Statement by Vassily Nebenzia, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the UN at the high-level open VTC debate of UNSC members on addressing the issue of linkages between terrorism and organized crime
Mr. President,
At the outset, allow me to express appreciation for organizing an open debate on countering the linkages between terrorism and organized crime. We are particularly grateful for participation of your Foreign Minister H.E. Retno Lestari Priansari Marsudi in this debate and presiding over it. We also thank Mr. Voronkov and Ms. Waly for their reports on projects and initiatives, developed by the UN Counter-Terrorism Office and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. Russia continuously underscores the importance of mutually-beneficial cooperation between these entities on a wide range of new challenges and threats.
Our delegation also fully supports the intention to further address the issue of nexus between terrorism and transnational organized crime in the Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee in line with resolution 2482.
The close interaction between criminal and terrorist groups greatly enhances their destructive potential and, in many instances, exacerbates conflicts. Terrorists and criminals rapidly modify their means of cooperation to meet new circumstances, often outpacing law-enforcement and intelligence agencies.
Our particular concern is the radicalization of members of organized criminal groups who subsequently join terrorist organizations. In this regard special attention should be paid to the efforts aimed at countering the ideology of terrorism.
Interaction with transnational organized crime is the most important source of financial and logistical support for terrorists, let alone access to weapons supply. Various terrorist groups continue to profit from arms and drug trafficking, and the smuggling of cultural property. The Russian Federation calls for enhanced cooperation in order to identify, trace and prosecute all individuals and organizations sponsoring terrorists.
I would also like to draw your attention to the recent dangerous developments when terrorists benefit from fraudulent activities in the ranks of pseudo-humanitarians affiliated with them. The nexus that is indeed corrupt by nature. For example, you all may have seen media reports that testify to the financial frauds committed by the ex-head of the “White Helmets” organization, Mr. James Le Mesurier. Law enforcement agencies of a number of donor countries are aware of financial abuses of this organization with an extremely dubious reputation. We are talking about overstatement of wages, misappropriation of funds during the evacuation of "White Helmets" members from Syria, as well as tax evasion. Let me remind you that the total amount of donor contributions to the “White Helmets” was about 100 million USD.
We are also convinced that the suppression of terrorist activities in Syria and Iraq would have been possible much faster if the terrorists had not been able to establish large-scale and sustainable supplies of military and dual-use goods with the help of external sponsors.
We note that the problem of stemming the flows of any types of military equipment to terrorist organizations is of independent importance and requires special attention of the international community.
In addition to combating the supply of weapons to terrorists, the Russian Federation is making active efforts to counter financing of terrorism. In most cases, the criminal activity is carried out by persons located in the areas of armed conflict in the Middle East. The cross-border nature of electronic payments and the emergence of new financial instruments necessitate the capacity development of states in the fight against this phenomenon.
We are particularly concerned about the strong linkage between terrorists and drug lords. For example, in the Afghan province of Badakhshan, the struggle continues between ISIS and the Taliban for the control over the "northern route" of drug trafficking from Afghanistan through the Central Asian states.
In this regard, we would like to remind you of the call to all sides of the intra-Afghan dialogue, contained in UN Security Council Resolution 2513, to address the issue of drug trafficking. Neutralizing the link between terrorism and drug-related crimes should become an important factor in the political process in Afghanistan. It should be also taken into account in the context of delisting of individuals, groups, enterprises and organizations included in the sanctions list of the 1988 Security Council Committee.
The recent seizure of the largest consignment of captagon (type of amphetamine) from the Middle East in southern Italy is a clear evidence of broadening nexus between terrorist activities and drug trafficking. Reportedly, the proceeds from the sale of these drugs were intended to finance ISIS.
Mr. President,
Trafficking in cultural property is used to launder the proceeds of crime and is a recognized source of terrorist financing. Unfortunately, states continue to face a lack of resources to ensure proper border control, shortcomings in mechanisms for prosecuting smugglers are revealed, and obstacles to the confiscation and return of cultural property are emerging.
The undeniable existence of the linkage between terrorism and organized crime requires a whole range of measures in all areas in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2482. In this regard, the issue of the need to harmonize and modernize multilateral international treaties on extradition and legal assistance in criminal cases, as well as mechanisms for the transfer of criminal proceedings between interested jurisdictions, becomes relevant.
Another major step in countering the linkage is the universal criminalization of participation in an organized criminal group, as provided for by the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, and the provision of severe penalties for this crime. In our opinion, the Convention is one of the most effective anti-crime instruments. We attach particular importance to the mechanism currently being developed for reviewing the implementation of the Convention.
We also believe that one of the most effective instruments to counter the linkage is depriving criminals of illegal income. In this regard, I would like to remind you of the Russian Federation initiative to conclude a new UN universal agreement within the UN, aimed at confiscating and returning to the countries of origin of illegally exported assets.
Another important step would be the establishment of mechanisms for exchange of information between counter-terrorism, customs, border, intelligence and other agencies. It is also necessary to develop cooperation between the special services and local authorities, as well as the business community.
We know the work of such regional organizations as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and Collective Security Treaty Organization in the development of policies and strategies in the field of security, in the creation of more effective mechanisms of cooperation and assistance in the fight against terrorism and organized crime. Their experience should be studied and taken into account.
Thank you.
