits from illicit markets to fuel their own ambitions at the expense of the wider population. This is a story of corruption, dirty money, cocaine and illegal logging. This is Part one of a two-part special on Guinea-Bissau, the small West African nation. In this episode we will chart the course of Guinea-Bissau from Independence to the present day through the eyes of civil society organisations, who step in to fill the void left by an absent state. Guests Augusto Mário (Pres. GNB Human Rights League) Ude Fati (Economist, Head of Voz di Paz) Fodé Mané (University of Bissau) Rui Landim (Political Analyst) Augusta Henriques (founder of Tiniguena, civil society activist) Reading https://globalinitiative.net/analysis/cocaine-politics-guinea-bissau/ (Breaking the vicious cycle: Cocaine politics in Guinea-Bissau) https://globalinitiative.net/analysis/seidi-ba-cocaine-trial-bissau/ (The Seidi Bá cocaine trial: A smokescreen for impunity?) https://globalinitiative.net/analysis/uniogbis-guinea-bissau/ (Mission not accomplished?: UNIOGBIS closes amid uncertainty in Guinea-Bissau) CPJ - https://cpj.org/2021/03/guinea-bissau-editor-antonio-aly-silva-abducted-and-beaten/ (Guinea-Bissau editor António Aly Silva abducted and beaten) Presenter: Jack Meegan-Vickers

40 minutes | Jan 12, 2021

The Fall of EncroChat

In June 2020, EncroChat users received a flurry of panicked messages from the company claiming its encrypted network had been hacked by "government entities". What unravelled was one of the biggest hacks by law enforcement in history, who claimed many of its users are alleged organized criminals in Europe. The hack was said to have revealed a litany of criminal behaviour - drug deals and shipments, money laundering and arms trafficking, corrupt police officers, a planning of a murder and even the discovery of a torture chamber, hidden within a shipping container. But was the hack even legal? And what are the implications for the encrypted communications that many of us use everyday? This podcast was based on the https://www.vice.com/en/article/3aza95/how-police-took-over-encrochat-hacked (reporting) of https://www.vice.com/en/contributor/joseph-cox (Joseph Cox) at https://www.vice.com/en/section/tech (Motherboard), VICE News. Guests: https://twitter.com/josephfcox (Joseph Cox), Senior Staff Writer at Motherboard, VICE News. https://twitter.com/Jake_MooreUK (Jake Moore), Cyber Security Specialist at https://www.eset.com/uk/ (ESET). Edouard Klein, Intelligence-Driven Cybersecurity, https://www.sekoia.fr/ (Sekoia.fr) https://twitter.com/Tuesdayjaded (Tuesday Reitano), https://globalinitiative.net/profile/tuesday-reitano/ (Deputy Director of the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime.) Reading: https://www.vice.com/en/article/3aza95/how-police-took-over-encrochat-hacked (How Police Secretly Took Over a Global Phone Network for Organized Crime), Motherboard https://www.vice.com/en/article/m7jyvx/encrochat-corruption-police (Encrochat Investigation Finds Corrupt Cops Leaking Information to Criminals), Motherboard https://www.vice.com/en/article/5dz9qx/encrochat-hacked-shutting-down-encrypted-phone (Encrypted Phone Network Says It's Shutting Down After Police Hack, )Motherboard Europol, https://www.europol.europa.eu/activities-services/main-reports/internet-organised-crime-threat-assessment-iocta-2020 (Internet Organized Crime Threat Assessment (iOCTA) 2020 ) Al Jazeera, Opinion: https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2020/7/25/the-encrochat-police-hacking-sets-a-dangerous-precedent (The EncroChat police hacking sets a dangerous precedent) ComputerWeekly.com - https://www.computerweekly.com/news/252503524/Berlin-court-finds-EncroChat-intercept-evidence-cannot-be-used-in-criminal-trials (Berlin court finds EncroChat intercept evidence cannot be used in criminal trials) ComputerWeekly.com - https://www.computerweekly.com/news/252501921/Secrecy-around-EncroChat-cryptophone-hack-breaches-French-constitution-court-hears (Secrecy around EncroChat cryptophone hack breaches French constitution, court hears) Presenter: Jack Meegan-Vickers https://globalinitiative.net/ (Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime)

50 minutes | Nov 20, 2020

Child Sexual Abuse Material, COVID and Technology.

With more people working from home than ever before due to the pandemic,. But another parallel pandemic is taking place, that of online child sexual abuse material which has taken a sharp rise around the world. In this podcast, we’re discussing Child Online Sexual Abuse (CSAM), COVID and technology. Presenter(s): https://globalinitiative.net/profile/lucia-bird-ruiz-benitez-de-lugo/ (Lucia Bird Ruiz-Benitez de Lugo) and Jack Meegan-Vickers. Speakers: https://www.mnemonic.no/midnightsun2020/fernando-ruiz/ (Fernando Ruiz), Head of Operations at the https://www.europol.europa.eu/about-europol/european-cybercrime-centre-ec3 (European Cybercrime Centre), set up by Europol to co-ordinate crossborder investigations into cybercrime. http://www.tipheroes.org/amela-efendic/ (Amela Efendic) is the director of the http://www.eurcenter.net/ (European Resource Centre for the Prevention of Trafficking) and head of the https://www.emmaus-international.org/en/ (Bosnia and Herzegovina Office for the International Forum for Solidarity-Emmaus). https://twitter.com/Judiekaberia?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor (Judie Kaberia) is a fellow of the 2020 https://resiliencefund.globalinitiative.net/ (Resilience Fund of the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime.) GI Research Paper: https://globalinitiative.net/analysis/cyber-tech-organized-crime/ (Transformative Technologies: How digital is changing the landscape of organized crime.) Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime

49 minutes | Nov 10, 2020

Under the Shadow: Illicit Economies in Iran

In this podcast, Jack is looking at the latest https://globalinitiative.net/ (Global Initative Against Transnational Organized Crime) report called 'https://globalinitiative.net/analysis/under-the-shadow-illicit-economies-in-iran/ (Under the Shadow: Illicit Economies in Iran)', which looks at how the illicit economy has become intertwined within the licit economy of the Iranian State. Speakers https://twitter.com/alexsoderholm?lang=en (Alexander Soderholm), an international drug policy field researcher with a focus on Iran and the Middle East. https://twitter.com/katecbauer?lang=en (Katherine Bauer), a Senior Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and a former US Treasury official. https://www.crisisgroup.org/who-we-are/people/naysan-rafati (Naysan Rafati), the Senior Iran analyst at the International Crisis Group Sign up to the AssassinationWitness campaign https://assassination.globalinitiative.net/ (here).

39 minutes | Sep 10, 2020

Extortion in the Northern Triangle

In the Northern Triangle countries of Central America - Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, extortion is so pervasive that it has been called “A way of life”. The growth in extortion in the region was defined by the expansion of street gangs MS13 and Barrio 18. They have a stranglehold on the countries in which they operate, extorting rich and poor and even international corporations. The revenue from extortion has provided gangs in the region with a solid economic operating base, and at the same time allowed them to diversify into other criminal enterprises – they are now transnational organized criminal groups. Presenter: Jack Meegan-Vickers Speakers: 1. https://twitter.com/gmovma (Guillermo Vazquez del Mercado Almada), https://globalinitiative.net/experts/guillermo-vazquez-del-mercado-almada/ (Senior Analyst, Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime) 2. https://www.dialogos.org.gt/node/202 (Evelyn Espinosa), Research Adviser at https://www.dialogos.org.gt/ (Diálogos) 3. https://globalinitiative.net/experts/pamela-ruiz/ (Pamela Ruiz, Consultant at the Coalition for Resilience Project and member of the GI Network of Experts.) 4. https://twitter.com/luciadammert?lang=en (Professor Lucia Dammert), University of Santiago, Chile and https://globalinitiative.net/experts/lucia-dammert/ (member of the GI Network of Experts.) https://globalinitiative.net/extortion/ (GI Extortion Project) Paper: https://globalinitiative.net/extortion-in-central-america/ (A Criminal Culture: Extortion in Central America) Other content available at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime https://globalinitiative.net/ (website).

37 minutes | Jul 24, 2020

Transnational Tentacles

Transnational Tentacles: Global Hotspots of Balkan Organized Crime. The Western Balkans is well understood now as an important transit point for the smuggling of drugs, arms and people. But what has been less understood is how over the past few decades, criminal groups within the Western Balkans region and the global diaspora have carved out a place within the very highest echelons of the criminal world. Paper: https://globalinitiative.net/transnational-tentacles-wb6/ (Transnational Tentacles: Global Hotspots of Balkan Organized Crime.) Guests: https://globalinitiative.net/experts/walter-kemp/ (Walter Kemp), Senior Fellow at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime https://twitter.com/FatjonaMejdini?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor (Fatjona Mejdini), Field Network Coordinator, Balkans at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime. https://twitter.com/susanamorg?lang=en (Susana Morán), investigative journalist in Ecuador specialising in organized crime https://twitter.com/MandyWiener?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor (Mandy Wiener), journalist, broadcaster and author of Killing Kebble: An Underworld Exposed

41 minutes | Jun 26, 2020

Illegal Logging & Organized Crime in Chihuahua, Mexico

https://globalinitiative.net/oc-trafficking-deforestation-mexico/ (People and Forests at Risk: Organized Crime, trafficking in persons and deforestation in Chihuahua, Mexico.) The highland ranges of the Sierra Madre are cool and temperate forests – with several species of Oak, conifers and a number of pines, and logging is permitted here. But excessive legal and illegal logging is contributing to rapid deforestation. Organized criminal groups have established their position within the illegal logging trade, with them comes violence, corruption, kidnapping, extortion, displacement of indigenous communities and persecution of environmental and human-rights defenders. Presenters: https://globalinitiative.net/experts/livia-wagner/ (Livia Wagner) and Jack Meegan-Vickers Guests: https://globalinitiative.net/experts/diana-siller/ (Diana Siller), co-author of the paper and Director of http://jadeorg.com/en/home/ (JADE )(Environmental Justice and human rights in Mexico) https://twitter.com/jurrunaga (Julia Urrunaga), Environmental Investigation Agency (https://eia-international.org/ (EIA)), an international NGO who investigate forest and environmental crimes. Sound Effects: Freesfx

26 minutes | May 25, 2020

Insurgency and Illicit trade in Northern Mozambique

How will the ongoing violent Islamist insurgency in the Cabo Delgado region of Northern Mozambique overlap with the organized criminal networks that operate in the area. How has the corruption within the Mozambican state contributed to the growth of the insurgency? Presenter: https://twitter.com/lindymtongana?lang=en (Lindy Mtongana) Guests: https://twitter.com/adriano_nuvunga?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor (Professor Adriano Nuvunga), Director of the Centre for Democracy and Development and a leading civil society activist in Mozambique https://globalinitiative.net/experts/simone-haysom/ (Simone Haysom), Senior Analyst, Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, researching the role of foreign organised crime groups in Africa. https://globalinitiative.net/experts/alastair-nelson/ (Alastair Nelson), Senior Analyst who Coordinates the GI’s Resilience Fund work in Mozambique https://globalinitiative.net/ (Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime)

28 minutes | Apr 30, 2020

Destruction or Theft?

Destruction or Theft? Between 2014 and 2017, the Islamic State group occupied territory in Iraq. At it's height it controlled almost a third of the country and over 4,500 historical sites. Alongside the dramatic pictures of the destruction of artefacts and irreplaceable ancient sites like Nimrud, others have claimed that this destruction was largely carried out to conceal extensive looting of valuable artefacts. Presenters: Laura Adal and Jack Meegan-Vickers Guests: https://thesoufancenter.org/team/colin-p-clarke/ (Colin P. Clarke), Senior Research Fellow at The Soufan Center and Assistant Teaching Professor at Carnegie Mellon University. https://www.gcsp.ch/Christina-Schori-Liang (Christina Schori Liang), Head of Terrorism and PVE at GCSP. https://twitter.com/anthropaulicy?lang=en (Katie A. Paul), Co-Director of the http://atharproject.org/ (ATHAR Project)

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