Transnational linkages between violence-oriented right-wing extremism/terrorism and organized crime: challenges and opportunities for multilateral and institutional cooperation

Mitigating the risks emanating from the financing of violence oriented-right wing extremism and terrorism, also referred to as violent extremism and terrorism based on xenophobia, racism, and other forms of intolerance, or in the name of religion and belief (XRIRB), presents a challenge for Member States. Many of these groups have not yet been designated as terrorism related yet present a growing challenge to domestic security and develop increasing transnational links. Tackling the income streams and disrupting the methods through which they can raise finances is a key strategy to hinder their operations. As outlined by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)  and the Counter Extremism Project (CEP), transnational XRIRB networks deploy six general funding strategies: a) donations and payment for online content, including in cryptocurrencies, b) income from music production, sale and music events, including large-scale festivals, c) assets generated through combat sport competition, gyms and related fan wear, d) the online and offline sale of merchandise, e) income generated through real estate and f) finances generated through the use of criminal methods, including in cooperation with organized crime networks. Cooperation of such individuals and entities with organized crime presents an opportunity for Member States to utilize provisions of criminal law to disrupt their financial activities. However, this requires both awareness of the relevant authorities concerning these links as well as the combination of expertise on organized crime with expertise focused on violent extremism and terrorism both at the investigative as well as the judicial level. As such linkages regularly span jurisdictions, increased cooperation across borders is needed. Therefore, reinvigorated multilateral and institutional cooperation is key to exploiting this weakness in the financial activities of such violent extremist and terrorist individuals and entities and will enable better mitigation of the related risks. During 2022 and early 2023, CEP, commissioned by the Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany, undertook a comparative research project, mapping and analyzing the transnational linkages between XRIRB and organized crime networks in seven countries: Austria, Croatia, Germany, Greece, Poland, Sweden, and the United States of America. The study demonstrated that the cooperation ranges between a simple interaction based on mutual interests, such as the trade in illegal weapons, and hybrid formats in which XRIRB and organized crime networks transform XRIRB networks into ideologically bound fully fledged organized crime organizations.

During this side event, which is co-hosted by the Federal Foreign Office of Germany, the Department of State of the United States of America and CEP, the major findings of this research will be presented and the incidents and patterns of cooperation of XRIRB networks with organized crime in Austria and the United States of America will be highlighted to illustrate these findings. Given the increasingly transnational nature of both XRIRB as well as organized crime, awareness of the challenges and opportunities for disruption emanating from such cooperation is crucial and requires increased multilateral cooperation.

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