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.
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.
Our experts
Tom Keatinge
Director, CFCS
Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies
Cathy Haenlein
Director, Organised Crime and Policing
Organised Crime and Policing
Anne-Marie Weeden
Senior Research Fellow
Organised Crime and Policing
Maria Nizzero
Research Fellow
Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies
Genevieve Kotarska
Research Fellow
Organised Crime and Policing
Lauren Young
Research Fellow
Organised Crime and Policing
Mark Williams
Programme Manager
Organised Crime and Policing
Fellows
Olivia Allison
Associate Fellow; Independent Consultant
Professsor Felia Allum
Senior Associate Fellow
Julien Bastrup-Birk
Associate Fellow - Expertise in transnational threats, organised crime, illicit finance, and hybrid warfare
Karen Baxter
Senior Associate Fellow; Director, Financial Conduct Authority
David Carlisle
Associate Fellow; Independent Consultant
Dr Alexander Chance
Associate Fellow - specialising in transnational organised crime and corruption
Isabella Chase
Associate Fellow; Former CFCS Senior Research Fellow, RUSI
Samuel Coates
Senior Associate Fellow
Jessica Davis
Associate Fellow; President and Principal Consultant with Insight Threat Intelligence
Catherine Dill
Associate Fellow
Jan Dunin-Wasowicz
Associate Fellow; Counsel, Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP
Ian Dyson QPM
Distinguished Fellow; Former Commissioner, City of London Police
Michael Fuller QPM BA MBA LLM Hon LLD
Distinguished Fellow
James Gillespie
Associate Fellow; Former Policy Advisor, HM Treasury
Sir David Green CB KC
Distinguished Fellow; Partner, Cohen & Gresser; Former Director, UK Serious Fraud Office
Jalel Harchaoui
Associate Fellow
Kayla Izenman
Associate Fellow; Former CFCS Research Fellow, RUSI
Dr Sasha Jesperson
Associate Fellow
Aidan Larkin
Associate Fellow; Founder & CEO, Asset Reality
Professor Michael Levi
Senior Associate Fellow; Professor of Criminology, Cardiff University
David Lewis
Senior Associate Fellow; Managing Director and Global Head of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Advisory Practice, Kroll
Anton Moiseienko
Associate Fellow; Lecturer in Law, Australian National University; Former CFCS Research Fellow, RUSI
Robert Norfolk-Whittaker
Associate Fellow; UN Consultant
Matthew Redhead
Senior Associate Fellow; Financial crime consultant and researcher
Alexandria Reid
Associate Fellow; Senior Global Policy Adviser at Global Witness
Sir Mark Rowley
Distinguished Fellow
Denisse Rudich
Associate Fellow; Founder and Executive Director, Rudich Advisory
Josie Stewart
Associate Fellow; Director, Global Defence and Security Programme, Transparency International
Dr Alex Sutherland
Associate Fellow
Martin Verrier
Associate Fellow; SHOC Network Member
Dr Jodi Vittori
Associate Fellow; Research and Policy Manager, Defence and Security Programme, Transparency International
Sir Rob Wainwright KCMG
Distinguished Fellow
Dr Timothy Wittig
Associate Fellow - Expert on wildlife trafficking, illicit economies, and terrorist/threat finance
Simon York CBE
Senior Associate Fellow; Former Chief Investigation Officer and Director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC
