How does a car stolen from a driveway in the UK or Europe make its way to a different continent, and end up for sale thousands of miles away? There is no single route, or criminal organization controlling this trade. Instead it relies on a network of specialist, and the involvement of private-sector actors who either knowingly cooperate, or may be coerced. Between 2023 and 2025, the Global Organized Crime Index recorded an increase in the influence in the influence of private-sector actors - the steepest rise among all the criminal actor types monitored.We examine how vehicles are moved into overseas markets, the actors who enable the trade, and why it remains so difficult to stop.

How cattle rustling became heavily armed and highly profitable in Kenya

The Index is a podcast based around the Global Organized Crime Index, an online tool that ranks levels of criminality and resilience in 193 countries.

From drug trafficking and mafia-style crimes to criminal justice and security – In this series we’ll take a deep dive into the Global Organized Crime Index with leading experts and look at some of the biggest organized crime threats facing countries and regions around the world.

The Index was nominated for 'Best Video Podcast' at the 2024 Publishers Podcast Awards.

Disclaimer: This series was funded in part by a grant from the United States Department of State. The opinions, findings and conclusions stated herein are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of State.