The Index

Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime
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  • TRUE CRIME

The Index is a podcast based around the Global Organized Crime Index, an online tool that ranks levels of criminality and resilience in 193 countries. From drug trafficking and mafia-style crimes to criminal justice and security – In this series we’ll take a deep dive into the Global Organized Crime Index with leading experts and look at some of the biggest organized crime threats facing countries and regions around the world. The Index was nominated for 'Best Video Podcast' at the 2024 Publishers Podcast Awards. Disclaimer: This series was funded in part by a grant from the United States Department of State. The opinions, findings and conclusions stated herein are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of State.

  1. AUG 6

    The arrest of Celso Gamboa Sanchez: What's going on in Costa Rica?

    Celso Gamboa Sanchez, a former security minister and judge from Costa Rica, was arrested in June 2025 on international drug-trafficking charges. He denies the allegations. What makes the arrest interesting is that the federal indictment filed by the US included a request for his extradition. This is something which was only made possible in May 2025 when Costa Rica's constitution was amended so that nationals could be extradited to the US (or other countries with bilateral agreements) on in international drug trafficking and terrorism charges. Costa Rica has long been seen as one of the more "stable" countries in Costa Rica. But that image is beginning to change. In 2023 the country fell into the "high criminality" category on the Organized Crime Index, after having previously been considered "low criminality" in 2021. We explore how criminality is changing in the country, and what is being done about it. 🎙 Featuring Mauricio Vieria, Chair on Countering Illicit Trade and Preventing Transnational Organized Crime, University for Peace 🎤 Hosted by Thin Lei Win 🔗 Learn more at ocindex.net

    18 min

  2. JUL 22

    Cyber scams, tax evasion, and billion-dollar embezzlement: Financial Crimes in the Mekong

    Since the Covid-19 pandemic, cyber scams have surged across the Mekong region. Abandoned casinos and hotels have been turned into “scam compounds” serving as bases for romance scams, fake call centres, Ponzi schemes, and voice-phishing operations. These schemes have tricked hundreds of people to transfer money into mule accounts. But the problem goes far deeper. Criminal networks are profiting from tax evasion, smuggling, and large-scale embezzlement. In 2024, Vietnamese billionaire Truong My Lan was sentenced to death (since converted to life in prison) for embezzling $12 billion from the Saigon Commercial Bank. But what’s driving the rise in financial crime across Southeast Asia? And what connects these cases? 🎙 Featuring BC Tan, Managing Director and Head of Investigations for Southeast Asia at Kroll 🎤 Hosted by Thin Lei Win 🔗 Learn more at ocindex.net This podcast has been funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The views expressed in this publication are the author's alone and are not necessarily the views of the Australian Government.

    19 min
  3. Season 2! Underworlds with Mark Shaw - Underworlds with Mark Shaw

    TRAILER

    Season 2! Underworlds with Mark Shaw - Underworlds with Mark Shaw

    Underworlds with Mark Shaw is returning for another season. Mark sits down with authors to discuss their investigations into the murky world of organized crime. In season two, we hear about a range of stories such as money laundering and cryptocurrency; the 'Ndrangheta's expansion from Calabria, Italy to other countries of Europe. Also the story of a leading South African police officer, who was tasked with investigating the Italian mafia in South Africa by Nelson Mandela. A fascinating story about one of the largest frauds in the history of the maritime industry. The growth and evolution of ransomware market, and finally a history of modern Russia told through the stories of four very different criminals. The series is hosted by Mark Shaw, the Director of the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime. Mark is also an author of a number of books on organized crime in South Africa. ==================================================== 📱 Youtube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@UCP-lqJdhM-9iDKkswuVcXZA 🌎 VISIT US! Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime - https://globalinitiative.net/ 🎧WHY NOT TRY OUR OTHER PODCASTS: 🎧Deep Dive: Exploring Organized Crime - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXSX1Xu1kM0spSX0QUq7j0NmIZOqyDTZQ 🎧The Index - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXSX1Xu1kM0uc_4CftGl8PrwHA3IK5WeI =================================================== FOLLOW US X - @gitoc LinkedIn - @Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime IG - @gi_toc ===================================================

    2 min

  4. JUN 12

    Arms Trafficking in Pakistan

    Millions of unregistered firearms, surging drug addiction, and cross-border trafficking have turned Pakistan into a hotspot for organized crime. Corruption and economic instability have allowed illicit markets — from heroin to weapons — to flourish. Terrorist groups like the Tehrik-e-Taliban are thriving in this landscape, carrying out deadly attacks and deepening insecurity. And in the midst of this unrest, a suicide bombing in Pahalgam that killed 26 Indian tourists has reignited military tensions with India — adding fuel to the long-standing conflict over Indian-administered Kashmir. According to the OC Index, arms trafficking in Pakistan is only getting worse - the criminal market scored 8.5 out of 10 in 2023, an increase of 0.5 from 2021 – placing it alongside the likes of Russia, Mexico, Turkey and others. Presenter: Thin Lei Win Speaker(s): Paddy Ginn, Senior Analyst, Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime Links: Pakistan Country Profile The Global Organized Crime Index

    24 min
  5. Who is making Russia's drones? The migrant women exploited for Russia's war economy

    MAY 13

    Who is making Russia's drones? The migrant women exploited for Russia's war economy

    The full-scale war in Ukraine has been raging for three years now. One of the defining military developments during this conflict has been the use of drones. And both sides have utilised them with devastating effect. These include the small drone operators dropping bombs on unsuspecting troops to the Iranian-designed Shahed kamikaze drones smashing into residential buildings in Ukrainian cities. In Russia, where many people have been drafted into the military, the country has seen a labour shortage in key industries that support its war machine. One such industry is the manufacture of Shahed drones, which are now built in Russia. In 2023, reports about the people building these drones emerged, first in the Russian media, and then in an investigation by the Associated Press. The AP investigation revealed that Russian drone manufacturers had been falsely recruiting young women from a number of African countries, such as Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, South Sudan, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria – to work in a drone factory located in the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Russia’s Tatarstan. The young women applied through an online advertisement called ‘Alabuga Start’, which falsely advertised a work-study program in industries like catering or hospitality and offered free plane tickets and money. But the workers are unaware of the reality where they were put to work in factories building drones that would be launched against Ukraine. According to the Global Organized Crime Index – labour exploitation and false recruitment practices fall under human trafficking, as it involves “a form of coercion, deception, abduction or fraud” – and Eastern Africa leads globally for the most pervasive human trafficking market (with a score of 7.78 out of 10). 6 out of the 9 countries in the region, roughly 67%, score eight or higher for Human Trafficking and is only equalled in the region by arms trafficking. Russia itself has relatively high levels as well, at 7.5 out of 10. This episode will address concerns around the example of Alabuga Start and whether or not it is an example of human trafficking. Presenter: Thin Lei Win Speaker(s): Julia Stanyard, Senior Analyst, Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime Links Paper - Who is making Russia's drones? The migrant women exploited for Russia's war economy Russia Country Profile Ukraine Country Profile South Africa Country Profile Uganda Country Profile Kenya Country Profile Rwanda Country Profile South Sudan Country Profile Nigeria Country Profile Sierra Leone Country Profile The...

    20 min

  6. APR 23

    Cannabis legalization efforts in Morocco

    In August 2024, King Mohammed VI pardoned over 4800 Cannabis farmers in Morocco. This came as part of the country’s wider legalization efforts to tap into the economic potential of the booming global cannabis market. Morocco is one of the world's leading cannabis producers, and in 2021 it approved a bill regulating cannabis cultivation for medical, pharmaceutical and industrial purposes. According to the Global Organized Crime Index, this step towards better regulation has contributed to Morocco’s increased resilience score for National Policies and Laws from 6.0 to 6.5. However, the vast majority of Morocco's territorial areas of cultivation remain in the hands of the illicit economy. With a score of 9 out of 10, Morocco currently sits at the top of the OC Index for Cannabis Trade. Presenter: Thin Lei Win Speaker(s): Raouf Farrah, Senior Analyst, Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime Links Webinar - Morocco’s regularization of cannabis production: Anticipated impacts on the illicit cannabis economy Morocco Country Profile The Global Organized Crime Index Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime

    17 min

  7. 12/10/2024

    Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs in Canada

    In Canada, Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs, often referred to as a "1%" Club, include infamous names like the Hells Angels, The Outlaws, Bandidos. The Hells Angels are reported to have over 450 chapters across almost 60 countries around the world – many of those are in Canada. According to Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the RCMP, Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs, are involved in a range of illicit markets – fraud, counterfeiting, money laundering, extortion, corruption, drug trafficking, illicit firearms trafficking, violence and murder. According to the Global Organized Crime Index, Canada has very high levels of resilience to organized crime, with a score of 7.21 out of 10 – placing it 23rd globally. On the other side of the coin, Canada has low levels of criminality – with 3.88 out of 10 – sitting 160th out of 193 countries. The Criminal Actor score is 3.9 out of 10, BUT mafia style groups is the highest form of criminal actor at 5/10, and outlaw motorcycle gangs are the most widespread in Canada, with Nova Scotia of particular interest due to its port of entry for illegal drugs. In this episode, Thin sits down with Conor King, from the Victoria Police Department to discuss the role of outlaw motorcycle clubs in the illicit economies of Canada. Presenter: Thin Lei Win Speaker(s): Conor King, Detective Inspector, Victoria Police Department, Canada Links Canada Country Profile The Global Organized Crime Index Washington Post - Iran turns to Hells Angels and other criminal gangs to target critics Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime

    22 min

  8. 11/19/2024

    Vietnam & human trafficking

    In August police in Vietnam uncovered an infant trafficking ring which had purchased and resold at least 16 infants, ages ranging from just days to a few months old, leading to further investigations that uncovered 84 suspected trafficking cases across 32 provinces. In this episode, we delve into the harrowing realities of human trafficking in Vietnam. For more than two decades the country has been a source, destination, and transit point, with a troubling score of 7 out of 10 on the Global Organized Crime Index. Criminal actors involved include local recruitment agencies, family members and acquaintances of victims, and foreign actors such as Chinese and Korean ‘bride recruitment’ brokers. Criminals are increasingly professional, and form closed interprovincial, transnational and international networks. Vietnam's resilience to human trafficking, more specifically, Victim and Witness Support and especially Non-State Actors scores were critically low in the 2023 OC Index assessment. Presenter: Thin Lei Win Speaker(s): Hai Thanh Luong, Research Fellow, School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Griffith University Links Vietnam Country Profile The Global Organized Crime Index Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime

    18 min
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Trailers

About

The Index is a podcast based around the Global Organized Crime Index, an online tool that ranks levels of criminality and resilience in 193 countries. From drug trafficking and mafia-style crimes to criminal justice and security – In this series we’ll take a deep dive into the Global Organized Crime Index with leading experts and look at some of the biggest organized crime threats facing countries and regions around the world. The Index was nominated for 'Best Video Podcast' at the 2024 Publishers Podcast Awards. Disclaimer: This series was funded in part by a grant from the United States Department of State. The opinions, findings and conclusions stated herein are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of State.

Information

  • Creator
    Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    40
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime
  • Show Website
    The Index

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