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covered in more detail later in this article.
Many other researchers support the nexus and realize that its nature is defined by “the political
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environment, available resources, and existing policies of State response.” The nature may be
a loose alliance between criminals and terrorists to support mutual objectives, terrorist groups
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using criminal activity to support their goals, or disaffected criminals becoming terrorists.
In September 2018, the remains of 87 elephants were found near a protected sanctuary in
Botswana. Their tusks were missing and presumed to have been sold in the black market which
is estimated to be worth $70-213 billion a year. Reports of the incident noted that such activity
profits criminal organizations, rebel militias, and terrorist organizations. As the author observed,
trafficking of “artifacts and natural resources, including gold and other precious metals and
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stones, minerals, wildlife, charcoal and oil” funds terrorism.
Criminalized Power Structures (CPS)

Strong patronage networks often control wealth and power in countries and regions that have UN
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peacekeeping mission. As Michael Dziedzic observed in his book, Criminalized Power
Structures: The Overlooked Enemies of Peace, senior mission leadership tends to lump CPS in as
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a corruption or organized crime problem that can be deferred in favor of more pressing issues.
But, as he rightly concludes – this is shortsighted because such power brokers are a threat to the
success of the mission and must be identified and dealt with.
He further calls out the United Nations for ignoring these spoilers for political reasons.
As he states:
“The recurrent trend is that missions arrive flat-footed, without the authorities,
resources, or inclination to control the spoiler threat to stabilization and peace
implementation posted by criminalized power structures. The “golden hour” is
squandered as a result. Unless those involved in peace implementation
recognized and understand how to address this complex threat, prospects for the
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emergency of sustainable peace and stable governance will be vitiated.”
These power brokers make their wealth through ill-gotten means and some of those means are
through environmental crime, organized crime, terrorism, and corruption. As we assess the
mission environment, we must take a page from Deep Throat, the informant, “follow the
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money.”
As peacekeeping environments are assessed, mission leaders and planners must ask, “Where are
the fundamental problems?” If the corrupt leaders with which we engage are using
environmental crime to feather their nests, then it cannot be ignored. Otherwise, we simply deal
with the symptom and not the illness.

Criminal Intelligence
Though the negative impacts of environmental crime, and organized crime in general, are well-
recognized by the UN and other international actors, it does not appear to be adequately
addressed in current peacekeeping operations at the mission level. In fact, research demonstrates

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