Transnational Organized Crime and Natural Resources Trafficking

This book analyzes the transnational, illicit traffic in conflict commodities, including the smuggling of precious gems, wildlife products, oil, and other high-value goods. It also elucidates the structure and operation of transnational criminal networks and details how illicit profits finance war, terrorism, and human rights abuses.

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This book describes and analyzes conflict commodities, which the author defines as “high-value commodities trafficked in by networks of transnational criminals who use the illicitly derived proceeds to finance armed conflict and loot natural resource wealth from national treasuries.” Each chapter examines a different commodity or set of commodities that have become the province of transnational organized crime networks: diamonds, ivory, rhino horn, timber, lapis lazuli, jade, rare minerals, gold, and oil receive scholarly analyses across multiple dimensions, including the structure and operation of criminal networks, the social and environmental consequences of the various conflict commodities trades, and the full range of palliative responses. The book provides coverage of all the players involved, from high-ranking government officials to insurgent groups and terrorists. The work also enumerates the array of human rights abuses associated with the traffic in conflict commodities