Deep Dive: Exploring Organized Crime

Throughout history soldiers have used drugs, sometimes to fight better or to stay alert, or perhaps to help cope with the extreme psychological situation and trauma they are faced with. The current conflict in Ukraine is no different.

Concerns around this led to the Ukrainian parliament passing a new law that authorizes random drug and alcohol tests on soldiers. Organized crime is nothing if not adaptable, even in this most extreme environment. The soldiers fighting to protect their homeland represent a new and relatively wealthy market, ripe for criminal networks to exploit. And they are doing just that.

So who is behind this market? This is a story about war, drugs, the darknet and corruption.

Speaker(s):

Ted

Sasha

Additional Reading:

(GI Paper) New front lines: Organized criminal economies in Ukraine in 2022

Business Insider - Russian lawmakers baselessly claim their army is up against biologically modified Ukrainian super soldiers

LiveScience - Nazis Dosed Soldiers with Performance-Boosting 'Superdrug'

History - G.I.s’ Drug Use in Vietnam Soared—With Their Commanders’ Help

The Atlantic - The Drugs That Built a Super Soldier

Journeyman Pictures - Sierra Leone's Cocaine-Drugged Child Soldiers

Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime - Lebanon’s role in Syria’s Captagon trade

Washington Post - Zelensky takes on Ukraine’s top internal enemy

Legatum Institute - Looting Ukraine: The East, the West and the Corruption of a Country (Full Version)

Transparency International - Corruption Perceptions Index

US DoJ Press release - Justice Department Investigation Leads to Shutdown of Largest Online Darknet Marketplace

Chainalysis - OFAC Sanctions Hydra Following Law Enforcement Shutdown of the Darknet Market, As Well As Russian Exchange Garantex

National Institute on Drug Abuse - Synthetic Cathinones ("Bath Salts") DrugFacts

UNIAN.info - SBU busts major drug lab in Kyiv region in raid against local branch of int'l drug cartel

Kyiv Post - Authorities bust cocaine hidden in banana freight container in Odesa port

The Institute of Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatric Examination and Drug Monitoring of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine - Report on drug situation in Ukraine 2020

Kyiv Post - NABU to serve notice of suspicion on SBU Deputy Chief Demchyna

Slate - Ransomware Goes to Business School - Good customer service has become a key part of a lucrative scam

US DoJ Press Release - Colorado Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison for Moderating Disputes on Darknet Marketplace AlphaBay

News.pn - Chopped fingers, millions of dollars and gold bars »: SBU told details about the largest drug cartel

Служба безпеки України (SBU) - CБУ блокувала діяльність «підрозділу» міжнародного наркосиндикату «Хімпром» (SBU blocked the activities of the "unit" of the international drug syndicate "Khimprom")

Forbes - The U.S. And Allies Go After Crypto Exchange And Russian Money Laundering

Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) - Dubai Uncovered: Data Leak Exposes How Criminals, Officials, and Sanctioned Politicians Poured Money Into Dubai Real Estate

SBU - ДБР жорстко протидіє спробам розповсюдження наркотиків в прифронтових районах

Artwork by Paulina Rosol-Barrass

Part 2: "The truth will triumph".

The description of Ahmed's murder showed that the killers were professionals, trained in the use of firearms. But despite the crowds that witnessed the killing, no one has ever been prosecuted for the crime.

Since the assassination of Ahmed, press freedom in Ghana has suffered. He is one of a number that have been attacked, harassed and arrested over the last few years, sparking fears for the future of press freedom in the country.

Much of the violence has been committed by state forces, either the police or the military, and yet impunity reigns and consequences are minimal.

We will look at the organized crime landscape in Ghana, and how alongside the traditional illicit markets such as drug trafficking and illegal mining, organized crime is at the forefront of the commercialization of violence.

Speaker(s):

Anas Aremeyaw Anas – Multi-award winning Ghananian Investigative Journalist and founder of the TigerEye PI, an investigative organisation in Ghana – famous motto “name, shame and jail”.

Muheeb Saeed, the program manager for Freedom of Expression at the Media Foundation for West Africa, the MFWA, which is a press freedom and media development organization based in Accra, but working across the West African sub-region.

Gideon Ofosu-Peasah, Analyst at the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime.

Jonathan Rozen, Senior Africa researcher at the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

Ana Paula Oliveira – Analyst and Manager of Assassination Witness Project, GITOC.

Liliane MOUAN – Senior Advisor on Corruption and Human Rights – West and Central Africa for Amnesty International.

Additional Reading:

Assassination Witness Project

Ahmed Divela - Faces of Assassination

Global Assassination Monitor

The Ripple Effect: the impact of contract killings (Podcast)

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) - Four years since murder of Ahmed Hussein-Suale Divela, Ghana’s journalists still attacked with impunity.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Freedom of the Press Index

(GITOC Paper) The business of killing: Assassinations in South Africa

(GITOC Paper) Killing in silence: New research uncovers sheer magnitude of assassinations linked to organized crime

Murder of journalists in Mexico a threat to democracy: El asesinato de periodistas en México pone en peligro la democracia

(Deep Dive Podcast) Killing the Power of the Pen: Violence against journalists in Mexico - Part 1; Part 2.

(Deep Dive Podcast) Killing in Silence: The Global Assassination Monitor.

(Deep Dive Podcast) Guinea-Bissau Part 2: Pau de Sangue (Blood Timber).

Kennedy Agyapong Says He Knows Killer Of Ahmed Suale

Opinion: Exposing Corruption in Ghanaian Soccer Proves a Deadly Game

Betraying the Game: Anas Aremeyaw Anas investigates football in Africa - BBC Africa Eye documentary

Justice! (Al Jazeera - Featured Documentary)

Malawi's Human Harvest - BBC Africa Eye documentary

Corruption has held back African football-Anas Aremeyaw Anas

Number 12: Ghana FA begins charging implicated individuals of famous Anas corruption expose

Kwesi Nyantakyi remains our President – GFA

Eyewitnesses recount how Tiger Eye PI investigator was brutally murdered

World Press Freedom Day 2018

President Obama praises conviction of human traffickers in Ghana

The Anas Obama praised in 2009 not same as ‘contaminated’ Anas we have today – Ghana Bar Scribe

Murder in Accra: The life and death of Ahmed Hussein-Suale (BBC)

ARNOLD ROTHSTEIN (Mob Museum)

(FourFourTwo) Narcos: When Pablo Escobar did football – and changed the game in Colombia forever

Exclusive: Top international cricketers involved in spot-fixing

Revealed: godfather of cricket's scandals

Cricket Corruption: How reforms led to the match-fixing scandals

How Dawood's D-Company taints Test cricket

U.S. DESIGNATES DAWOOD IBRAHIM AS TERRORIST SUPPORTER

The Mob, Murder Inc. and Madison Square Garden: Boxing's Tale of Corruption

Panorama: BBC team threatened following Boxing and the Mob programme

Kinahan cartel: 'Nobody is untouchable' - how the net is tightening around Ireland's $1billion drug gang

‘Bloodlines’ Tracks Bloodshed Across the Border

A Drug Family in the Winner’s Circle

Kennedy Agyapong fights Anas

Ghanaian police beat, arrest journalist Malik Sullemana

News release: Three Police Officers involved in an alleged assault on Ghanaian Times Journalists interdicted

There is drug money in politics - Former NACOB boss

100g of cocaine seized at Kpoglu border goes missing

Ghana's NPP calls for inquiry after London cocaine bust

First rare photo of Nayele Ametefe walking free after 3-year jail sentence over drugs

Monetisation of elections: Very soon drug barons will take over parliament as MPs – Former NPP MP

An NPP man was the first person to accuse me of being a drug dealer — Kennedy Agyapong

Ghana politician calls for journalist Erastus Asare Donkor to be beaten over protest coverage

The Agyepong Family

Breaking News: Protesting youth clash with military over death of Social media activist (29-6-21)

THE ATTITUDE WITH HON. KENNEDY AGYAPONG (JULY 9, 2021) S02 E4

BBC version of Anas' 'Number 12' airs

Some judges who were hailed for not taking bribe had prior notice from Anas about the investigation — NPP MP

Anas’ plot to ‘entrap’ Ghana president, Ivorian PM in corruption web ‘devious’ – Judge

Nothing will stop us from fighting corruption – Anas reacts after losing defamation lawsuit

You are practicing investigative terrorism, not journalism - Judge tells Anas Aremeyaw Anas

African journalists are dying. They need the world’s help to hold power to account (Anas Aremeyaw Anas The Guardian)

Ghana: Undercover journalist Hussein-Suale shot dead | Al Jazeera English

Ghana arrests made in slaying of journalist Ahmed Hussein-Suale

Ahmed Suale’s Family Slams Ken Agyapong For 110K Deceptive Ransom

GACC condemns murder of Ahmed Hussein-Suale

Disturbing press freedom violations continue in Ghana

Is free speech under threat in Ghana?

President Akufo-Addo’s claim about freedom of expression condition in Ghana not entirely true

Anas vs Kennedy Agyapong: CENOZO petitions Akufo-Addo, CJ, others over ruling against Anas

Akufo-Addo promised to use ‘Anas principle’ without ‘knowing’ Anas – Ken Agyapong

I didn't kill Ahmed; don’t have time for him – Kennedy Agyapong

AHMED SUALE'S MURDER: I don't trust Ghana Police - Kennedy Agyapong (30-1-19)

AHMED S. HUSSEIN: 'It was necessary for me to bring the guy's picture out' - Ken Agyapong. (17-1-19)

'Kennedy Agyapong must be called to explain what he did' - Lawyer for Anas. (17-1-19)

Part 1: "Ahmed was no coward".

On World Press Freedom Day (3rd May) 2018, the Ghanaian President, Nana Akufo-Addo, took to the stage in Accra to deliver a speech on press freedom. Ghana, had long been a beacon for press freedom and was selected to host the celebrations.

Just a few weeks later, TigerEye PI, the world famous undercover investigative unit led by Anas Aremeyaw Anas released their latest investigation, Number 12, which looked at corruption in professional football.

Around the same time, an MP, who disapproved of the methods of TigerEye PI, outed one of its undercover journalists, Ahmed Hussein-Suale Divela, live on air by showing his picture and calling for him to be attacked.

A few months later Ahmed was shot and killed in a targeted assassination on the streets of Madina in Accra.

In these two episodes we will tell the story of Ahmed, his death, what it means for press freedom in Ghana and how the commercialisation of violence is a perfect opportunity for organized crime.

Speaker(s):

Anas Aremeyaw Anas, Multi-award winning Ghanaian Investigative Journalist and founder of the TigerEye PI, an investigative organisation in Ghana – famous motto “name, shame and jail”.

Jonathan Rozen, Senior Africa researcher at the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)

Additional Reading:

Assassination Witness Project

Ahmed Divela - Faces of Assassination

Global Assassination Monitor

The Ripple Effect: the impact of contract killings (Podcast)

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) - Four years since murder of Ahmed Hussein-Suale Divela, Ghana’s journalists still attacked with impunity.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Freedom of the Press Index

(GITOC Paper) The business of killing: Assassinations in South Africa

(GITOC Paper) Killing in silence: New research uncovers sheer magnitude of assassinations linked to organized crime

Murder of journalists in Mexico a threat to democracy: El asesinato de periodistas en México pone en peligro la democracia

(Deep Dive Podcast) Killing the Power of the Pen: Violence against journalists in Mexico - Part 1; Part 2.

(Deep Dive Podcast) Killing in Silence: The Global Assassination Monitor.

(Deep Dive Podcast) Guinea-Bissau Part 2: Pau de Sangue (Blood Timber).

Kennedy Agyapong Says He Knows Killer Of Ahmed Suale

Opinion: Exposing Corruption in Ghanaian Soccer Proves a Deadly Game

Betraying the Game: Anas Aremeyaw Anas investigates football in Africa - BBC Africa Eye documentary

Justice! (Al Jazeera - Featured Documentary)

Malawi's Human Harvest - BBC Africa Eye documentary

Corruption has held back African football-Anas Aremeyaw Anas

Number 12: Ghana FA begins charging implicated individuals of famous Anas corruption expose

Kwesi Nyantakyi remains our President – GFA

Eyewitnesses recount how Tiger Eye PI investigator was brutally murdered

World Press Freedom Day 2018

President Obama praises conviction of human traffickers in Ghana

The Anas Obama praised in 2009 not same as ‘contaminated’ Anas we have today – Ghana Bar Scribe

Murder in Accra: The life and death of Ahmed Hussein-Suale (BBC)

ARNOLD ROTHSTEIN (Mob Museum)

(FourFourTwo) Narcos: When Pablo Escobar did football – and changed the game in Colombia forever

Exclusive: Top international cricketers involved in spot-fixing

Revealed: godfather of cricket's scandals

Cricket Corruption: How reforms led to the match-fixing scandals

How Dawood's D-Company taints Test cricket

U.S. DESIGNATES DAWOOD IBRAHIM AS TERRORIST SUPPORTER

The Mob, Murder Inc. and Madison Square Garden: Boxing's Tale of Corruption

Panorama: BBC team threatened following Boxing and the Mob programme

Kinahan cartel: 'Nobody is untouchable' - how the net is tightening around Ireland's $1billion drug gang

‘Bloodlines’ Tracks Bloodshed Across the Border

A Drug Family in the Winner’s Circle

Kennedy Agyapong fights Anas

Ghanaian police beat, arrest journalist Malik Sullemana

News release: Three Police Officers involved in an alleged assault on Ghanaian Times Journalists interdicted

There is drug money in politics - Former NACOB boss

100g of cocaine seized at Kpoglu border goes missing

Ghana's NPP calls for inquiry after London cocaine bust

First rare photo of Nayele Ametefe walking free after 3-year jail sentence over drugs

Monetisation of elections: Very soon drug barons will take over parliament as MPs – Former NPP MP

An NPP man was the first person to accuse me of being a drug dealer — Kennedy Agyapong

Ghana politician calls for journalist Erastus Asare Donkor to be beaten over protest coverage

The Agyepong Family

Breaking News: Protesting youth clash with military over death of Social media activist (29-6-21)

THE ATTITUDE WITH HON. KENNEDY AGYAPONG (JULY 9, 2021) S02 E4

BBC version of Anas' 'Number 12' airs

Some judges who were hailed for not taking bribe had prior notice from Anas about the investigation — NPP MP

Anas’ plot to ‘entrap’ Ghana president, Ivorian PM in corruption web ‘devious’ – Judge

Nothing will stop us from fighting corruption – Anas reacts after losing defamation lawsuit

You are practicing investigative terrorism, not journalism - Judge tells Anas Aremeyaw Anas

African journalists are dying. They need the world’s help to hold power to account (Anas Aremeyaw Anas The Guardian)

Ghana: Undercover journalist Hussein-Suale shot dead | Al Jazeera English

Ghana arrests made in slaying of journalist Ahmed Hussein-Suale

Ahmed Suale’s Family Slams Ken Agyapong For 110K Deceptive Ransom

GACC condemns murder of Ahmed Hussein-Suale

Disturbing press freedom violations continue in Ghana

Is free speech under threat in Ghana?

President Akufo-Addo’s claim about freedom of expression condition in Ghana not entirely true

Anas vs Kennedy Agyapong: CENOZO petitions Akufo-Addo, CJ, others over ruling against Anas

Akufo-Addo promised to use ‘Anas principle’ without ‘knowing’ Anas – Ken Agyapong

I didn't kill Ahmed; don’t have time for him – Kennedy Agyapong

AHMED SUALE'S MURDER: I don't trust Ghana Police - Kennedy Agyapong (30-1-19)

AHMED S. HUSSEIN: 'It was necessary for me to bring the guy's picture out' - Ken Agyapong. (17-1-19)

'Kennedy Agyapong must be called to explain what he did' - Lawyer for Anas. (17-1-19)

Part 2: “It’s the worst kept secret in Sudan”.

In 2019, the Dossier Centre in London, shared some leaked internal documents from the private military company, the Wagner Group. The documents showed that Wagner had identified several countries they wanted to target for future operations. What was clear is that they often targeted countries with weakened autocratic government, seeking support against an internal threat.

In this episode, we navigate the illicit gold trade in Sudan and beyond by studying a complex corporate web. How these structures are used to bypass sanctions and whether the US designation of the Wagner Group as a "Transnational Criminal Organization" adds anything to the fight.

Speaker(s):

Julia Stanyard, senior analyst at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime and author of the paper ‘The Grey Zone: Russia’s military, mercenary and criminal engagement in Africa’.

Thierry Vircoulon, Research associate at the French Institute for International Affairs in Paris, member of the GI Network of Experts and a lead author of ‘The Grey Zone: Russia’s military, mercenary and criminal engagement in Africa’.

Kholood Khair - the Founder and Director of Confluence Advisory, Khartoum.

Ken Opala, the Field Network Coordinator for East and Southern Africa, Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime.

Mohanad Hashim, freelance Sudanese journalist, currently working at the BBC.

Jason Blazakis, Professor and Director of the Center on Terrorism, Extremism and Counterterrorism at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies.

Justin Lynch, researcher, and author of Sudan’s Unfinished Democracy.

Additional Reading:

(GI Paper)The grey zone: Russia's military, mercenary and criminal engagement in Africa

(GI Paper) Going for Gold: Russia, sanctions and illicit gold trade

'If you desert, we'll execute you': 'Putin's chef' recruits convicts for war Yevgeny Prigozhin: UK reviews rules after Wagner head sued journalist

UK exposes sick Russian troll factory plaguing social media with Kremlin propaganda

Fake news and public executions: Documents show a Russian company’s plan for quelling protests in Sudan

Wagner chief admits to founding Russian troll farm sanctioned for meddling in US elections

Ukraine capital Kyiv endures Russian onslaught - BBC News

Russia is plundering gold in Sudan to boost Putin’s war effort in Ukraine

Sudan TV broadcast taken off air after loud bangs during military clashes

Sudan fighting: RSF and army clash in Khartoum for third day

Sudan's military removes President Omar al-Bashir | Al Jazeera English

Dmitry Medvedev’s meeting with President of the Republic of the Sudan Omar Al-Bashir

Yevgeny Prigozhin: the hotdog seller who rose to the top of Putin’s war machine

The Chef’s Global Footprints, OCCRP

Sudan defence minister dies of heart attack at Juba peace talks

Hemedti: the feared commander pulling the strings in Sudan

OpenSanctions - Autolex Transport LTD.

Hemetti, senior Russian official agree to strengthen military cooperation

Statement to the United Nations Security Council on the Situation in Darfur, pursuant to UNSCR 1593 (2005)

Sudan: Darfur: “Too many people killed for no reason”

“Men With No Mercy”: Rapid Support Forces Attacks against Civilians in Darfur, Sudan

The Organized Crime Index - Sudan

“They Were Shouting ‘Kill Them’”: Sudan’s Violent Crackdown on Protesters in Khartoum

RSF declare firm commitment to the formation of single army in Sudan

Factbox: Who are Sudan's Rapid Support Forces?

Sudan’s army declares paramilitary RSF ‘rebel’ group: Fighting breaks out between army, paramilitary RSF in Sudan

Sudan's army declares paramilitary RSF 'rebel' group

SUDAN: Hemeti says troops were forced into a confrontation with the Sudanese army

Sudanese army warns against military escalation after RSF deployment in Merowe

CNN - How Russia could be stealing over $13 billion of gold a year from Sudan

Exchange of gunfire heard in northern Sudanese city of Merowe - witnesses

Al Jazeera - Breaking News: Heavy gunfire heard in Sudan’s capital Khartoum

Global Witness - Exposing the RSF's secret financial network

Sudan crisis: The ruthless mercenaries who run the country for gold

Facebook Watch - حميدتي الجزء الخامس

Radio Dabanga - Secret financial network of Sudan’s main militia exposed

The Rapid Support Forces: A Comprehensive Profile

Reuters - Exclusive: Sudan militia leader grew rich by selling gold

Global Witness - Leaked Documents

Sudan Activists Stand Firm Against 'Toxic, Monopolistic' Mining Practices

Heap Leach: Mining’s breakthrough technology

YouTube - 'Sudan 300000 ton per year Heap Leaching for gold tailing'

A Case Report on Cyanidation of Gold Heap Tailings at Agbash Mine in South Darfur State (Sudan)

Sudan activists stand firm against ‘toxic, monopolistic’ mining practices

About 11 civilians killed across Sudan after SAF-RSF clashes

EU imposes sanctions on Sudan’s Meroe gold company

Sudan Looks to Gold to Boost Economy, Denies Russian Smuggling 

Blood and gold: Now Sudan's land wars have spread to mining

Sudan: Minerals Ministry Signs Agreement With Miro Gold of Russia

Treasury Targets Financier’s Illicit Sanctions Evasion Activity

Darfur village left reeling from Wagner Group's CAR massacre

Documents Reveal Wagner’s Golden Ties to Sudanese Military Companies, OCCRP

The U.S. wants to counter China’s moves in Africa. But American officials try not to mention that.

Digital Press Briefing with the Commander of the U.S. Africa Command, U.S. Army General Stephen J. Townsend

Sudan News Agency - موتمر صحفي : دقلو والهادي ادريس بمطار الخرطوم بعد عودتهم من ولايات دافور

Hemeti's CAR coup boast sheds light on Sudanese role in conflict next door

Sudan paramilitary funnelling weapons into Central African Republic, UN report reveals

Russia confirms security companies training Sudanese army

The Mercenaries Behind Russian Operations in Africa

Russian mercenaries accused of deadly attacks on mines on Sudan-CAR border

Wagner Group Terrorizing Sudanese Gold Miners

Russian mercenaries near Sudan accused of killing hundreds as African gold rush intensifies

C4ADS - PAPER TRAILS: How a Russia-based logistics network ties together Russian mining companies and military contractors in Africa

Trade Data Reveal Shipments to Sudanese Mining Company Linked to Russian Paramilitary Group

The Murder of Three Russian Journalists Should Not Go Unsolved: Russian and Central African Authorities Have Put Little Effort Into Finding the Perpetrators

The Dossier Centre - Final Report on the Murder of Orkhan Dzhemal, Aleksandr Rastogruev and Kirill Radchenko in the Central African Republic

Russians Probed Over Gold in Sudan as West Vies for Influence

CNN Investigation - Russia is plundering gold in Sudan to boost Putin’s war effort in Ukraine

More Than 30 Russians Questioned In Sudan Over Gold Smuggling Case

Sudan Aiming to be Africa’s ‘Next Major Gold Mining Destination’

Treasury Sanctions Russian Proxy Wagner Group as a Transnational Criminal Organization

Executive Order 13581--Blocking Property of Transnational Criminal Organizations

US Dept. of Treasury - Yamaguchi-gumi

US Dept. of Treasury - MS13

US Dept. of Treasury - The Kinahan Organized Crime Group

EU - Wagner Group: Council adds 11 individuals and 7 entities to EU sanctions lists

Al Jazeera - ‘Angry and enraged’: Sudan's former foreign minister on bombings in Khartoum

Artwork by Paulina Rosol-Barrass

Part 1: “Who are these guys and what are they doing here?”

In late February 2022, Airport workers in Khartoum International Airport in Sudan are stood glued to television screens, watching Russian tanks entering the outskirts of Kyiv in Ukraine. But just outside on the runway, a Russian cargo plane laden with cookies was about to take off, heading to Latakia on the coast of Syria.

Earlier that day, officials had inspected the aircraft, suspicious of the cargo manifest. It turned out they were right to be suspicious, because hidden under the cookies was gold. A ton of gold. But the military arrived and the plane was waived through.

Gold is Sudan’s largest export, although 80% of that is thought to be smuggled out of the country. The industry has a number of players, including the Rapid Support Forces who are currently locked in battle with its rival the Sudanese Armed Forces . But there is also another active group that works alongside both these two forces and has its eyes firmly on Sudanese gold - the Wagner Group.

Speaker(s):

Kholood Khair - the Founder and Director of Confluence Advisory, Khartoum.

Ken Opala, the Field Network Coordinator for East and Southern Africa, Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime.

Mohanad Hashim, freelance Sudanese journalist, currently working at the BBC.

Justin Lynch, researcher, and author of Sudan’s Unfinished Democracy.

Additional Reading:

(GI Paper)The grey zone: Russia's military, mercenary and criminal engagement in Africa

(GI Paper) Going for Gold: Russia, sanctions and illicit gold trade

'If you desert, we'll execute you': 'Putin's chef' recruits convicts for war Yevgeny Prigozhin: UK reviews rules after Wagner head sued journalist

UK exposes sick Russian troll factory plaguing social media with Kremlin propaganda

Fake news and public executions: Documents show a Russian company’s plan for quelling protests in Sudan

Wagner chief admits to founding Russian troll farm sanctioned for meddling in US elections

Ukraine capital Kyiv endures Russian onslaught - BBC News

Russia is plundering gold in Sudan to boost Putin’s war effort in Ukraine

Sudan TV broadcast taken off air after loud bangs during military clashes

CNN - How Russia could be stealing over $13 billion of gold a year from Sudan

Sudan fighting: RSF and army clash in Khartoum for third day

Sudan's military removes President Omar al-Bashir | Al Jazeera English

Dmitry Medvedev’s meeting with President of the Republic of the Sudan Omar Al-Bashir

Yevgeny Prigozhin: the hotdog seller who rose to the top of Putin’s war machine

The Chef’s Global Footprints, OCCRP

Sudan defence minister dies of heart attack at Juba peace talks

Hemedti: the feared commander pulling the strings in Sudan

OpenSanctions - Autolex Transport LTD.

Hemetti, senior Russian official agree to strengthen military cooperation

Statement to the United Nations Security Council on the Situation in Darfur, pursuant to UNSCR 1593 (2005)

Sudan: Darfur: “Too many people killed for no reason”

“Men With No Mercy”: Rapid Support Forces Attacks against Civilians in Darfur, Sudan

The Organized Crime Index - Sudan

“They Were Shouting ‘Kill Them’”: Sudan’s Violent Crackdown on Protesters in Khartoum

RSF declare firm commitment to the formation of single army in Sudan

Factbox: Who are Sudan's Rapid Support Forces?

Sudan’s army declares paramilitary RSF ‘rebel’ group: Fighting breaks out between army, paramilitary RSF in Sudan

Sudan's army declares paramilitary RSF 'rebel' group

SUDAN: Hemeti says troops were forced into a confrontation with the Sudanese army

Sudanese army warns against military escalation after RSF deployment in Merowe

Exchange of gunfire heard in northern Sudanese city of Merowe - witnesses

Al Jazeera - Breaking News: Heavy gunfire heard in Sudan’s capital Khartoum

Global Witness - Exposing the RSF's secret financial network

Sudan crisis: The ruthless mercenaries who run the country for gold

Facebook Watch - حميدتي الجزء الخامس

Radio Dabanga - Secret financial network of Sudan’s main militia exposed

The Rapid Support Forces: A Comprehensive Profile

Reuters - Exclusive: Sudan militia leader grew rich by selling gold

Global Witness - Leaked Documents

Sudan Activists Stand Firm Against 'Toxic, Monopolistic' Mining Practices

Heap Leach: Mining’s breakthrough technology

YouTube - 'Sudan 300000 ton per year Heap Leaching for gold tailing'

A Case Report on Cyanidation of Gold Heap Tailings at Agbash Mine in South Darfur State (Sudan)

Sudan activists stand firm against ‘toxic, monopolistic’ mining practices

About 11 civilians killed across Sudan after SAF-RSF clashes

EU imposes sanctions on Sudan’s Meroe gold company

Sudan Looks to Gold to Boost Economy, Denies Russian Smuggling 

Blood and gold: Now Sudan's land wars have spread to mining

Sudan: Minerals Ministry Signs Agreement With Miro Gold of Russia

Treasury Targets Financier’s Illicit Sanctions Evasion Activity

Darfur village left reeling from Wagner Group's CAR massacre

Documents Reveal Wagner’s Golden Ties to Sudanese Military Companies, OCCRP

The U.S. wants to counter China’s moves in Africa. But American officials try not to mention that.

Digital Press Briefing with the Commander of the U.S. Africa Command, U.S. Army General Stephen J. Townsend

Sudan News Agency - موتمر صحفي : دقلو والهادي ادريس بمطار الخرطوم بعد عودتهم من ولايات دافور

Hemeti's CAR coup boast sheds light on Sudanese role in conflict next door

Sudan paramilitary funnelling weapons into Central African Republic, UN report reveals

Russia confirms security companies training Sudanese army

The Mercenaries Behind Russian Operations in Africa

Russian mercenaries accused of deadly attacks on mines on Sudan-CAR border

Wagner Group Terrorizing Sudanese Gold Miners

Russian mercenaries near Sudan accused of killing hundreds as African gold rush intensifies

C4ADS - PAPER TRAILS: How a Russia-based logistics network ties together Russian mining companies and military contractors in Africa

Trade Data Reveal Shipments to Sudanese Mining Company Linked to Russian Paramilitary Group

The Murder of Three Russian Journalists Should Not Go Unsolved: Russian and Central African Authorities Have Put Little Effort Into Finding the Perpetrators

The Dossier Centre - Final Report on the Murder of Orkhan Dzhemal, Aleksandr Rastogruev and Kirill Radchenko in the Central African Republic

Russians Probed Over Gold in Sudan as West Vies for Influence

CNN Investigation - Russia is plundering gold in Sudan to boost Putin’s war effort in Ukraine

More Than 30 Russians Questioned In Sudan Over Gold Smuggling Case

Sudan Aiming to be Africa’s ‘Next Major Gold Mining Destination’

Treasury Sanctions Russian Proxy Wagner Group as a Transnational Criminal Organization

Executive Order 13581--Blocking Property of Transnational Criminal Organizations

US Dept. of Treasury - Yamaguchi-gumi

US Dept. of Treasury - MS13

US Dept. of Treasury - The Kinahan Organized Crime Group

EU - Wagner Group: Council adds 11 individuals and 7 entities to EU sanctions lists

Al Jazeera - ‘Angry and enraged’: Sudan's former foreign minister on bombings in Khartoum

Artwork by Paulina Rosol-Barrass

Africa is often the forgotten continent for things like drug trafficking, but just look around the news, the African continent plays a critical role in the global illicit drug market – and its growing – And no more so than in East and Southern Africa. As global trade has exploded, African organized criminal networks have established relationships with other criminal organizations around the world from the PCC in Brazil to the Comancheros Bikie Gang in New Zealand.

Over the course of a few years, the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime have produced three papers covering the major illicit drug markets in the region - cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamime (crystal meth). These papers cover the movement and transiting of drugs but also the domestic markets - and the findings are that you find drugs everywhere, in coastal cities and rural villages.

In this episode we talk about all three illicit drugs, the markets, those involved and the users themselves.

Speaker(s):

Jason Eligh, Senior Expert, Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime

x2 Anonyomous researchers (Kenya, South Africa)

Happy Assan, Drug Researcher, Tanzania

Additional Reading:

(GI Paper) A Synthetic Age: The Evolution of Methamphetamine Markets in Eastern and Southern Africa - Link

(GI Paper) A Powder Storm: The cocaine markets of East and southern Africa - Link

(GI Paper) A Shallow Flood: The Diffusion of Heroin in Eastern and Southern Africa - Link

(Website) Drug Markets in Eastern and Southern Africa - Link

News Articles:

Record Bust For Mozambique Bound Drugs - Link

Mozambican arrested in Brazil with 5 kg of cocaine hidden in ‘7-day candles’ - Link

BBC News - Fuminho: One of Brazil's most wanted criminals arrested in Mozambique - Link

Insight Crime - Cocaine Trade Grows in East and Southern Africa - Link

Insight Crime - Marcos Willians Herbas Camacho, alias ‘Marcola’ - Link

National commander of Comancheros jailed for conspiring to import 600kg of meth - Link

NZ Herald - Comancheros meth trial: Gang leader Seiana Fakaosilea, co-defendants sentenced - Link

SunStar - CUSTOMS CLARK SEIZES P11.27M WORTH OF METH - Link

Daily Maverick - Tik and cocaine worth billions found in consignments of apples, pears and oranges exported from SA to India - Link

BBC News - Abdul Nsembo and Shamim Mwasha: Tanzania popular fashion blogger and husband get life imprisonment for drug trafficking - Link

AfricaPress - Shamim Mwasha, Husband Sentenced to Life in Prison - Link

What does the term 'Environmental Crime' mean to you? Probably something like elephant or rhino poaching. Perhaps the plight of the pangolin, the adorable little armoured mammal, often sighted as the "most trafficked animal in the world". But it is so much more than that - from the illegal wildlife trade to illicit plastic waste, and from illegal mining to timber trafficking.

The spotlight on environmental crime has never been more prominent, public consciousness around climate change has seen to that. Indeed, environmental crime was implicated in early theories surrounding the origin of COVID-19.

And so, in this episode we'll show you the breadth of research taking place here at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime. Through the story of our global responses to environmental crime we'll show just how integrated different illicit markets are with one another.

(This podcast is based around the paper ‘An analytic review of past responses to ENVIRONMENTAL CRIME and programming recommendations’)

Speaker(s):

Simone Haysom, Thematic Lead on Environmental Crime, Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime

Farai Maguwu, Director at the Center for Natural Resource Governance in Zimbabwe and member of the GI Network of Experts

Vincent Opyene, a state-prosecutor in Uganda, specialising in wildlife crimes and founder of the Natural Resource Conservation Network.

Karla Mendes, Investigative Journalist at Mongabay, a non-profit environmental science and conversation news platform.

Peter Wagner, Director of the Service for Foreign Policy Instruments at the European Commission.

Natalie Pauwels, the Head of Unit, Stability and Peace - Global and Trans regional Threats at the Service for Foreign Policy Instruments at the European Commission.

Ana Paula Oliveira, Analyst at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime and presenter of The Ripple Effect podcast, part of the Assassination Witness Project.

Lucia Bird, Director of the West African Observatory, Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime

Virginia Comolli, Senior Expert, Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime

Jason Eligh, Senior Expert, Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime

Additional Reading:

(GI Paper) An analytic review of past responses to ENVIRONMENTAL CRIME and programming recommendations - Link

(GI Paper) A Synthetic Age: The Evolution of Methamphetamine Markets in Eastern and Southern Africa - Link

(GI Paper) Deep-rooted interests: Licensing illicit logging in Guinea Bissau - Link

(GI Paper) Plastic for profit: Tracing illicit plastic waste flows, supply chains and actors - Link

(GI Paper) Branches of Illegality: Cambodia's illegal logging structures - Link

(GI Paper) Vietnam's virtual landscape for illicit wildlife trading: A snapshot of e-commerce and social media - Link

(GI Paper) Civil Society Observatory of Illicit Economies in Eastern and Southern Africa Risk Bulletin - Issue 25 - Kromah Cartel - Link

Assassination Witness Project - Link

(Podcast) The Ripple Effect - Link

(Podcast) Deep Dive: Exploring Organized Crime - Plastics for Profit - Episode Link

(Podcast) Deep Dive: Exploring Organized Crime - Blood Timber - Episode Link

(EIA Paper) THE SHUIDONG CONNECTION: Exposing the global hub of the illegal ivory trade - Link

(Article) In Brazil, a heavily fined firm is also accused of waging a ‘palm oil war’ on communities - Karla Mendes, Mongabay - Link

CITES - Trade ban proposed to conserve one of Africa's most exploited tree species - Link

The UN's Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) - Link

International Union for the Protection of Nature, 1948 Fontainebleau - Link

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) - Link

P4 - 'Ndrangheta - "The Cocaine Gateway"

The port of Gioia Tauro in Calabria has long been considered one of the main cocaine gateways into Europe. In this episode we're going to tell the story of the 'ndrangheta and this port. How its completion in the 1990s coincided with the rise of the 'ndrangheta, were certain clans control this important node of the international cocaine market.

Our guest Anna Sergi takes us from a 'faida' ('ndrangheta feud) from her childhood in Gioia Tauro to the growth of the Piromalli 'ndrina. And from the "mother of all extortion" to the international expansion of the 'ndrangheta.

Speaker(s):

Anna Sergi, Professor of Criminology at the University of Essex, member of the GI Network of Experts and author of the new book ‘Chasing the Mafia: 'Ndrangheta, Memories and Journeys'.

Twitter

Additional Reading

(Book) Chasing the Mafia: 'Ndrangheta, Memories and Journeys by Anna Sergi

(Podcast) Clan del Golfo: The Fall of Otoniel

(Paper) - Transnational Tentacles: Global Hotspots of Balkan Organized Crime

(Book) Ports, Crime and Security: Governing and Policing Seaports in a Changing World by Anna Sergi, Alexandria Reid, Luca Storti, Marleen Easton.

(Podcast) The Index - episode 3 & 4 "Italy and mafia" - https://link.chtbl.com/TheIndex

The Global Organized Crime Index - Country Profile - Italy

OCCRP - Sting Operation Reveals ‘Ndrangheta-Colombian Cartel Partnership

Europol - Italian operation takes down corrupt port workers facilitating ‘Ndrangheta drug trafficking activities

Europol YouTube - Operation TRE CROCI

Centre for Industrial Studies - THE PORT OF GIOIA TAURO

Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime

Part 3 - "The Chamber of Control"

Woodbridge, Vaughan, Greater Toronto Area, 2014. A man called Carmine Verduci was gunned down outside a sports café. Over the coming days Italian and Canadian law enforcement alleged that Verduci, born in Calabria, was a connecting bridge between 'ndrangheta clans in the Locride area of Calabria and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). He was reported to be a senior member of what is known as 'The Siderno Group'.

In this third episode, Anna Sergi, author of the new book ‘Chasing the Mafia: 'Ndrangheta, Memories and Journeys', talks about the growth of the 'ndrangheta in North America and presence of the 'Siderno Group'.

Speaker(s):

Anna Sergi, Professor of Criminology at the University of Essex, member of the GI Network of Experts and author of the new book ‘Chasing the Mafia: 'Ndrangheta, Memories and Journeys'.

Twitter

Additional Reading

(Book) Chasing the Mafia: 'Ndrangheta, Memories and Journeys by Anna Sergi

(Book) Mafia Republic: Italy's Criminal Curse. Cosa Nostra, 'Ndrangheta and Camorra from 1946 to the Present by John Dickie

(Podcast) The Index - episode 3 & 4 "Italy and mafia" - https://link.chtbl.com/TheIndex

(Podcast) Deep Dive - 'Fishy Business'

The Global Organized Crime Index - Country Profile - Italy

The Global Organized Crime Index - Country Profile - Canada

The Global Organized Crime Index - Country Profile - United States

National Post - 'Carmine Verduci — the man who exposed Mafia's 'Canadian cell' — was gunned down near Toronto yesterday'

Toronto Star - 'Former GTA mob killer speaks out from Italian prison'

CBC - 'Project Sindacato ends in arrests of 9 members of alleged crime family in Vaughan'

Toronto Star - 'Massive GTA Mafia bust collapses. Defence says York police accessed lawyers’ communications'

National Post - 'Italian Mafia boss visiting Canada unwittingly carried a police wiretap to his meetings'

Toronto Sun - 'Reputed Italian crime boss Vincenzo Macrí arrested in Brazil'

Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime

Part 2 - "ndrangheta Royalty Down Under"

In 2007, the Australian Federal Police received a tipoff about a container arriving at the Port of Melbourne. The container had come from Italy and was full of tins of tomatoes, inside those tins was the largest ecstasy bust in the world at that time.

The AFP had discovered an international drug trafficking criminal syndicate at work. At the centre of this was one criminal dynasty, not only were they a prominent Calabrian mafia clan back in Platì, the heart of the 'ndrangheta, but also one of the founding 'ndrangheta clans in Australia.

In this second episode Anna Sergi, author of the new book ‘Chasing the Mafia: 'Ndrangheta, Memories and Journeys', talks about the growth of the 'ndrangheta in Australia through one family, who she describes as "Royalty".

Speaker(s):

Anna Sergi, Professor of Criminology at the University of Essex, member of the GI Network of Experts and author of the new book ‘Chasing the Mafia: 'Ndrangheta, Memories and Journeys'.

Twitter

Additional Reading

(Book) Chasing the Mafia: 'Ndrangheta, Memories and Journeys by Anna Sergi

(Book) Mafia Republic: Italy's Criminal Curse. Cosa Nostra, 'Ndrangheta and Camorra from 1946 to the Present by John Dickie

Anna Sergi blog, University of Essex - A flurry of attention, then collective forgetfulness – 100 years of the ‘ndrangheta Calabrian mafia in Australia

(Podcast) The Index - episode 3 & 4 "Italy and mafia" - https://link.chtbl.com/TheIndex

The Global Organized Crime Index - Country Profile - Italy

The Global Organized Crime Index - Country Profile - Australia

Four Corners (ABC and Fairfax media) - documentary

The Age - Drug accused 'tried to nurture journo'

The Age - Mr Bigs Busted

The Age - Heartache has no end for family of Donald Mackay

The Guardian - Nine charged in raids over gangland murder of Pasquale Barbaro

BBC News - Mafia 'linked to senior Australian politicians'

Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime