Introduction

The state crime nexus is the capture of organized crime and illicit finance by hostile states. It affords unique capabilities, including the power to subsidize the occupation of territory through proceeds from criminal activity. Rowan Newman works as a regional coordinator for the UK Government's Serious and Organized Crime Network (SOC) He says SOC has clear links between SOC and particularly illicit finance and geopolitical influence in security and instability in the region. The greatest threat from IF in my region wasn't to the UK domestically, but it was to our foreign policy objectives, he adds.