Transnational Organized Crime and Natural Resources Trafficking: Funding Conflict and Stealing from the World's Most Vulnerable Citizens

This book explores the trafficking of high-value commodities by transnational criminal networks, financing armed conflict and looting natural resource wealth. It examines diamonds, ivory, rhino horn, timber, lapis lazuli, jade, rare minerals, gold, and oil, covering the structure and operation of criminal networks, social and environmental consequences, and human rights abuses.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 228 pages
Publication date: 15 July 2021
Publisher: Lexington Books

This comprehensive book delves into the intricate world of conflict commodities, which are defined as high-value commodities trafficked by transnational criminal networks. These criminal organizations utilize the illicitly derived proceeds from these commodities to finance armed conflicts and plunder natural resource wealth from national treasuries. Spanning across numerous chapters, the book offers in-depth examinations of various commodities, including diamonds, ivory, rhino horn, timber, lapis lazuli, jade, rare minerals, gold, and oil. These commodities have become the domain of transnational organized crime networks, attracting scholarly attention due to their multifaceted nature. The book explores the structure and operation of these criminal networks, as well as the social and environmental consequences of their trades. It also examines the full spectrum of responses, including legal measures, international cooperation, and humanitarian interventions, aimed at mitigating the harm caused by conflict commodities.

Moreover, the book provides a comprehensive coverage of all the players involved in the conflict commodity trade, ranging from high-ranking government officials to insurgent groups and terrorists. It sheds light on the array of human rights abuses associated with this traffic, highlighting the need for robust legal frameworks and international cooperation to combat these crimes. By examining the complex dynamics of conflict commodities, this book offers valuable insights into the drivers of armed conflicts, the exploitation of natural resources, and the challenges of promoting peace and security in regions affected by organized crime. It serves as a crucial resource for policymakers, researchers, and activists seeking to address the multifaceted challenges posed by conflict commodities and work towards a more sustainable and equitable future.

Weight: 349g
Dimension: 218 x 153 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781498578332