This report aims to address the following overarching questions: how has the ongoing war against Ukraine affected organized crime and illicit markets in Ukraine, and what are the possible implications for the country, the region and the international community?
These questions are addressed through research into the following six areas:
- Organized crime structures and their evolution
- Drug supply and demand, including production and trafficking
- Online scams, and cyber and telephone fraud
Read more…
Source: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
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