Executive Summary
In 2018, the National Science Foundation (NSF) initiated a new program, Disrupting Operations of Illicit Supply Networks (D-ISN NSF 21-582). The major goals of the program are to
- Improve understanding of the operations of illicit supply networks and strengthen the ability to detect, disrupt, and dismantle them.
- Support research on the illicit supply networks that fuel the national opioid epidemic
- Enhance research communities that effectively integrate operational, computational, social, cultural and economic expertise to provide methods and strategies to combat this complex and elusive global security challenge.
- Catalyze game-changing technological innovations that can improve discovery and traceability of illicitly sourced product inputs.
- Provide research outcomes that inform U.S. national security, law enforcement and economic development needs and policies.
Around 36 research teams were funded by D-ISN thus far. The proposed conference intends to bring together the awardees (PIs, Co-PIs, and other key personnel), other researchers interested in this program as well as policy makers and industry professionals working in the field of illicit supply chains to facilitate collaborative research. About 110 participants met at the conference held on March 27-28, 2023 at the Arlington Campus of George Mason University (GMU). The conference provided opportunities for the participants to: share their knowledge; discuss future directions of the research; and explore possible collaborations.
The themes covered under the conference included:
- Human Trafficking
- Arms/Drug/Other Trafficking
- Pharmaceutical and Other Counterfeit Product Trading
- Financial Fraud/Money Laundering
- Work Dissemination: Best Practices to Broaden Impacts and for Media Outreach
It was evident that many of the key challenges and concerns were commonly seen across the covered themes. These included: i) lack of high-quality, timely data, which is compounded by legal barriers, privacy concerns, and the siloed nature of data resources; ii) the need for interdisciplinary and participatory research, advocating for collaboration among academia, government, NGOs, the private sector, and affected communities; iii) the need to regulation on integrating data across borders and modernizing privacy laws; and iv) the need for effective communication with policymakers in order to translate research findings into actionable policies. Additionally, the role of consumer education and awareness was acknowledged, highlighting the impact of initiatives that empower consumers to make informed decisions and reduce the demand for illicit goods and services.
Furthermore, the sessions underscored the importance of interdisciplinary and participatory research, advocating for collaboration among academia, government, NGOs, the private sector, and affected communities. This collaborative approach is essential for unraveling the complex dynamics of trafficking and financial crimes and co-creating impactful solutions.
Regulatory and legislative challenges were also highlighted, pointing to the necessity for updated frameworks and legislation that reflect the current technological landscape and the transnational nature of illicit activities. These challenges include integrating data across borders and modernizing privacy laws, and ensuring that laws are effective. Ethical considerations in data use and research methodologies emerged as a critical concern across the discussions, emphasizing the need for clear guidelines and standards to prevent harm to affected individuals or communities.
Effective communication with policymakers was identified as crucial for translating research findings into actionable policies. The complexity of issues ranging from human trafficking to financial fraud requires that they be conveyed in a manner that is accessible and actionable for policymakers. Additionally, the role of consumer education and awareness was acknowledged, highlighting the impact of initiatives that empower consumers to make informed decisions and reduce the demand for illicit goods and services.
Despite these noted challenges, the conference participants did not consider that these are unsurmountable problems. Many experts suggested more collaborative work across different disciplines and institutions as well as involving domain social scientists and practitioners in quantitative research in academia.