Significant Trends in Illicit Trafficking: A Macro View of the Problem and Potential Means to Address It

The following paper provides an evaluation of recent trends relating to weapons, drug, human, and animal trafficking. The resulting conclusions will be scrutinized in order to determine the extent to which these threats impact the broader security environment within the Atlantic space. While trends pertaining to weapons, drug, human, and wildlife trafficking vary in terms of growth, a growing convergence of trafficking, organized crime, and terrorism has emerged. By examining general trends in these illicit industries, in addition to several country-specific and regional cases, a framework for an overall countertrafficking strategy can be developed. This strategy should be a holistic approach aimed at collectively addressing the various zones of criminal activity as well as integrating synchronized national efforts to curb the threat posed by these trades.