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.




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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.

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Our experts


Tom Keatinge

Director, CFCS

Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies

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Cathy Haenlein

Director, Organised Crime and Policing

Organised Crime and Policing

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Anne-Marie Weeden

Senior Research Fellow | SHOC Network Member - Researcher

Organised Crime and Policing

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Dr Maria Nizzero

Research Fellow

Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies

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Lauren Young

Research Fellow | SHOC Network Member - Researcher

Organised Crime and Policing

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Mark Williams

Programme Manager | SHOC Network Member - Researcher

Organised Crime and Policing

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Fellows


Olivia Allison

Associate Fellow; Independent Consultant

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Professsor Felia Allum

Senior Associate Fellow | SHOC Network Member - Researcher

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Julien Bastrup-Birk

Associate Fellow - Expertise in transnational threats, organised crime, illicit finance, and hybrid warfare

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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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Dr Alexander Chance

Associate Fellow - specialising in transnational organised crime and corruption

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Isabella Chase

Associate Fellow; Former CFCS Senior Research Fellow, RUSI

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Samuel Coates

Senior Associate Fellow

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Jessica Davis

Associate Fellow; President and Principal Consultant with Insight Threat Intelligence

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Catherine Dill

Associate Fellow

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Jan Dunin-Wasowicz

Associate Fellow; Partner, Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP

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Ian Dyson QPM

Distinguished Fellow; Former Commissioner, City of London Police

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Michael Fuller QPM BA MBA LLM Hon LLD

Distinguished Fellow

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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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Dr Andi Hoxhaj OBE

Associate Fellow | SHOC Network Member - Researcher

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Kayla Izenman

Associate Fellow; Former CFCS Research Fellow, RUSI

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Dr Sasha Jesperson

Associate Fellow

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Xolisile Khanyile

Senior Associate Fellow

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Genevieve Kotarska

Associate Fellow | SHOC Network Member - Researcher

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Aidan Larkin

Associate Fellow; Founder & CEO, Asset Reality

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Professor Michael Levi

Senior Associate Fellow | SHOC Network Member - Researcher

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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

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Robert Norfolk-Whittaker

Associate Fellow; UN Consultant

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Matthew Redhead

Senior Associate Fellow; Financial crime consultant and researcher

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Alexandria Reid

Associate Fellow | SHOC Network Member - Researcher

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Sir Mark Rowley

Distinguished Fellow

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Denisse Rudich

Associate Fellow; Founder and Executive Director, Rudich Advisory

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Sergii Rybchenko

Associate Fellow

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Josie Stewart

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

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Dr Alex Sutherland

Associate Fellow

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Martin Verrier

Associate Fellow | SHOC Network Member - Practitioner / Researcher

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Dr Jodi Vittori

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

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Sir Rob Wainwright KCMG

Distinguished Fellow

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Dr Timothy Wittig

Associate Fellow - Expert on wildlife trafficking, illicit economies, and terrorist/threat finance

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Simon York CBE

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

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Organised Crime and Corruption Programme

Environmental Crime and Climate Security Programme

Financially Resilient Europe Programme

CRIMSON: Critical Maritime Routes

MASIF: Global Illicit Flows

Organised Crime and Gender

Organised Crime, Terror and Insecurity in Africa (OCTA)

Restricting Kleptocracy

Taskforce on a Transatlantic Response to Illicit Finance

Latest publications

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