Publications /
Policy Brief

Back
Commodity Smuggling in the Maghreb: A Silent Threat
Authors
Alexander Babuta
Cathy Haenlein
May 17, 2018

Though largely silent, and not often associated with the same levels of violence as other forms of organized crime, illicit trade threatens national and broader regional security in myriad ways. Insufficiently appreciated, first and foremost, is the way in which the cross-border smuggling of everyday commodities can open up pathways for trafficking in illegal goods, such as drugs and arms. Far from being an ‘innocent’ phenomenon, it can form a critical part of much broader, largerscale illicit networks, with significant negative impacts on national and regional security. In many cases, it intersects with higher-profile forms of trafficking, and with the operations of non-state armed actors. In light of this, it is clear that effective responses are needed ;and the current response must not treat illicit trade as a distinct, discrete problem, to be addressed separately to other criminal activity in the region.

RELATED CONTENT

  • Authors
    Paul Isbell
    October 9, 2024
    From a realist perspective, during a period of rising multipolarity, the Atlantic Basin can be identified as an emerging geostrategic region and a potential focal point of geostrategic competition, especially in the Southern Atlantic, raising the sub-basin’s strategic significance and its potential strategic autonomy. The liberal perspective – although its highest goal might be a global multilateral order – has embraced regionalism before, under the bipolar international regime of t ...
  • Authors
    Antonio Jorge Martins
    October 9, 2024
    The road to decarbonizing the planet runs through the energy transition, which includes the shift from fossil-fueled cars to renewable energy vehicles. This automotive transition is unfolding as a true revolution in the industry. The evolution toward electric and hybrid vehicles has come in tandem with the ascent of Chinese producers. In the current context of geopolitical and technological rivalries, the automotive transition has been marked by an intense trade war, with implicati ...
  • October 8, 2024
    في هذه الحلقة من برنامج حديث الثلاثاء، نستضيف السيد عبد الله ساعف لمناقشة دور المؤسسات والمقاولات العمومية في تطوير الاقتصاد المغربي منذ الاستقلال، وكيف ساهمت في تفعيل السياسات العمومية. كما نسلط الضوء على الإصلاحات الحالية لإعادة هيكلتها وتحديثها، مع التركيز على تحديات الحكامة وسبل تحس...
  • October 7, 2024
    The Policy Center for the New South organized a roundtable on September 30th, focusing on the dynamics of the upcoming US Elections. This event featured a presentation by David Sylvan, Affiliate Professor at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University and an expert in US foreign policy and polit...
  • October 04, 2024
    Christopher Adams from Oxford University shares his expertise on Africa's economic landscape. He highlights the significant strides African governments and central banks have made over th ...
  • October 3, 2024
    Le Policy Center for the New South a organisé une présentation de l'ouvrage collectif intitulé " Les Établissements et entreprises publics au Maroc: Les autres figures de l’État ", sous la direction de notre Senior Fellow M. Abdallah Saaf. Cet événement s'est déroulé le vendredi 27 sept...
  • Authors
    October 3, 2024
    In an era marked by shifting global dynamics, Africa and the Middle East are experiencing a profound transition from traditional geopolitics to a more nuanced geoeconomic framework. This evolution reflects the growing recognition that economic interests, rather than mere political allegiances, are driving international relations in these regions. The rise of emerging powers, particularly China and other Asian nations, has challenged the long-standing dominance of Western economies, ...
  • October 3, 2024
    Le Policy Center for the New South a organisé une présentation de l'ouvrage collectif intitulé " Les Établissements et entreprises publics au Maroc: Les autres figures de l’État ", sous la direction de notre Senior Fellow M. Abdallah Saaf. Cet événement s'est déroulé le vendredi 27 sept...