Illicit Trade Hubs in Europe

TraCCC conducted research on the flows and supply chains of illicit and counterfeit tobacco and cigarettes in and through Europe. This work explored the connections with historical trade routes, organized crime and threat finance. Work was done in conjunction with trade and organized crime experts and researchers in France and Italy.

This project took place from September 2017 to April 2019 and generated a report on the trade and a conference to disclose results of the research.

The goal of this year-long international project was to produce policy relevant research focusing on two major Mediterranean criminal hubs that are pivotal points for the entry of illicit products into the European Union:  Naples and Marseille. In both of these hubs we examined the convergence of illicit cigarette trade with other forms of trade, and whether this illicit trade is being used to fund terrorism. We analyzed the different ways that the illicit tobacco trade operates in different contexts, converges with other forms of illicit trade and the environments in which it funds other forms of illicit trade, criminal and/or terrorist activities.