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...

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

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