The UN and Organized Crime Podcast is a series from the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime. As multilateralism itself comes under intense pressure, and as existing responses to transnational organized crime continue to fail, we’ll analyse the UN responses to the issue with some of the world’s leading experts as we try to unpack diplomatic discussions, policy developments and programme implementation.
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Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime Podcasts
The Index is a podcast based around the Global Organized Crime Index, an online tool that ranks levels of criminality and resilience in 193 countries. From drug trafficking and mafia-style crimes to criminal justice and security – In this series we’ll take a deep dive into the Global Organized Crime Index with leading experts and look at some of the biggest organized crime threats facing countries and regions around the world. The Index was nominated for 'Best Video Podcast' at the 2024 Publ ...
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Experts, analysts and scholars from around the world came together for the 24 Hour Conference on Global Organized Crime, to discuss the most fascinating research into organized crime.
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What does the assassination of billionaire Wandile Bozwana mean for the state of politics, crime and justice in South Africa today? It's a story involving politicians, taxi bosses, assassins and flamingo's. This podcast is brought to you by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime and produced by Develop Audio.
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In many parts of the world, assassinations have become a daily occurrence. Data collected by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime shows that at least 2,700 people were victims of contract killings between 2019 and 2020 in 84 countries. Many of which were members of civil society. In this podcast we bear witness to the victims of organized crime by looking at why certain individuals or groups of individuals are at risk of assassination, and what can be done to prevent it.
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Crime Beyond Borders
Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime/Journal of Illicit Economies and Development
Crime Beyond Borders is a podcast series that delves into the cutting-edge research found in the Journal of Illicit Economies and Development. JIED is an open source, peer-reviewed, electronic journal funded by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime.
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Welcome to Underworlds with Mark Shaw. Organized Crime is everywhere, hidden in plain sight. The stories from this world have been mythologised by Hollywood. But the reality can be even stranger and more exciting than fiction. From the golden age of the American mafia (La Cosa Nostra), to the modern-day cocaine empires, and from the shadowy links between organized crime and terrorism, to the twilight of the Yakuza. In this series Mark Shaw, the Director of the Global Initiative Against Trans ...
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The Impact: Coronavirus and Organized Crime
Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime
The Impact: Coronavirus and Organized Crime is a special edition weekly podcast from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime. We'll look at how the ongoing COVID-19 virus is impacting on organized crime around the world and how the illicit economy may affect our ability to respond to the virus. We'll be covering cyber crime, the illegal wildlife trade, counterfeit medicines, drug trafficking, human smuggling, corruption and human trafficking.
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Twice winner of the 'Best Deep Dive Podcast' at the Publishers Podcast Awards, shortlisted four times for 'Best Investigative Podcast' and once for 'Best Video Podcast'. The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime brings you stories and investigations from the global criminal underworld. The topics covered by Deep Dive are far ranging, one episode could be looking at a hybrid paramilitary organized criminal cartel; the next could be the dismantling of an encrypted communicati ...
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Africa and the Global Illicit Economy brings you stories and investigations based on the extensive research networks at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime. We'll be looking at corruption, illicit financial flows, gangs, the role of foreign corporations, the political economy of crime, and the enabling environment that has made Africa vulnerable to the growth of organized crime. Drawing on the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime's civil society obs ...
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How cocaine is driving deforestation in the Amazon
18:20
18:20
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18:20Criminal groups that once focused primarily on the cocaine trade are now diversifying into illegal gold mining, logging, and the wildlife trade - activities that are devastating the environment. The Amazon’s tri-border region (where Brazil, Colombia, and Peru meet) has become a hotbed for trafficking. The neighboring cities of Leticia and Tabatinga…
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Civil society priorities for the next Crime Congress
25:08
25:08
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25:08In this episode, Ian speaks to three civil society grantees of the Resilience Fund, who attended the most recent UN Crime Commission in May. Anna Romandash, Noor Azizha and Lucie Andrea Gutiérrez speak about their experiences at the local level, and why the next Crime Congress should pay heed to their and others plight, in order to better build com…
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Organized criminal gangs were deployed by politicians to counter peaceful protests in Nairobi in June, triggering worries of violence in Kenya ahead of the 2027 general elections. On June 25, gangs unleashed terror on people, who took to the streets in a peaceful march to commemorate the lives of 60 people who were killed one year earlier, in a his…
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The arrest of Celso Gamboa Sanchez: What's going on in Costa Rica?
17:31
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17:31Celso Gamboa Sanchez, a former security minister and judge from Costa Rica, was arrested in June 2025 on international drug-trafficking charges. He denies the allegations. What makes the arrest interesting is that the federal indictment filed by the US included a request for his extradition. This is something which was only made possible in May 202…
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Ransomware is a growing threat in our digital world, changing how cybercrime works. In this podcast, Mark talks to Max Smeets, an academic and author, about the rise of ransomware as detailed in his book Ransom War. The book zooms in on the infamous Conti ransomware group, which disbanded in 2022, to show how these cybercriminal organizations opera…
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The global shipping industry, vital for international trade, is a hotbed for criminal activities like maritime fraud. In this podcast episode, journalist and author Matthew Campbell, co-author of Dead in the Water, joins Mark to unravel the Brillante Virtuoso case. In 2011, this oil tanker, traveling from Crimea to China, was reportedly attacked by…
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Cyber scams, tax evasion, and billion-dollar embezzlement: Financial Crimes in the Mekong
19:17
19:17
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19:17Since the Covid-19 pandemic, cyber scams have surged across the Mekong region. Abandoned casinos and hotels have been turned into “scam compounds” serving as bases for romance scams, fake call centres, Ponzi schemes, and voice-phishing operations. These schemes have tricked hundreds of people to transfer money into mule accounts. But the problem go…
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FEDERICO VARESE: Russia in Four Criminals
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50:50Russia in Four Criminals: Exploring Russian Organized Crime with Federico Varese. Join host Mark in a riveting episode of Underworlds as he interviews renowned academic and author Federico Varese about his book, Russia in Four Criminals. With over 30 years studying global organized crime, Varese offers unparalleled insights into Russian organized c…
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SANNE DE BOER - Mafiopoli: Living Among the ’Ndrangheta – Italy's Most Powerful Crime Organisation
45:02
45:02
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45:02Mafiopoli: Uncovering the ’Ndrangheta, Italy’s Most Powerful Mafia. In this episode of Underworlds, host Mark interviews Dutch journalist and author Sanne De Boer about her book, Mafiopoli: Living Among the ’Ndrangheta – Italy’s Most Powerful Crime Organisation. Based in Calabria, home to the rugged Aspromonte Mountains, De Boer reveals the ’Ndrang…
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GEOFF WHITE: Rinsed: How the Tech Industry Washes Money for the World's Deadliest Crooks
55:21
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55:21Rinsed: How Tech Fuels Money Laundering for Cartels and Cybercriminals In this episode of Underworlds, host Mark interviews journalist and author Geoff White about his book, Rinsed: From Cartels to Crypto: How the Tech Industry Washes Money for the World's Deadliest Crooks. Discover how cybercriminals exploit platforms like Axie Infinity, Call of D…
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CARYN DOLLEY: Man Alone: Mandela’s top cop – exposing South Africa’s ceaseless sabotage
58:45
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58:45Man Alone: Mandela’s top cop – exposing South Africa’s ceaseless sabotage In this episode Mark sits down with journalist Caryn Dolley to discuss her latest book, ‘Man Alone: Mandela’s top cop – exposing South Africa’s ceaseless sabotage’. Man Alone follows the career of a remarkable South African police officer called André Lincoln, who passed away…
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Season 2! Underworlds with Mark Shaw - Underworlds with Mark Shaw
2:14
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2:14Underworlds with Mark Shaw is returning for another season. Mark sits down with authors to discuss their investigations into the murky world of organized crime. In season two, we hear about a range of stories such as money laundering and cryptocurrency; the 'Ndrangheta's expansion from Calabria, Italy to other countries of Europe. Also the story of…
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Season 2! Underworlds with Mark Shaw - Underworlds with Mark Shaw
2:14
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2:14Underworlds with Mark Shaw is returning for another season. Mark sits down with authors to discuss their investigations into the murky world of organized crime. In season two, we hear about a range of stories such as money laundering and cryptocurrency; the 'Ndrangheta's expansion from Calabria, Italy to other countries of Europe. Also the story of…
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Season 2! Underworlds with Mark Shaw - Underworlds with Mark Shaw
2:14
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2:14Underworlds with Mark Shaw is returning for another season. Mark sits down with authors to discuss their investigations into the murky world of organized crime. In season two, we hear about a range of stories such as money laundering and cryptocurrency; the 'Ndrangheta's expansion from Calabria, Italy to other countries of Europe. Also the story of…
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Season 2! Underworlds with Mark Shaw - Underworlds with Mark Shaw
2:14
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2:14Underworlds with Mark Shaw is returning for another season. Mark sits down with authors to discuss their investigations into the murky world of organized crime. In season two, we hear about a range of stories such as money laundering and cryptocurrency; the 'Ndrangheta's expansion from Calabria, Italy to other countries of Europe. Also the story of…
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Season 2! Underworlds with Mark Shaw - Underworlds with Mark Shaw
2:14
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2:14Underworlds with Mark Shaw is returning for another season. Mark sits down with authors to discuss their investigations into the murky world of organized crime. In season two, we hear about a range of stories such as money laundering and cryptocurrency; the 'Ndrangheta's expansion from Calabria, Italy to other countries of Europe. Also the story of…
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Season 2! Underworlds with Mark Shaw - Underworlds with Mark Shaw
2:14
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2:14Underworlds with Mark Shaw is returning for another season. Mark sits down with authors to discuss their investigations into the murky world of organized crime. In season two, we hear about a range of stories such as money laundering and cryptocurrency; the 'Ndrangheta's expansion from Calabria, Italy to other countries of Europe. Also the story of…
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1
Season 2! Underworlds with Mark Shaw - Underworlds with Mark Shaw
2:14
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2:14Underworlds with Mark Shaw is returning for another season. Mark sits down with authors to discuss their investigations into the murky world of organized crime. In season two, we hear about a range of stories such as money laundering and cryptocurrency; the 'Ndrangheta's expansion from Calabria, Italy to other countries of Europe. Also the story of…
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1
Season 2! Underworlds with Mark Shaw - Underworlds with Mark Shaw
2:14
2:14
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2:14Underworlds with Mark Shaw is returning for another season. Mark sits down with authors to discuss their investigations into the murky world of organized crime. In season two, we hear about a range of stories such as money laundering and cryptocurrency; the 'Ndrangheta's expansion from Calabria, Italy to other countries of Europe. Also the story of…
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Underworlds with Mark Shaw is returning for another season. Mark sits down with authors to discuss their investigations into the murky world of organized crime. In season two, we hear about a range of stories such as money laundering and cryptocurrency; the 'Ndrangheta's expansion from Calabria, Italy to other countries of Europe. Also the story of…
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Millions of unregistered firearms, surging drug addiction, and cross-border trafficking have turned Pakistan into a hotspot for organized crime. Corruption and economic instability have allowed illicit markets — from heroin to weapons — to flourish. Terrorist groups like the Tehrik-e-Taliban are thriving in this landscape, carrying out deadly attac…
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Living Together: The Gangs of Haiti - Part 3: "Wake Up! The Bandits Are Coming!"
44:43
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44:43Part 3 - "Wake Up! The Bandits Are Coming!" At the end of March this year, officers from the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) responded to a request for assistance when an armoured Haitian National Police vehicle became stuck in a ditch near Pont-Sondé in Artibonite. The ditch was believed to have been dug by a local gang. As…
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Who is making Russia's drones? The migrant women exploited for Russia's war economy
20:24
20:24
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20:24The full-scale war in Ukraine has been raging for three years now. One of the defining military developments during this conflict has been the use of drones. And both sides have utilised them with devastating effect. These include the small drone operators dropping bombs on unsuspecting troops to the Iranian-designed Shahed kamikaze drones smashing…
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Living Together: The Gangs of Haiti - Part 2: Fighting Back
56:03
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56:03Part 2 - 'Fighting Back' In 2022, a video emerged of an alleged senior gang member, Zo Pwason, who had been caught by an armed group of Haitian citizens, led by Commissioner Jean-Ernest Muscadin. Zo Pwason was allegedly a senior member of the 5 Segond gang. He was executed by the armed group. Muscadin declared that “As long as I am government commi…
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In August 2024, King Mohammed VI pardoned over 4800 Cannabis farmers in Morocco. This came as part of the country’s wider legalization efforts to tap into the economic potential of the booming global cannabis market. Morocco is one of the world's leading cannabis producers, and in 2021 it approved a bill regulating cannabis cultivation for medical,…
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Living Together: The Gangs of Haiti - Part 1: The Death of a President
1:06:28
1:06:28
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1:06:28Part 1 - "The Death of a President" In July 2021, the President of Haiti, Jovenel Moïse, was assassinated as he slept at home by a band of mercenaries. His murder sparked a wave of violent protests and a period of unprecedented crisis in the small Caribbean nation that the country has still yet to address nearly four years later. For a long time, v…
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In this episode, Ian Tennant talks to Dr Matti Joutsen, author of a recently published history of the UN Crime Programme, to discuss the history of the UN Crime Congress, and the central role that civil society has played throughout its history. The next Congress, takes place in Abu Dhabi, in April 2026. Dr Joutsen explains how the Congress has evo…
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Drugs, Dead Drops and the Battle Over Russian Darknet Markets
1:15:16
1:15:16
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1:15:16If you were to walk around a Russian city, you might not realise it but hundreds of small packages of drugs, could be just below the surface, buried in the ground, or maybe attached to the back of a nearby drainpipe with magnets, or hidden inside a hole in a wall. These little "treasures" have been ordered online from a vendor operating on a darkne…
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In Canada, Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs, often referred to as a "1%" Club, include infamous names like the Hells Angels, The Outlaws, Bandidos. The Hells Angels are reported to have over 450 chapters across almost 60 countries around the world – many of those are in Canada. According to Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the RCMP, Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs, a…
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Colombia & Total Peace: Part 2: Buenaventura – “The Pact for Life”
45:23
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45:23Buenaventura – “The Pact for Life” Buenaventura has long been an important node in international illicit markets, particularly cocaine trafficking due to its port. Gangs, paramilitaries and organized criminal networks have all looked to gain a foothold here. The resulting violence has meant the city has seen many murders, and even more disappearanc…
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In August police in Vietnam uncovered an infant trafficking ring which had purchased and resold at least 16 infants, ages ranging from just days to a few months old, leading to further investigations that uncovered 84 suspected trafficking cases across 32 provinces. In this episode, we delve into the harrowing realities of human trafficking in Viet…
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The 'Marengo Trial' lasted years, finally resulting in multiple convictions of the so-called Mocro Mafia, including one of its most infamous leaders, Ridouan Taghi, who was convicted of murder among other things. Who are the Mocro Mafia? They were born out of the Dutch-Moroccan community in the Netherlands during the 90s, starting with the smugglin…
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Colombia & Total Peace: Part 1 - "The ELN - The Easy Win"
59:04
59:04
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59:04Colombia is a country that has been racked by conflict for around 60 years - multiple armed groups and organized crime have waged war against each other and the state. In 2016, after nearly seven years of negotiations, the FARC demobilized, creating a power vacuum that other groups, such as the National Liberation Army (ELN), Clan del Golfo, and FA…
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Downfall: Prigozhin, Putin and the New Fight for the Future of Russia - Mark Galeotti
52:11
52:11
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52:11Russia, the Wagner Group and the Fall of Yevgeny Prigozhin. In this episode, Mark sits down with Professor Mark Galeotti, to discuss his new book, co-authored with Anna Arutunyan, ‘Downfall: Prigozhin, Putin, and the new fight for the future of Russia’. The life of Yevgeny Prigozhin was nothing if not extraordinary. After an earlier stint in prison…
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Narcas: The Secret Rise of Women in Latin American Cartels - Deborah Bonello
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43:11What role do women play in the Latin American drug cartels? In this episode, Mark sits down with investigative journalist Deborah Bonello to discuss her book ‘Narcas: The Secret Rise of Women in Latin America's Cartels’. During the trial of Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman in 2018-19, there was only one woman named on the indictment, Guadalupe Fernández-V…
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Chasing Shadows: A True Story of the Mafia, Drugs and Terrorism - Miles Johnson
41:39
41:39
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41:39What links the Italian mafia, the DEA, and Hezbollah? In this episode, Mark sits down with investigative journalist Miles Johnson, to discuss his book ‘Chasing Shadows: A True Story of the Mafia, Drugs and Terrorism’. Miles discovered a DEA investigation into a money laundering network in Europe, which branched out to reveal the truly global nature…
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Cocaine Cowboys: The Deadly Rise of Ireland's Drug Lords - Nicola Tallant
53:09
53:09
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53:09How did the Kinahan organized crime group rise to the top of cocaine trafficking in Europe? In this episode, Mark sits down with investigative journalist and author Nicola Tallant to discuss her book ‘Cocaine Cowboys: The Deadly Rise of Ireland's Drug Lords’. At the end of the 90s, Ireland was booming, the ‘Celtic Tiger’ had risen. People had more …
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The Last Yakuza: A Life in the Japanese Underworld - Jake Adelstein
1:02:42
1:02:42
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1:02:42Are these the twilight years of the Yakuza, the Japanese mafia? In this episode, Mark sits down with investigative journalist and author Jake Adelstein to discuss his book ‘The Last Yakuza: A Life in the Japanese Underworld’. The Yakuza have been part of the fabric of Japanese society for decades, they have inspired films and fanzines, invested in …
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When we think about the global drugs trade – countries like Colombia and Mexico often come to mind. But according to the Global Organized Crime Index, the country that sits just behind those two is Paraguay. In fact, Paraguay sits 4th globally for levels of criminality, with 7.52 out of 10. It has really high scores for illicit markets like arms tr…
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Borgata: Rise of Empire: A History of the American Mafia - Louis Ferrante - Underworlds with Mark Shaw
1:16:06
1:16:06
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1:16:06The History of the American Mafia: How the Mob Built Its Empire in the US, with Former Gambino Crime Family Associate, Louis Ferrante. In this episode, Mark sits down with former Mob associate Louis Ferrante to discuss his book, Borgata: The Rise of Empire: A History of the American Mafia. The history of the American Mafia, known as La Cosa Nostra …
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Borgata: Rise of Empire: A History of the American Mafia - Louis Ferrante - Underworlds with Mark Shaw
1:16:06
1:16:06
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1:16:06The History of the American Mafia: How the Mob Built Its Empire in the US, with Former Gambino Crime Family Associate, Louis Ferrante. In this episode, Mark sits down with former Mob associate Louis Ferrante to discuss his book, Borgata: The Rise of Empire: A History of the American Mafia. The history of the American Mafia, known as La Cosa Nostra …
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Borgata: Rise of Empire: A History of the American Mafia - Louis Ferrante
1:16:06
1:16:06
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1:16:06The History of the American Mafia: How the Mob Built Its Empire in the US, with Former Gambino Crime Family Associate, Louis Ferrante. In this episode, Mark sits down with former Mob associate Louis Ferrante to discuss his book, Borgata: The Rise of Empire: A History of the American Mafia. The history of the American Mafia, known as La Cosa Nostra …
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TRAILER: Underworlds with Mark Shaw - Underworlds with Mark Shaw
2:00
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2:00Welcome to Underworlds with Mark Shaw. Organized Crime is everywhere, hidden in plain sight. The stories from this world have been mythologised by Hollywood. But the reality can be even stranger and more exciting than fiction. From the golden age of the American mafia (La Cosa Nostra), to the modern-day cocaine empires, and from the shadowy links b…
…
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TRAILER: Underworlds with Mark Shaw - Underworlds with Mark Shaw
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2:00Welcome to Underworlds with Mark Shaw. Organized Crime is everywhere, hidden in plain sight. The stories from this world have been mythologised by Hollywood. But the reality can be even stranger and more exciting than fiction. From the golden age of the American mafia (La Cosa Nostra), to the modern-day cocaine empires, and from the shadowy links b…
…
continue reading