High Level Open Debate of the UN Security Council

Addressing the Issue of Linkages between Terrorism and Organized Crime

India Statement

6 August 2020

We thank Indonesia for organizing this most pertinent and very useful debate on an important topic that has been a great concern for all of us. We extend our gratitude to Mr Vladimir Voronkov, USG, UN Office of Counter Terrorism and Ms Ghada Fathi Waly, Executive Director of the UN Office of Drugs and Crime for their informative and insightful briefing. 

Excellencies,

2. Terrorism is one of the most serious threats that mankind faces today. The scourge of terrorism does not distinguish between countries and regions. It is the grossest affront to the enjoyment of the inalienable human right to life and to live in peace and security. India strongly condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. There can be no justification of any form of terrorism. And looking for root causes for terrorism is akin to finding a needle in a haystack. 

3. Today, it is a widely accepted fact that terrorist organizations and organized crime groups both constitute ‘transnational criminal groups”. The adoption of Security Council Resolution 2482 (2019) on this important theme, has also demonstrated the Council’s determination to address the threat emanating from this unholy nexus. Several UN reports have documented incidents of involvement of transnational organized criminals in trafficking persons across borders to facilitate the recruitment of cadres to terrorist organizations. 

4. Organized criminal networks are involved in many different types of criminal activities spanning several countries. These activities may include trafficking in people, drugs, illicit goods and weapons, armed robbery, counterfeiting and money laundering. With revenues estimated in the billons, their criminal enterprises closely resemble those of legitimate international businesses. They have operating models, long-term strategies, hierarchies, and even strategic alliances.

5. Organized criminal networks also help terrorist groups funnel funds into legitimate businesses. There is documented evidence where smuggling of narcotics, natural resources and cultural artefacts are sustained by safe transit corridors provided by terrorist entities. We have seen the destruction created by the narcotic trade in our region that has sustained and funded terrorist networks. It is a well known fact in common law that the accomplice is as culpable as the principal. Thus, by virtue of being in nexus with terrorist groups, transnational organized crime groups become accessories to terrorist acts.

Excellencies,

6. India has been a victim of terrorism sponsored from across our border. We have experienced first-hand the cruel linkage between transnational organized crime and terrorism. An organized crime syndicate, the D-Company, that used to smuggle gold and counterfeit currencies transformed into a terrorist entity overnight causing a series of bomb blasts in the city of Mumbai in 1993. The attack resulted in the loss of more than 250 innocent lives and damage to property worth millions of dollars. The perpetrator of that incident also, unsurprisingly, continues to enjoy patronage in a neighboring country, a hub for arms trafficking and narcotics trade, along with other terrorists and terrorist entities that have been proscribed by the United Nations.

Excellencies, 

7. Over the years, terrorist groups have developed a diversified funding portfolio and raise funds through a range of criminal activities, including but not limited to extortion, kidnapping for ransom, robbery and theft, drug smuggling, and trafficking in blood diamonds, humans and antiquities. Terrorist organizations have also begun to exploit the anonymity afforded by blockchain technology for fundraising and finances. As data increasingly becomes the currency of the future, regulators will have to come up with better solutions to fight terrorism.

8. The COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted the movement of people and material around the world. While nations are focused on delivering healthcare to their people and on tackling the economic impact of the pandemic, organized criminals have, however, been exploiting the crisis to find new avenues for their crimes including illicit trafficking of natural resources, narcotics, fire arms and explosives. 

9. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in their latest research brief have reported that increase in online activity has led to an increase in phishing, credit card fraud, pirated sites for fake donations, and cyberattacks. There have been multiple reports of fake and cloned websites as well as suspicious email addresses. Many of these scams involve coronavirus-related topics, such as the sale of face masks and disinfectants. 

10. The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC), a renowned Geneva-based network of more than 500 organized crime experts, released a valuable report in March 2020 titled “Crime and Contagion: The impact of a pandemic on organized crime.” The paper provides various examples from around the world of how organized crime is coping and ultimately exploiting the COVID-19 nightmare. At this stage, it is imperative for all of us to remain alert on the nature of the symbiotic threat posed by the linkage between terrorism and transnational organized crime and reinvigorate our efforts to counter it. In this regard, we have the following five suggestions:

• One, the success of collective action against the ISIL serves as an example of how focused attention by the international community yields results. A similar focus on addressing threats posed by proscribed individuals and entities such as Dawood Ibrahim and his D-Company, the Lashkar-e-Taiba and the Jaish-e-Mohammad, will serve humankind well. 

• Two, it is important to hold States accountable for activities that support or encourage terrorism from territories under their control. The resolutions of the Security Council make clear the primary responsibility of Member States in countering terrorist acts and in preventing and suppressing their financing. 

• Three, Member States which suffer due to poor governance and inadequate oversight on financial institutions are more vulnerable for exploitation by the terrorist entities and organized criminals. Implementation of recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in strengthening the capabilities of governance structure of financial and economic assets should be one of the topmost priorities to counter the menace.

• Four, the UN needs to enhance its coordination with bodies like the FATF which have been playing a significant role in setting global standards for preventing and combating money laundering and terrorist financing. 

• Finally, with the rapid development of information and communication technology as well as other technologies concerning financial transactions, encryption, mode of transportation and delivery, Member States should remain vigilant in identifying new trends in linkages between terrorist groups / terrorist individuals and organized criminals. 

Excellencies,

11. There is compelling evidence of a broad, geographically dispersed, and continuing connection between terrorism and organized crime. Going forward, we need to work towards enhancing cooperation among law enforcement and governments around the world is needed in the battle against this growing nexus, and meaningful progress will require increased political will, strong legislation, consistent enforcement, intelligence-gathering and sharing, deterrent measures, and innovative solutions. 

We sincerely hope that the today’s discussions will lead to an enhancement in our collective efforts to stem the spread of the menace of terrorism and organized crime. This perhaps will be our biggest contribution to humanity.

Thank you.

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