CRIME & TERRORISM NEXUS IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Abstract

This article analyses the association between crime and terrorism in the Middle East. Diversification has been key to their survival and these groups systematically engage in less policed forms of illicit trade where they can make regular profits to sustain activities with minimal disruption to their supply chains. The Middle East region has witnessed a myriad of challenges ranging from political, authoritarian regimes, poverty, and economic to social problems. These difficulties are easily manipulated by radical terrorist organisations. There is also the wider consequence of the criminalised global Muslim community, travelling to the Middle East and participating in the terrorist activities of the Islamic State (ISIS). These individuals or groups may eventually return to their home countries and pose a significant security threat. Criminality being leveraged as a result of those push factors is not a new idea. The Taliban have capitalised on Afghan heroin production while Hezbollah has benefited from the South American illicit narcotics trade for decades while the Irish Republican Army’s (IRA) involvement with contraband cigarettes and the counterfeit of consumer goods have also been documented. Their actions become rationalised. The crime terror nexus is also not limited to conventional terror groups such as ISIS. When looking at the escalating Lone Wolf Terrorism (LWT) phenomenon, Zeman, et. al. (2018), determined that previous criminal history constituted almost 60 per cent of the sample taken. These findings reflect those of Gill, et al. (2016) where it was found that close to half of the lone wolves studied had previous criminal convictions. Hamm & Spaaij (2017) also demonstrates the role criminality plays in the radicalisation process. A strong conclusion can be made: The convergence of criminal and terrorist agendas is real and has profound implications for how jihadists, groups or otherwise operate adding yet another layer for PCVE advocates to overcome.