Advanced Sciences and Technologies for Security Applications Transnational Unconventional Organized Crime: A National Global Concern

The term “transnational organised crime” has been used to describe different realities, depending on the specific category of crime and region of the world concerned. It seeks to explore and understand the complexity of transnational organised crime and unconventional crime in various regional and national incarnations. This edited book (volume 2) focuses on exploring the regional security issues associated with transnational unconventional organized crime. The book is divided into 4 sections: Part 1: EuropePart 2: Asia and the Middle EastPart 3: AfricaPart 4: South America Transnational unconventional organized crime pose a significant and growing threat to national and global security affecting public safety, human security, public health, economic and governmental stability. Not to mention the contributions transnational organized crime makes to terrorist financing. The adaptive nature of transnational organized crime group as well as terrorist and insurgent organizations makes them capable of innovating in real-time to exploit natural disasters, social crisis and global pandemics. Currently with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, transnational organized crime has flourished taking advantage of the unprecedented opportunities for illicit activities. For example as reported in TRACIT (2020) : Worldwide reports indicate a surge in the availability and type of fraudulent medical products intended to exploit the fears of consumers, which includes illicit offerings of falsified versions of treatments such as Hydroxychloroquine and Azithromycin that will harm or kill already vulnerable patients. Joint operations by the World Customs Organization, Europol and Interpol have resulted in a significant increase in seizures of counterfeit and unauthorized face masks and hand sanitizers. The term “transnational organised crime” has been used to describe different realities, depending on the specific category of crime and region of the world concerned. Volume 2 of Transnational Unconventional Organised Crime focuses on regional and national perspectives. It seeks to explore and understand the complexity of transnational organised crime and unconventional crime in various regional and national incarnations. Globalisation has been identified as an essential factor facilitating transnational crime by removing previously established boundaries. This complicated process of globalisation has led to similar interdependencies amongst countries and cultures with various long-term and multifaceted impacts. This interconnected framework has allowed transnational criminal networks to emerge and adapt, leading to distinctly regional impacts, as shown in this book. This volume aims to promote a better understanding of the challenges inherent to tackling transnational organised crime, which, in turn, can helpfully inform responsible and flexible responses that are tailored to the specific conditions in various regions and countries.