Webinars

The Working Groups of GLITSS host regular webinars on topics of Globalization, Illicit Trade, Sustainability and Security which can be attended live and re-watched on our YouTube channel.

Upcoming Webinars

Stay tuned for more upcoming webinars.

Responses to Illicit Trade, organized under the GLITSS COST Action Working Group 3

We are excited to invite you to the next session of the Case Study Webinar Series: Responses to Illicit Trade, organized under the GLITSS COST Action Working Group 3.

Have a look at our diverse webinars below and subscribe to our YouTube Channel for updates:

The Case Study Webinar Series: Responses to Illicit Trade aims to highlight diverse and concrete responses to various forms of illicit trade.

As part of the GLITSS COST Action Working Group 3, this session of the Case Study Webinar Series: Responses to Illicit Trade will feature two case studies examining concrete responses to illicit trade across different contexts.
Olena Tregub, Executive Director of the Independent Anti-Corruption Commission (NAKO, Ukraine), will present “Made in Switzerland, Found in the Kremlin War Machine.” The talk will explore how Swiss-made microelectronics are found in Russian weaponry through illicit supply chains. Drawing on forensic analysis, customs data, and open-source research, NAKO has traced over 2,000 components in 30 weapons systems from Russia, Iran, and North Korea. The presentation will highlight key manufacturers, suspected supply routes, and NAKO’s role in sanctions enforcement and advocacy.

The second presentation, “Policing Without Borders: Regional Responses to Illicit Trade on the Balkan Route,” by Dr. Kire Babanoski and Dr. Ice Ilijevski (University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, North Macedonia), focuses on law enforcement efforts to disrupt illicit flows of drugs, arms, and other goods along the Balkan Route. Based on recent cases and regional cooperation initiatives, it highlights cross-border policing, intelligence sharing, and policy strategies.

GLITSS Case Study Webinar Series: Responses to Illicit Trade #2

The Case Study Webinar Series: Responses to Illicit Trade aims to highlight diverse and concrete responses to various forms of illicit trade. This webinar brings together experts to present short case studies on initiatives addressing the illicit trade in marine resources, money laundering, and firearms. Each presentation will focus on practical developments,
policy implications, and institutional challenges relevant to their respective domains.

Prof. Hennie van As will presents the FishFORCE project, an initiative led by Nelson Mandela University in South Africa, which combines inter-agency cooperation, capacity building, and intelligence-led enforcement to combat marine poaching, with a focus on abalone and rock lobster.

Dr. Georgios Pavlidis examines the creation of the new European Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) and its potential to reshape the EU’s institutional landscape in the fight against illicit financial flows. The presentation will highlight AMLA’s mandate, supervisory role, and relevance to combating trade-based money laundering and proceeds from organized crime.

Prof. Boban Misoski explores recent legislative reforms in North Macedonia aimed at regulating illicit firearms production and trade. His presentation will reflect on how these legal changes are being implemented in practice, and the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement and the judiciary in prosecuting such offences effectively.

GLITSS Case Study Webinar Series: Responses to Illicit Trade #1

Wildlife trade represents one of the greatest threats to species survival, and yet it, and it’s multifaceted implications, are frequently overlooked. IPBES estimated that around 50,000 species are in trade, yet more recent analysis suggests that the true number may actually be far higher. Gauging the actual remains exceedingly challenging as we don’t actually know how many species are in trade due to a lack of systematic data collection of species not listed within a CITES appendix. In this special edition GLITSS webinar, Dr. Alice C. Hughes, Associate Professor at the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Hong Kong joins host Cameron Ohlson from the University of Groningen to review the dimensions of wildlife trade, and attempt to better understand what is being traded, in what volumes, and where it is coming from.

Dr. Hughes determines that not only does the US alone import almost 30,000 species, but many of these are sourced from the wild. Furthermore, by tracing these networks, clear evidence of false declarations (i.e. stating species are coming from the wild from countries to which they are not native), as well as possible violations of species listed under CITES Appendix III, are revealed. Dr. Hughes concludes by exploring the possible policy and regulatory changes that would improve the traceability, identify potential violations, and enable more sustainable trade at all scales.

International Biodiversity Day 2025 Webinar: Understanding the Magnitude of the Legal Wildlife Trade

In this webinar titled 'Illicit trade in antiquities and X-ray forensics for the discovery of counterfeit archaeological artifacts', Dr. Vojislav Filipovic (Institute of Archaeology, Belgrade, Serbia) explores the trafficking of cultural heritage and the destruction of archaeological sites.

Join our host and moderator, Dr. Mariia Balytska (Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Ukraine) in learning more about this fascinating topic through the photographs, case studies, and analyses of Dr. Filipovic

This video is brought to you by COST Action GLITSS (Globalization, Illicit Trade, Sustainability and Security), an EU-funded interdisciplinary research network. For more information about our research, please visit us at https://www.glitss.eu/.

GLITSS Webinar: Illicit trade in antiquities and X-ray forensics

In this webinar titled The use of the European Trade Control and Expert System TRACES to collect data on the imports of wildlife to the EU - The marine ornamental fish trade as a case study, we delve into the European Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES), an essential tool for tracking wildlife imports to the EU. Using the marine ornamental fish trade as a case study, Dr. Monica V. Biondo, (Foundation Franz Weber, Switzerland) and Dr. Ricardo Calado (University of Aveiro, Portugal) explore the limitations and opportunities of TRACES as a critical data collector to support wildlife conservation and sustainable trade practices.

Join our host and moderator, Dr. Caroline Fukushima (University of Turku, Finland) in learning about how a European Union biosecurity tracking platform can be transformed into a key wildlife conservation tool with just a few small changes, the challenges facing the marine ornamental fish industry, the state of marine fish conservation, and the political obstacles researchers are facing.

This video is brought to you by COST Action GLITSS (Globalization, Illicit Trade, Sustainability and Security), an EU-funded interdisciplinary research network. For more information about our research, please visit us at https://www.glitss.eu/.

For more information on Dr. Biondo and Dr. Calado's work, visit https://procoralfish.org/. Pro Coral Fish is supported by Foundation Franz Weber (https://www.ffw.ch/en/).

You can read more about the ornamental fish trade in The Revelator's most recent article: https://therevelator.org/ornamental-fish-trade/

GLITSS Webinar: Collecting Data on the Marine Ornamental Fish Trade with the EU TRACES Platform

Integrating machine learning solutions into real products and services presents many challenges throughout its lifecycle. In this webinar, we delve into the journey of developing and integrating software applications, using one application where illicit trade would take place as an example, highlighting key phases and associated limitations.

Beginning with the initial stages of customer engagement and requirement gathering, we navigate the complexities of data acquisition, model development, and deployment. Throughout this process, we may encounter technical obstacles such as code optimization, code quality, and security vulnerabilities. Moreover, the webinar explores the challenges of integrating AI solutions into existing infrastructures, addressing compatibility issues, and ensuring functionality that considers customer feedback. By dissecting the lifecycle of a machine learning project, this webinar offers insights into navigating the multifaceted landscape of software development and integration.

GLITSS Webinar: Challenges of developing & integrating apps for illicit trade in products & services

In recent years, due to economic and political instability around the world, there has been growing concern over the possible infiltration of counterfeit, fraudulent and suspect items (CFSIs) into the nuclear supply chain. CFSIs do not undergo the same rigorous quality assurance procedures as legitimate items and deviate from prescribed specifications. Within the nuclear supply chain, CFSIs can diminish the integrity of equipment, systems, structures, components or devices that contribute to nuclear safety and/or nuclear security. The inadvertent introduction or malicious insertion of CFSIs within the nuclear supply chain could lead to the occurrence of a nuclear security event.

Prevention and risk assessment are essential in containing the security consequences of illicit trade, and technology could play a central role in monitoring – with the aim of reducing the resources available to politically motivated and terrorist actors. Therefore, it is necessary to develop measures to mitigate the nuclear security implications of CFSIs that have infiltrated the nuclear supply chain or prevent their introduction altogether.

Quality Assurance requirements for each supplier category and the quality classification of the procured item or service should be part of the CFSI Program as an integral part of the Integrated Management System and Quality Assurance Program. It is of great importance to comprehensively review existing international legislations and regulations relating to CSFIs and to examine the procurement process in light of the nuclear security implications of CFSIs.

GLITSS Webinar: Counterfeit, Fraudulent & Suspicious Items in the Nuclear Supply Chain

The webinar shares with the audience the experiences of the
Research Group on Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings
(University of Pécs) with the operation of the so-called Escapetruck.

The Escapetruck is an educational programme that is based on
interactive learning. In this programme, a container is transformed
into an escape room furnished like the workplace of a prostitute who
is exploited by traffickers. The programme specifically targets the
youth and those who are most vulnerable to trafficking.

The webinar provides a short introduction to trafficking in human beings, which is followed by a showcasing of the Escapetruck during operation. After that, specific aspects of operating the Escapetruck are shared.

Finally, the webinar concludes by providing the know-how on how
to build a similar escape room based on the Hungarian experience.

GLITSS Webinar: Escapetruck – An Interactive Learning Programme for Awareness-raising

Several critical consumption initiatives exist in Italy. One emblematic example concerns citizens’ initiatives supporting entrepreneurs who denounce mafia extortion attempts in the South and beyond. These consumers choose to buy ‘ethical’ products from these entrepreneurs who declare that they do not pay protection money or have denounced the mafiosi who asked them to do so.

In an era where consumer choices have never been more powerful, the webinar “Combating Illegal Trade by Promoting Critical Consumption” discusses the strategic role of consumers in making ethical decisions and explores how our purchasing habits can either support or undermine illegal trade practices, shining a light on the significant impact of critical consumption.

GLITSS Webinar: Combating Illegal Trade by Promoting Critical Consumption

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COST Association

COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) is a funding agency for research and innovation networks. Our Actions help connect research initiatives across Europe and enable scientists to grow their ideas by sharing them with their peers. This boosts their research, career and innovation.

COST Action GLITSS (CA21133)

The Cost Action GLITSS is a network of scholars, practitioners and civil society representatives working on Globalization, Illicit Trade, Sustainability and Security. It aims at bringing together scholars and practitioners in the area of illicit trade who work in institutional silos and hardly cooperate with each other. GLITSS intends to contribute to create an epistemic community of experts on illicit trade matters.