The Index

Criminal groups that once focused primarily on the cocaine trade are now diversifying into illegal gold mining, logging, and the wildlife trade - activities that are devastating the environment.The Amazon’s tri-border region (where Brazil, Colombia, and Peru meet) has become a hotbed for trafficking. The neighboring cities of Leticia and Tabatinga lie at its center, caught in a violent turf war between Brazil’s two largest criminal organizations: the Red Command and the PCC. Both are vying for control of the Amazon’s highly profitable illicit markets.Speaker: Gabriel Funari, Amazon Basin Coordinator at GI-TOCHost: Thin Lei Win, Investigative Journalist and Podcast Host👉 Learn more: ocindex.net 📖 Read the report: globalinitiative.net/analysis/illicit-frontiers-criminal-governance-in-the-amazons-tri-border-region

Organized criminal gangs were deployed by politicians to counter peaceful protests in Nairobi in June, triggering worries of violence in Kenya ahead of the 2027 general elections. On June 25, gangs unleashed terror on people, who took to the streets in a peaceful march to commemorate the lives of 60 people who were killed one year earlier, in a historic Gen Z uprising against punitive taxes. Just a week earlier, on June 18, gangs had also violently confronted protesters demanding justice for Alfred Ojwang, a 31-year-old teacher and political blogger who died in police custody. While mainstream media calls them "hired goons", evidence shows these were organised gangs, funded and protected by powerful politicians to silence dissent. We speak to Ken Opala, who went out and talked to police, gang members, and security officials about what happened - and who was really behind it.Check out Ken's article: Ghosts of violence past: Hired gangs unleashed on demonstrators in NairobiLearn more about criminality in Kenya on the Global Organized Crime Index.Hosted by Thin Lei Win.

Celso Gamboa Sanchez, a former security minister and judge from Costa Rica, was arrested in June 2025 on international drug-trafficking charges. He denies the allegations.What makes the arrest interesting is that the federal indictment filed by the US included a request for his extradition. This is something which was only made possible in May 2025 when Costa Rica's constitution was amended so that nationals could be extradited to the US (or other countries with bilateral agreements) on in international drug trafficking and terrorism charges. Costa Rica has long been seen as one of the more "stable" countries in Costa Rica. But that image is beginning to change. In 2023 the country fell into the "high criminality" category on the Organized Crime Index, after having previously been considered "low criminality" in 2021. We explore how criminality is changing in the country, and what is being done about it.🎙 Featuring Mauricio Vieria, Chair on Countering Illicit Trade and Preventing Transnational Organized Crime, University for Peace🎤 Hosted by Thin Lei Win🔗 Learn more at ocindex.net

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, cyber scams have surged across the Mekong region. Abandoned casinos and hotels have been turned into “scam compounds” serving as bases for romance scams, fake call centres, Ponzi schemes, and voice-phishing operations. These schemes have tricked hundreds of people to transfer money into mule accounts.But the problem goes far deeper. Criminal networks are profiting from tax evasion, smuggling, and large-scale embezzlement. In 2024, Vietnamese billionaire Truong My Lan was sentenced to death (since converted to life in prison) for embezzling $12 billion from the Saigon Commercial Bank.But what’s driving the rise in financial crime across Southeast Asia? And what connects these cases?🎙 Featuring BC Tan, Managing Director and Head of Investigations for Southeast Asia at Kroll🎤 Hosted by Thin Lei Win🔗 Learn more at ocindex.netThis podcast has been funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The views expressed in this publication are the author's alone and are not necessarily the views of the Australian Government.

Millions of unregistered firearms, surging drug addiction, and cross-border trafficking have turned Pakistan into a hotspot for organized crime. Corruption and economic instability have allowed illicit markets — from heroin to weapons — to flourish.Terrorist groups like the Tehrik-e-Taliban are thriving in this landscape, carrying out deadly attacks and deepening insecurity.And in the midst of this unrest, a suicide bombing in Pahalgam that killed 26 Indian tourists has reignited military tensions with India — adding fuel to the long-standing conflict over Indian-administered Kashmir.According to the OC Index, arms trafficking in Pakistan is only getting worse - the criminal market scored 8.5 out of 10 in 2023, an increase of 0.5 from 2021 – placing it alongside the likes of Russia, Mexico, Turkey and others. Presenter: Thin Lei WinSpeaker(s): Paddy Ginn, Senior Analyst, Global Initiative against Transnational Organized CrimeLinks:Pakistan Country ProfileThe Global Organized Crime Index

The full-scale war in Ukraine has been raging for three years now. One of the defining military developments during this conflict has been the use of drones. And both sides have utilised them with devastating effect.These include the small drone operators dropping bombs on unsuspecting troops to the Iranian-designed Shahed kamikaze drones smashing into residential buildings in Ukrainian cities.In Russia, where many people have been drafted into the military, the country has seen a labour shortage in key industries that support its war machine. One such industry is the manufacture of Shahed drones, which are now built in Russia.In 2023, reports about the people building these drones emerged, first in the Russian media, and then in an investigation by the Associated Press. The AP investigation revealed that Russian drone manufacturers had been falsely recruiting young women from a number of African countries, such as Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, South Sudan, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria – to work in a drone factory located in the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Russia’s Tatarstan. The young women applied through an online advertisement called ‘Alabuga Start’, which falsely advertised a work-study program in industries like catering or hospitality and offered free plane tickets and money. But the workers are unaware of the reality where they were put to work in factories building drones that would be launched against Ukraine.According to the Global Organized Crime Index – labour exploitation and false recruitment practices fall under human trafficking, as it involves “a form of coercion, deception, abduction or fraud” – and Eastern Africa leads globally for the most pervasive human trafficking market (with a score of 7.78 out of 10). 6 out of the 9 countries in the region, roughly 67%, score eight or higher for Human Trafficking and is only equalled in the region by arms trafficking.Russia itself has relatively high levels as well, at 7.5 out of 10.This episode will address concerns around the example of Alabuga Start and whether or not it is an example of human trafficking.Presenter: Thin Lei WinSpeaker(s): Julia Stanyard, Senior Analyst, Global Initiative against Transnational Organized CrimeLinksPaper - Who is making Russia's drones? The migrant women exploited for Russia's war economyRussia Country ProfileUkraine Country ProfileSouth Africa Country ProfileUganda Country ProfileKenya Country ProfileRwanda Country ProfileSouth Sudan Country ProfileNigeria Country ProfileSierra Leone Country ProfileThe...

In August 2024, King Mohammed VI pardoned over 4800 Cannabis farmers in Morocco. This came as part of the country’s wider legalization efforts to tap into the economic potential of the booming global cannabis market. Morocco is one of the world's leading cannabis producers, and in 2021 it approved a bill regulating cannabis cultivation for medical, pharmaceutical and industrial purposes. According to the Global Organized Crime Index, this step towards better regulation has contributed to Morocco’s increased resilience score for National Policies and Laws from 6.0 to 6.5. However, the vast majority of Morocco's territorial areas of cultivation remain in the hands of the illicit economy. With a score of 9 out of 10, Morocco currently sits at the top of the OC Index for Cannabis Trade.Presenter: Thin Lei WinSpeaker(s): Raouf Farrah, Senior Analyst, Global Initiative against Transnational Organized CrimeLinksWebinar - Morocco’s regularization of cannabis production: Anticipated impacts on the illicit cannabis economy Morocco Country ProfileThe Global Organized Crime IndexGlobal Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime

In Canada, Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs, often referred to as a "1%" Club, include infamous names like the Hells Angels, The Outlaws, Bandidos. The Hells Angels are reported to have over 450 chapters across almost 60 countries around the world – many of those are in Canada.According to Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the RCMP, Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs, are involved in a range of illicit markets – fraud, counterfeiting, money laundering, extortion, corruption, drug trafficking, illicit firearms trafficking, violence and murder.According to the Global Organized Crime Index, Canada has very high levels of resilience to organized crime, with a score of 7.21 out of 10 – placing it 23rd globally.On the other side of the coin, Canada has low levels of criminality – with 3.88 out of 10 – sitting 160th out of 193 countries.The Criminal Actor score is 3.9 out of 10, BUT mafia style groups is the highest form of criminal actor at 5/10, and outlaw motorcycle gangs are the most widespread in Canada, with Nova Scotia of particular interest due to its port of entry for illegal drugs. In this episode, Thin sits down with Conor King, from the Victoria Police Department to discuss the role of outlaw motorcycle clubs in the illicit economies of Canada.Presenter: Thin Lei WinSpeaker(s): Conor King, Detective Inspector, Victoria Police Department, CanadaLinksCanada Country ProfileThe Global Organized Crime IndexWashington Post - Iran turns to Hells Angels and other criminal gangs to target criticsGlobal Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime

In August police in Vietnam uncovered an infant trafficking ring which had purchased and resold at least 16 infants, ages ranging from just days to a few months old, leading to further investigations that uncovered 84 suspected trafficking cases across 32 provinces.In this episode, we delve into the harrowing realities of human trafficking in Vietnam. For more than two decades the country has been a source, destination, and transit point, with a troubling score of 7 out of 10 on the Global Organized Crime Index. Criminal actors involved include local recruitment agencies, family members and acquaintances of victims, and foreign actors such as Chinese and Korean ‘bride recruitment’ brokers. Criminals are increasingly professional, and form closed interprovincial, transnational and international networks.Vietnam's resilience to human trafficking, more specifically, Victim and Witness Support and especially Non-State Actors scores were critically low in the 2023 OC Index assessment.Presenter: Thin Lei WinSpeaker(s): Hai Thanh Luong, Research Fellow, School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Griffith UniversityLinksVietnam Country ProfileThe Global Organized Crime IndexGlobal Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime

The 'Marengo Trial' lasted years, finally resulting in multiple convictions of the so-called Mocro Mafia, including one of its most infamous leaders, Ridouan Taghi, who was convicted of murder among other things.Who are the Mocro Mafia? They were born out of the Dutch-Moroccan community in the Netherlands during the 90s, starting with the smuggling of hashish before moving onto the much more profitable cocaine. Its estimated that they control up to a third of the cocaine market in Europe. But they have also left a trail of destruction in their wake, journalists and lawyers have been murdered, bombs have been detonated, many have been killed.The Mocro Mafia have grown beyond the Netherlands and now operate transnationally, they are active in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, the UAE, Suriname, Colombia and Spain. According to the Global Organized Crime Index, there has been an increase in the 'Criminal Actor' and 'Criminal Markets' score in Western Europe. Criminal markets have increased from 4.06 to 4.48 out of 10. All criminal markets have increased over the last few years in this region, but the largest increase was in the Mocro Mafia's prime market, the cocaine trade, now at 5.77 out of 10 - that is the highest regional score in Europe. Presenter: Thin Lei WinSpeaker(s): Sarah Fares, Analyst, Global Initiative against Transnational Organized CrimeOC Index Country profile(s):Netherlands country profileGermany country profileBelgium country profileSpain country profileSuriname country profileUAE country profileColombia country profileAdditional Links:Violence without borders: Why is drug-related violence spilling over into Germany?The Global Organized Crime IndexGlobal Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime

When we think about the global drugs trade – countries like Colombia and Mexico often come to mind. But according to the Global Organized Crime Index, the country that sits just behind those two is Paraguay. In fact, Paraguay sits 4th globally for levels of criminality, with 7.52 out of 10.It has really high scores for illicit markets like arms trafficking (9), counterfeit goods (9), Cocaine (8.5), and Cannabis (9). But then if we look at Criminal Actors within the OC Index, again, Paraguay scores incredibly highly across the board, for example state-embedded actors are at 9 out of 10, alongside foreign criminal actors. Overall, its Criminal Actor score is 8.3 out of 10.Since 2021, Paraguay has seen an increase of 0.82 in levels of criminality, which means it climbed 12 places to 4th globally.In addition to this, levels of resilience have remained relatively low, at 3.42 out of 10.Only four other countries have seen a larger increase in the gap between criminality and resilience.In this episode Thin discusses the situation in Paraguay.Presenter: Thin Lei WinSpeakers: Professor Alba Maria González Rolón, former Judge for the first and only court dealing with Organized Crime in Paraguay and member of the GI Network of Experts.OC Index Country profile(s):Paraguay Country ProfileAdditional Links:The Global Organized Crime IndexGlobal Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime

Ivory poaching is a problem wherever we find elephants, and that is no different in India. The ivory taken from the Asian elephants has long been prized in both traditional Chinese medicine and also ivory artefacts.According to the Global Organized Crime Index, India has low score for Criminal Actors (4.8), but scores highly for Criminal Markets (6.7), where it sits 16th globally. Ivory poaching falls into the category of Fauna Crimes, here India scores 7.0 out of 10, that places the country 25th globally.But India also has the highest levels of Resilience (5.42) to organized crime in South Asia. In this episode we discuss an AI-driven technology developed specifically to help combat ivory poaching in India.Presenter: Thin Lei WinSpeakers: Sharada Balasubramanian, independent environmental journalist.Links:(Article) ‘Hawk-eyed: India is fighting its ivory poachers with a powerful tech weapon’ECOSOLVE projectWildlife Trust of India (WTI) - Kerala Forest & Wildlife Department takes official charge of ‘HAWK’ to Combat Wildlife CrimeOC Index Country profile(s):India Country ProfileAdditional Links:The Global Organized Crime IndexThe Observatory of Illicit Economies in Central and South Asia (CSA-Obs)Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime

Ukraine (9/10) and Russia (8.5/10), alongside the former Soviet states of Moldova and Belarus, have some of the highest scores for arms trafficking in the Global Organized Crime Index.This is due to the significant levels of weapons and ammunition left over at the end of the Soviet period. In addition to the high levels of arms trafficking across this part of Europe, Central and Eastern Europe has the highest scores for state-embedded actors on the European continent (Russia, 8.5/10; Ukraine, 8/10).Since Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Western nations have sent weapons to Ukraine to aid in its struggle, but there are concerns that these weapons could leak out into the illicit markets of Europe and end up in the hands of organized crime.Currently there is no evidence of this, the Ukrainian government has put in strict measures to prevent this from happening.In this episode, we look at the war in Ukraine, and arms trafficking.Presenter: Thin Lei WinSpeakers: Daniel Brombacher, Director of the Europe Observatory, Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized CrimeLinks:(Paper) Smoke on the Horizon: Trends in arms trafficking from the conflict in UkraineOC Index Country profiles:Ukraine Country ProfileRussia Country ProfileMoldova Country ProfileBelarus Country ProfileThe Global Organized Crime IndexGITOC - The Observatory of Illicit Markets and the Conflict in Ukraine (UKR-Obs)GITOC - The Observatory of Organized Crime in Europe (EUR-Obs)Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime

The Netherlands is an important global trading hub, with Rotterdam being one of the worlds largest container ports in the world. The country's high quality infrastructure and the well known liberal approach to drugs makes the Netherlands attractive to organized criminal groups. And those originating in the Western Balkans have long been active in the Netherlands. According to the Global Organized Crime Index, the Netherlands has high levels of foreign criminal actors with 6 out of 10 - an increase of 1.50 in just two years – only Bangladesh and Afghanistan have seen larger increases.Alongside that, the levels of cocaine and synthetic drugs are extremely high - for cocaine the Netherlands sits 21st globally with 7.5 out of 10, and for synthetic drugs it’s even higher at 8 out of 10 – which is 15th globally.In today’s episode we’ll look at the impact of organized criminal groups from the Western Balkans on the Netherlands, and their involvement in the illicit drugs trade.Presenter: Thin Lei WinSpeakers:Ingrid Gercama, Investigative Journalist writing about the environment, politics, and conflict, mostly from the Balkans and Africa.Links:Article - Western Balkan criminal groups are important players in the Netherlands.SEE-Obs - Risk Bulletin #18Paper - Transnational Tentacles: Global Hotspots of Balkan Organized CrimePaper - The cocaine pipeline to EuropeOC Index Country profiles:Netherlands country profileAlbania country profileMontenegro country profileSerbia country profileBosnia & Herzegovina country profileNorth Macedonia country profileThe Global Organized Crime IndexGITOC - South-Eastern Europe Observatory (SEE-Obs)Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime

The largely unregulated taxi industry in South Africa has long been associated with violence., as taxi associations clash with one another over control of lucrative routes. Taxi-related violence ranges from shoot-out at taxi ranks to targeted hits on influential players in the industry, often sparking retaliatory killings, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of taxi operators and innocent bystanders.According to the Global Organized Crime Index, mafia-style groups such as those operating in the taxi industry, are a prevalent criminal actor in South Africa - with a score of 7.5 out of 10, placing the country 5th out of 54 on the African continent.South Africa also sits 6th in the world for extortion and protection racketeering, and the mafia-like taxi associations are major contributors to that, as they extort their drivers and attack rival modes of transport.Overall, South Africa’s criminality score is very high at 7.18 out of 10, placing it 7th out of 193 countries.Presenter: Thin Lei WinSpeakers:Rumbidzai Matamba, Analyst, Global Initiative against Transnational Organized CrimeLinks:The business of killing: Assassinations in South AfricaThe Shadow Economy: Uncovering Cape Town's Extortion NetworksThe politics of murder: Criminal governance and targeted killings in South AfricaOC Index Country profiles:South Africa country profileThe Global Organized Crime IndexGITOC - The Observatory of Illicit Economies in East and Southern Africa (ESA-Obs)Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime

In March this year, gangs of armed men on motorcycles descended on a school in north-western state of Kaduna in Nigeria, kidnapping over 280 children. In the same week a similar mass kidnapping took place in the north-eastern state of Borno.Over the past few years, kidnappings have been a real issue in Nigeria, but have recently been in decline. So, who is behind these kidnappings? And why are they targeting these communities?Kidnappings have contributed to the rise in extortion and protection racketeering in Nigeria, according to the Global Organized Crime Index, it is the highest in West Africa at 8/10.Overall, Nigeria has very high levels of criminality - on the African continent it sits 2nd and 6th globally, with a score of 7.28 out of 10. Presenter: Thin Lei WinSpeakers:Kingsley L. Madueke, Nigeria Research Coordinator, Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized CrimeLawan Danjuma Adamu, Northern Nigeria Field Coordinator, Global Initiative against Transnational Organized CrimeLinks:https://globalinitiative.net/analysis/mass-abductions-kidnappings-nigeria/https://riskbulletins.globalinitiative.net/wea-obs-005/01-armed-bandits-extort-crop-farmers.html https://globalinitiative.net/analysis/non-state-armed-groups-illicit-economies-west-africa/ OC Index Country profiles:Nigeria Country ProfileThe Global Organized Crime IndexGITOC - West Africa and the Sahel Observatory (WEA-Obs)Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime

Brazil has long had a problem with mafia-style groups, according to the Global Organized Crime Index, with 8 out of 10, that places the country 3rd in South America.One such group are the so-called militias, made up of former and serving members of military police or law enforcement. The militias groups have sought to profit from the housing market , with many residents facing the threat of violence, and even expulsion from their homes. Alongside this, militias have seeped into other markets, controlling access to utilities such as water, electricity and internet connectivity. According to the Global Organized Crime Index, levels of extortion and protection racketeering are high, at 7 out of 10. These numbers contribute to the high overall criminality score for Brazil at 6.77 out of 10, placing them 22nd globally.Presenter: Thin Lei WinSpeakers:Antonio Sampaio, Thematic Lead on Cities & Illicit Economies at the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime.Nicholas Pope, Research fellow in the Department of War Studies at King’s College LondonLinks:Coercive brokers: Militias and urban governance in Rio de JaneiroOC Index Country profiles:Brazil Country ProfileThe Global Organized Crime IndexGlobal Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime

Montenegrin organized crime groups have risen through the criminal underworld to become key components of the global cocaine trade. From Latin America to global shipping, and from ports to European markets, they control the entire chain.But with such a lucrative trade comes violence. Over the last decade, several dozen Montenegrins and Serbians have been killed across Europe in a bloody feud between two criminal groups - the Škaljari clan and the Kavač Clan, both originating from the small Adriatic town of Kotor. According to the Global Organized Crime Index, Montenegro ranks 5th in terms of criminality out of 44 countries in Europe, with the cocaine trade being it’s most prevalent criminal market at a score of 7 out of 10.Presenter: Thin Lei WinSpeakers:Marko Vešović, Journalist & Editor of the daily newspaper DAN Montenegro, and member of the GI Network.Links:(GI Video) Montenegro's Cocaine War: Rival Clans, Illicit Markets, and Assassinations(GI Paper) Spot Prices: Analyzing flows of people, drugs and money in the Western Balkans(GI Paper) The cocaine pipeline to EuropeŠkaljari clanKavač ClanOC Index Country profiles:MontenegroThe Global Organized Crime IndexGlobal Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime

The gold mining sector in West Africa has increased significantly in recent years. But this is also a region bereft by political instability following several recent coups, extremist groups, foreign criminal actors and organized crime networks all operate here, artisanal and small-scale miners are often targeted by such groups.According to the Global Organized Crime Index, there are high levels of criminality across the region in non-renewable resource crimes, the category which illegal gold mining falls under. Burkina Faso reaches 8.5 out of 10; Mali, 8 out of 10.Whereas Resilience levels across the region are low, but particularly in Mali, at just 2.38 out of 10.In this episode Thin will discuss the differences between informal and illegal gold mining, and the role criminal groups play in exploiting miners across West Africa, and the possibility of formalising the informal gold mining sector.Presenter: Thin Lei WinSpeakers:Gideon Ofosu-Peasah, Analyst, Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized CrimeMarcena Hunter, Thematic Lead on Extractives and Illicit Flows, Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized CrimeLinks:(GI Paper) Learnings from West Africa’s regional experiences in the gold sectorOC Index Country profiles:MaliBurkina FasoGhanaGuineaThe Global Organized Crime IndexGlobal Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime

Papua New Guinea, the island nation in Oceania, is rich in biodiversity. But the rainforests that cover the country are also sought after by logging companies, sometimes illegally. PNG is the largest exporter of timber to China, where it is then distributed around the world.There are a number of criminal markets that are particularly prevalent in PNG - financial crimes, human trafficking, non-renewable resource crime. But in this episode, we will focus on illegal logging, because Papua New Guinea sits second globally for flora crimes at 8.5 out of 10.Presenter: Thin Lei WinGuest: Eddie Tanago Paine from ACT NOW! For A Better Papua New GuineaLinks:OC Index - Papua New Guinea country profile.The Global Organized Crime IndexGlobal Initiative Against Transnational Organized CrimeAdditional Links:Mongabay - Logging, road construction continue to fuel forest loss in Papua New GuineaThe Guardian - From a forest in Papua New Guinea to a floor in Sydney: how China is getting rich off Pacific timberGlobal Witness - In a historic win, Papua New Guinea acts against logging tax cheats. What happens next?Al Jazeera - Papua New Guinea’s forests are being destroyedThe Guardian - Papua New Guinea landowners fight against logging