The Global Infinitive Against Transnational Organised Crime has published on 5 May a report saying that the countries involved need to balance welcoming “Belt and Road Initiative” (BRI) investments to build infrastructure and increase prosperity with finding ways to shield themselves from the activities of criminals eager to exploit and infiltrate new infrastructural projects and put their hands on the extra cash injected into local economies – although criminal involvement is a little studied aspect of the BRI, both in policy and research circles. The report is said to be the first mapping of the convergence between BRI infrastructure and criminal flows – taking a close look at existing and potential criminal vulnerabilities in SE Asia as well as central and eastern Africa and identifies areas where BRI projects coincide with trafficking routes for narcotics, illicit environmental commodities and people.
https://globalinitiative.net/analysis/bri-crime/
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