20th Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum – Illicit trade, trade-based money laundering, adversarial foreign investments, adversarial threats
To begin the panel on illicit trade, trade-based money laundering, and adversarial investments and threats, Prof. Realuyo speaks about maritime trade that constitutes 80% of global trade and is vulnerable to illicit trafficking and criminal exploitation – a fact that all countries must take into consideration in national security issues.
Prof. Realuyo discusses how security, prosperity, and governance are directly threatened by global illicit trafficking exacerbate by the COVID-19 pandemic and global supply chain disruptions. She points out that human trafficking and drug trafficking between South America and the USA takes place in the maritime as well as land domain and that China, Iran, Russia, and other external actors are playing an increasing role in illicit trafficking in the region. The situation in Venezuela is worsening under the Maduro regime with the assistance of these external actors. Competition with these countries has always existed, but now is developing in an evolving battlefield. Now that all countries face a convergence of national security threats , the USA and partner countries need to expand their understanding of illicit trade, leverage financial intelligence to combat illicit trafficking including in the maritime domain, and promote international cooperation to combat enemies.
