Transnational Organized Crime

This edited book (volume 2) focuses on exploring the regional security issues associated with transnational unconventional organized crime. The book is divided into 4 sections: Part 1: Europe Part 2: Asia and the Middle East Part 3: Africa Part 4: South America Transnational unconventional organized crime pose a significant and growing threat to national and global security affecting public safety, human security, public health, economic and governmental stability. Not to mention the contributions transnational organized crime makes to terrorist financing. The adaptive nature of transnational organized crime group as well as terrorist and insurgent organizations makes them capable of innovating in real-time to exploit natural disasters, social crisis and global pandemics. Currently with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, transnational organized crime has flourished taking advantage of the unprecedented opportunities for illicit activities. For example as reported in TRACIT (2020) : Worldwide reports indicate a surge in the availability and type of fraudulent medical products intended to exploit the fears of consumers, which includes illicit offerings of falsified versions of treatments such as Hydroxychloroquine and Azithromycin that will harm or kill already vulnerable patients. Joint operations by the World Customs Organization, Europol and Interpol have resulted in a significant increase in seizures of counterfeit and unauthorized face masks and hand sanitizers.