This cluster brings together research on environmental crime, maritime crime, financial flows, and cyber threats, advancing academic and policy understanding of organized crimes that transcend national boundaries.
The Environmental Crime research cluster is one of the strategic focuses within the Transnational Organized Crime (ToC) Laboratory, examining various forms of legal violations against the environment that are cross-border in nature. Issues such as wildlife trafficking, illegal logging, destruction of tropical forests, illegal mining, transboundary marine pollution, and even ecocide are the main concerns of this cluster.
Through an interdisciplinary approach combining International Relations studies, international law, and non-traditional security perspectives, this cluster seeks to address global challenges in environmental law enforcement and natural resource governance. Research within this cluster not only maps the patterns of environmental crimes, but also evaluates the effectiveness of international cooperation, the role of transnational organizations, and the socio-ecological impacts on local communities.
The Maritime Crime research cluster focuses on the study of various forms of crimes occurring in the seas and waters under national jurisdiction as well as in international waters. Issues of concern include maritime piracy, smuggling of people and illegal goods, Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing (IUU Fishing), cross-border drug trafficking, and marine pollution caused by industrial activities or hazardous waste.
Through the lens of International Relations studies and non-traditional security, this cluster explores how international cooperation, maritime policy, and capacity-building of both state and non-state actors can effectively address maritime threats. Additionally, research in this cluster examines the role of regional organizations such as ASEAN, the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), and international legal frameworks like UNCLOS in promoting inclusive and sustainable maritime security governance.
The Transnational Financial Crime research cluster discusses the dynamics and complexities of criminal activities involving illegal cross-border financial flows, such as money laundering, terrorism financing, global-scale tax evasion, and cross-border corruption. This cluster highlights how financial crime is an integral part of global organized crime networks that threaten economic stability, national security, and the integrity of the international financial system.
Research in this cluster examines policy responses and international cooperation mechanisms, including the roles of institutions such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the World Bank, and regional bodies in preventing and addressing financial crimes. Attention is also given to practices of financial transparency, the use of technology in tracking illegal assets, and the socio-political impact of illicit financial practices on developing countries.
The Cybercrime research cluster focuses on exploring threats and crime dynamics that occur in digital and virtual spaces, which are cross-border in nature and increasingly complex. Issues studied include hacking, data theft, malware dissemination, digital fraud, identity-based cybercrime, and cyberattacks targeting critical national infrastructure and international organizations.
Research in this cluster emphasizes the importance of international collaboration in building secure, fair, and inclusive cyber governance. This cluster also examines international and regional legal frameworks, cyber norms in inter-state relations, and the involvement of non-state actors in the digital security ecosystem. In addition, attention is given to how cybercrime affects human rights, privacy, and digital sovereignty.
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