New Research Project - Port Politics: A service characteristics approach to countering organised crime

A new SOC ACE research project will examine the growing vulnerabilities of global seaports to organised crime, revealing how these critical trade gateways are increasingly targeted by criminal groups.

Seaports serve as major transport nodes, and their complex technical operations and sprawling infrastructures can create multiple opportunities for criminal infiltration.

The features that make ports efficient - high‑volume cargo handling, intricate logistics, and reliance on many diverse people – can also make it easier for criminal networks to exploit gaps in oversight. These risks are compounded by the nature of a port’s politics and governance, where regulatory weaknesses or competing interests can enable criminal access.

Led by specialists Cathy Haenlein, Elijah Glantz and Mark Williams (RUSI), and Professor Anna Sergi (University of Bologna), the project brings together expertise in organised crime, maritime security, and illicit trade. The team aims to provide policymakers and port authorities with politically informed, practical insights to strengthen resilience.

For more information visit the project web-page here.