Transnational criminal organizations, corrupt regimes, terrorist groups, and other “threat networks” support a yearly multi-trillion-dollar industry in illicit trade around the world. Illicit activities that account for “dark commerce” contribute to security and enforcement challenges and destroy economies and markets. They range from human and drug trafficking to pillaging oil, gold, diamonds, and natural resources to cybercrime and stolen antiquities.
A new multi-disciplinary institute under the auspices of George Mason University’s Terrorism, Transnational Crime, and Corruption Center in the Schar School of Policy and Government will tackle this global issue with research, education, and training. The Anti-Illicit Trade Institute—called AITI—will be spearheaded by TraCCC founding director Louise Shelley and David M. Luna, a former senior U.S. diplomat and national security official and president and CEO of Luna Global Networks and Convergence Strategies LLC.
The stakes are incomparably high, said Shelley.
“’Dark commerce’ has grown in scale and the scope of its harm through its rapid expansion in cyberspace and social media,” said Shelley. “Its growth threatens the sustainability of life on the planet.”
“The illegal economy poses an existential threat to all communities when it begins to create criminalized markets and captured states,” said Luna. “We must harness market intelligence and smarter strategies to help governments and the private sector combat the lethal nexus of illicit trade and threat networks.”
Beginning in 2020, the Arlington, Va.-based AITI will include a core of anti-illicit trade executive-tailored courses and on-line instruction related to developing effective strategies for fighting illicit markets; investigating and prosecuting illicit trade; targeting webs of corruption and criminality by “following the money”; tackling cybercrime and dismantling on-line markets related to Intellectual Property crime, including counterfeit and pirated goods; and other important anti-crime and criminal justice areas.
“Professor Shelley and TraCCC continue to be respected pioneers within academia and across the international community through their cutting-edge research and professional instruction to address today’s transnational security threats, as well as playing a vital role in educating future national security leaders and champions of the rule of law, transparency, and good governance,” said Mark J. Rozell, dean of the Schar School. “We are also grateful that David Luna will be leading our AITI and helping to anchor it as a globally-recognized hub for knowledge, action, and partnerships to fight illicit trade and converging threats.”
See the announcement about the creation of the new AITI here.