The Triborder–terrorism nexus

Dispatches

Bibliographic Data

ID12887181
AuthorsRensselaer Lee (Association of Pediatric Program Directors, corresponding author)
Year2008
Volume9
Issue4
Pages332-347
Publication date2008-11-01
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueGlobal Crime (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1744-0572 • E-ISSN: 1744-0580
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/17440570802543557
OpenAlexW1612418015
LanguageEN
Citations received3

The Triborder region of South America, where the borders of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay intersect, comprises a population of approximately 700, 000 inhabitants, among them 15, 000--20, 000 are Arabs, mostly of Lebanese descent. The region has gained a reputation as a hub of illegal activities, ranging from sales of pirated electronic goods and software to trafficking in drugs, weapons and illegal migrants. Also, the Triborder's relatively unregulated financial sector launders tens of billions of dollars of criminal funds and causes flight of capital annually. Reports that the region is a terrorist haven and staging area seem exaggerated; yet Arabs' extensive participation in the Triborder underground economy is believed to generate funds on behalf of Islamic extremists in the Middle East, especially Hezbollah and Hamas. Efforts to crack down on pirate businesses and alleged terrorist financiers have been constrained by government apathy, widespread police and judicial corruption and a lack of effective anti-terrorist legislation. Also, the dependence of many of the Triborder's inhabitants on the underground economy represents an effective constraint on enforcement action

Business · Nexus (standard · Political science · Terrorism · Computer Science · International Relations and Foreign Policy · Law · Politics and Conflicts in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Middle East · Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and Political Violence

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