Links with organized crime and other illicit activities can finance and operationally support terrorist acts. These linkages are often most apparent in areas of conflict and instability and have been further exacerbated by the recent expansion of terrorism, especially in Africa.
UNODC, given its broad criminal justice mandate to counter both terrorism and organized crime, has been supporting Member States to put in place policies, legislation, and operational responses to effectively respond to these threats. Addressing the nexus is also one of the priorities of UNODC’s recently launched new Global Programme on Preventing and Countering Terrorism.
UNODC’s Terrorism Prevention Branch and the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), jointly organized an event on the margins of the 11th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, that highlighted trends and challenges in addressing the organized crime and terrorism nexus, as well as the support that UNODC and UNICRI can provide in this regard.
The meeting benefited from the presentations of experts from UNODC, UNICRI, the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization’s Counter-Terrorism Centre of Excellence, and an international expert consultant on cyberspace investigations.
As highlighted by the speakers, many vulnerabilities remain, and terrorists and criminals continue to exploit gaps in States’ criminal justice and border security responses. The transnational nature of this phenomenon demands a global and comprehensive response. The moderator, Ms. Kate Fitzpatrick, UNODC Terrorism Prevention Branch, concluded that “at heart of this challenge is the need for operational and judicial cooperation, as well as enhanced cooperation with the private sector. Only by working together, can we successfully address this complex threat.”