Illicit Trade, Trafficking, and Illicit Financial Flows

Global illicit flows take diverse forms that are frequently interlinked, driven by organised crime and able to generate substantial proceeds, posing a significant threat to international security.




Main Image Credit DEA Emploee, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons


RUSI’s research explores the nature of the threat from global illicit flows, the harm they cause and how best to respond. These flows cross multiple jurisdictions worldwide, encompassing trafficking in drugs, weapons, humans and wildlife, as well as a range of lower-risk crimes such as illicit trade in counterfeit and other commodities, whose harm is more difficult to demonstrate. The flows generate substantial illicit financial movements, which undercut development, undermine national economies and fuel further insecurity. Our work provides robust research and analysis to better understand these threats and help governments, law-enforcement agencies and compliance officials to respond more effectively.

Main Image Credit DEA Emploee, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Our experts


London office


Dr Keith Ditcham

Senior Research Fellow

Organised Crime and Policing

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Cathy Haenlein

Director, Organised Crime and Policing

Organised Crime and Policing

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Tom Keatinge

Director, CFCS

Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies

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Genevieve Kotarska

Research Fellow

Organised Crime and Policing

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Maria Nizzero

Research Fellow

Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies

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Mark Williams

Senior Project Officer

Organised Crime and Policing

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Lauren Young

Research Fellow

Organised Crime and Policing

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Fellows


Olivia Allison

Associate Fellow; Independent Consultant

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Karen Baxter

Senior Associate Fellow; Director, Financial Conduct Authority

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David Carlisle

Associate Fellow; Independent Consultant

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Isabella Chase

Associate Fellow; Former CFCS Senior Research Fellow, RUSI

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Jessica Davis

Associate Fellow; President and Principal Consultant with Insight Threat Intelligence

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Jan Dunin-Wasowicz

Associate Fellow; Counsel, Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP

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Ian Dyson QPM

Distinguished Fellow; Former Commissioner, City of London Police

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James Gillespie

Associate Fellow; Former Policy Advisor, HM Treasury

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Sir David Green CB KC

Distinguished Fellow; Partner, Cohen & Gresser; Former Director, UK Serious Fraud Office

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Jalel Harchaoui

Associate Fellow

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Kayla Izenman

Associate Fellow; Former CFCS Research Fellow, RUSI

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Aidan Larkin

Associate Fellow; Founder & CEO, Asset Reality

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Professor Michael Levi

Senior Associate Fellow; Professor of Criminology, Cardiff University

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David Lewis

Senior Associate Fellow; Managing Director and Global Head of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Advisory Practice, Kroll

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Anton Moiseienko

Associate Fellow; Lecturer in Law, Australian National University; Former CFCS Research Fellow, RUSI

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Robert Norfolk-Whittaker

Associate Fellow; UN Consultant

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Matthew Redhead

Associate Fellow; Financial crime consultant and researcher

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Alexandria Reid

Associate Fellow

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Denisse Rudich

Associate Fellow; Founder and Executive Director, Rudich Advisory

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Josie Stewart

Associate Fellow; Director, Global Defence and Security Programme, Transparency International

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Dr Jodi Vittori

Associate Fellow; Research and Policy Manager, Defence and Security Programme, Transparency International

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Simon York CBE

Senior Associate Fellow; Former Chief Investigation Officer and Director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC

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