26th Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum – Transnational Criminal Convergency

Mr. Alejo addressed the forum on the topic of transnational crime convergence, criminal ecosystems, and kleptocracy. Mr. Campos highlighted the evolution of criminal groups, emphasizing how they have transitioned from isolated entities to operating jointly in what he referred to as a criminal convergence.

He drew attention to the interconnected nature of criminal organizations, describing how drug traffickers, human traffickers, money launderers, weapon dealers, and corrupt actors have formed alliances to create a unified criminal body. This collaboration extends to politicians, mayors, and public officials, who, driven by greed or grievances, become part of these criminal structures.

Mr. Campos introduced the concept of “kleptocracy,” emphasizing that corruption is no longer isolated but has become ingrained within the criminal ecosystem. He discussed how criminal convergence and kleptocracy negatively impact democracy, freedom, economic development, and national security, urging a unified and global effort to address these issues.

Mr. Campos outlined the challenges, including the lack of laws specifically targeting criminal convergence and the need for improved training among justice system operators to understand and combat this phenomenon. To address these challenges, Mr. Campos proposed several actions, including the creation of laws addressing criminal convergence, enhanced training programs, and the establishment of a special task force to monitor and address the issue. He stressed the importance of collaboration across public and private sectors, domestically and internationally, to effectively counteract the threats posed by criminal convergence and kleptocracy.