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Illicit trade requires localized responses

Illicit trade does not affect all countries equally. Geography and governance shape how criminal networks operate, where they concentrate their activity, and how easily illicit goods move across borders.
  • Geography: Strategic location along trade routes, proximity to production hubs or consumer markets, and the presence of ports, borders, or transit corridors can make some countries more exposed to illicit flows..
  • Governance: Regulatory gaps, uneven enforcement capacity, and limited cross-border coordination create opportunities for criminal networks to exploit oversight and control weaknesses.
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TRACIT combines high-level engagement with local insight by working through senior government and official forums to keep illicit trade on decision-makers’ agendas. Local partners complement targeted country- and region-specific research by relaying on-the-ground intelligence and supporting context-appropriate responses.
Focus countries

South Africa

South Africa is one of Africa’s largest economies and its only representative in the G20 and BRICS, yet illicit trade remains a major threat to stability and growth. Illicit trade poses a major threat to stability and growth. Inflationary pressures, high unemployment, corruption, and sophisticated criminal networks continue to fuel illegal markets.

Explore TRACIT's engagements related to South Africa here.

Turkey

Turkey sits at a strategic crossroads between Europe and Asia, making it a key regional trade hub with a large and diverse economy. That same geographic position and market scale also expose the country to a wide range of illicit trade activities moving across and through its territory.

Explore TRACIT's engagements related to Turkey here.

Pakistan

Pakistan sits at the crossroads of South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East, making it a major trade hub—and a prime target for illicit trade. An estimated 40% shadow economy, combined with long and porous borders with Iran, Afghanistan, and India, fuels widespread illicit activity across sectors.
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Explore TRACIT's engagements related to Pakistan here.
All countries
Country specific news
Featured publication
South Africa's Fight Against Illicit Trade: A Strategic Review (May 2025)
The TRACIT report South Africa's Fight Against Illicit Trade: A Strategic Review (2025) reviews the state of illicit trade in the country and evaluates South Africa’s performance using findings from the 2025 Illicit Trade Index.
Illicit Alcohol Trade in Laos: Challenges and Solutions
The report addresses the tragic loss of life in Laos due to the consumption of toxic, illicit alcoholic beverages. The report features policy recommendations and a multi-pronged strategy for Laos and the region to stop illicit alcohol trade. ​
Featured events
Pakistan October 2025
​TRACIT contributed key insights at the Institute of Regional Studies’ roundtable on illicit trade . More 
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Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade (TRACIT) is an independent, non-governmental, not-for-profit organisation under US tax code 501(c)(6).
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