Transnational Environmental Crime: applying network theory to an investigation of illegal trade, criminal activity and law enforcement responses

This project will investigate emerging trends in transnational environmental crime and examine the conditions for successful regulatory and enforcement responses. The significance of this research derives from the environmental costs, the involvement of organised criminal groups, and the cross-over crimes such as corruption and money laundering that together render this an important security and environmental issue for Australia. The expected outcomes include empirical advances and theoretical innovation through the application of network models to an under-researched area of transnational crime, and an improved knowledge base for the development of informed and effective policy-making, law enforcement and compliance tools.