ICAIE New Report on How Iran’s Threat and Illicit Networks Finance Chaos and Malign Influence to Destabilize U.S. Interests in the Americas and Globally

WASHINGTON, February 12, 2024 – Today, the International Coalition Against Illicit Economies (ICAIE), a national security non-governmental organization based in Washington, DC, released a new report entitled, “How Iran’s Threat and Illicit Networks Finance Chaos and Malign Influence to Destabilize U.S. Interests in the Americas and Globally“, co-authored by Douglas Farah and David M. Luna. The New ICAIE policy brief…

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ICAIE Issues New Policy Brief on The Growing Harms of Cross-Border Illicit Trade Vectors and Threat Convergence to Canada’s National Security: Urgent Attention and Action are Needed 

WASHINGTON, DC, USA November 27, 2023: Today, the International Coalition Against Illicit Economies (ICAIE), a national security non-governmental organization based in Washington, DC, released a new report entitled, “The Growing Harms of Cross-Border Illicit Trade Vectors and Threat Convergence to Canada’s National Security“, co-authored by Calvin Chrustie and David M. Luna. The ICAIE policy brief and recommendations…

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ICAIE Senior Advisor Doug Farah’s new USIP Research on Russian Influence Campaign in Latin America

Using disinformation, economic coercion, and covert and overt political action, Moscow has sowed anti-US sentiment and weakened democratic institutions in Latin America—a strategic space critical for Washington—while shaping the behavior of Latin American governments in Russia’s favor. This report examines Russia’s strategic interests, objectives, and tactics in Latin America by exploring its use of media…

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About ICAIE: Information and Strategic Overview 2023-2024

The International Coalition Against Illicit Economies (ICAIE) is a national security-centric NGO based in Washington DC. ICAIE continues to bring global leadership in advancing public-private partnerships to counter illicit economies, criminalized trade, counterfeits, illegal opioids, cybercrime, money laundering/trade-based money laundering (TBML), threat finance, corruption and other criminality.

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Unraveling China’s Impact: Exploring Taxation, Illicit Trade, and the Nicotine Market in theUnited States (Harms to U.S. National Security)

Prepared ICAIE Statement at Briefing for U.S. Congressional StaffBi-Partisan Tax and Trade Staff Association (Ways and Means Committee)Select Committee on ChinaAppropriations CommitteeForeign Affairs CommitteeHomeland Security Committee David M. LunaExecutive Director, International Coalition Against Illicit Economies (ICAIE)Rayburn House Office BuildingWashington, DC25 July 2023 Over the years, in both my US government and private sector capacities, I…

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ICAIE New Policy Brief – Mobile Payments and Mirror Swaps: Money Laundering Threats That Are Getting Worse (July 2023)

This ICAIE policy brief will summarize mobile payments (M-payments) evolution as a money laundering methodology. The initial focus will be on the use and growth of M-payments and resultant money laundering in the developing world. The policy brief will then describe the Black Market Peso Exchange (BMPE) and the introduction of mirror swaps or the…

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Rapidly Transforming Hemispheric Security Threat Environment in Latin America: ICAIE Briefing to SOUTHCOM, 9 June 2023

An honor for ICAIE to brief U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) and other partners in Miami this week on the Rapidly Transforming Hemispheric Threat Environment including transnational organized crime, illicit trade, terrorist financing, money laundering/TBML and corruption across Latin America. ICAIE collaborates across sectors to leverage threat intelligence and harness collective action to disrupt and dismantle…

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China Desk: Interview with ICAIE’s John Cassara

China Desk (Federal Newswire) June 2023 Interview with ICAIE’s John Cassara on his new book China – Specified Unlawful Activities: CCP Inc., Transnational Crime and Money Laundering. Cassara is an expert in anti-money laundering and counter-terror finance, with special expertise in money laundering in the Middle East and the growing threat of alternative remittance systems…

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Transnational Criminal Organizations: The Menacing Threat to the U.S. Homeland

Testimony of Douglas FarahPresident, IBI Consultants, LLCBefore theHouse Committee on Homeland SecuritySubcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement and Intelligence The multi-billion dollar illicit economies in Latin America, centered on the cocaine trade but diversifying to new commodities and activities, are undergoing profound restructuring with long-term strategic repercussions for the United States and its allies in the…

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Internationalizing the Fight against Hubs of Illicit Trade (HIT) and Criminalized Markets

In February 2021, the Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center (TraCCC) and its Anti-Illicit Trade Institute (AITI) embarked on a two-year research project to examine “Hubs of Illicit Trade” around the world. Academic literature and studies have shown hubs of illicit trade and illicit economies facilitate the production, illegal trade, and trafficking of counterfeit and…

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