The Agenda of the United Nations places significant emphasis on addressing illicit financial flows (IFFs) as a top priority, which is reflected in their SDG target 16.4 which aims to “significantly reduce illicit financial and arms flows, strengthen the recovery and return of stolen assets, and combat all forms of organized crime by 2030.”

Thought Arbitrage Research Institute (TARI) prepared a comprehensive report titled “Hidden Streams: Linkages Between Illicit Markets, Financial Flows, Organised Crime and Terrorism” for FICCI’s Committee Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities Destroying the Economy (CASCADE). Our report was launched by Mr. Sanjay Kumar Aggarwal, Chairman Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, Mr. Anil Rajput, Chairman of FICCI CASCADE and Mr. Anil Sinha, Former Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation during the 9th edition of MASCRADE (Movement Against Smuggling and Counterfeit Trade) held in New Delhi on 28 th September 2023 at ITC Maurya, New Delhi.

Our Report studies the hidden linkages in 122 countries and unveils a strong positive link and the relationship between organised crime actors and the illegal economy, including trade-based money laundering, counterfeiting, arms and drug trafficking and terrorism and crime. The study has a special focus on India and analyses the illegal economy, organised crime and terror by comparing it to the 122 benchmarked countries. Please go through our report for findings, key insights and policy recommendations.

The link to access the report is : https://www.ficcicascade.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/illegal-economy-report.pdf