There's mounting evidence from the United Nations and others that Chinese organized crime syndicates are moving more of their operations from countries in Southeast Asia to Africa. These groups are contributing to a surge in illicit crypto mining, scam centers, illegal wildlife trafficking, and black market weapons sales.

African countries with already weak governance systems are particularly vulnerable.

Géraud speaks with Adam Rousselle, a researcher and author who tracks the illicit arms trade, about his recent article on the topic published by the Jamestown Foundation. Adam explains how all of the different Chinese illegal trade networks in Africa are interlinked with one another.

SHOW NOTES:

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime: Inflection Point: Global Implications of
Scam Centres, Underground Banking and Illicit Online Marketplaces in Southeast Asia
Jamestown Foundation: Illicit PRC-linked Finance Enables Arms Diversion in Africa by Adam Rouselle

CHAPTERS:

The Illicit Underworld – How illegal mining, logging, and weapons flows shape China–Africa debates
Individuals vs the State – Why Chinese nationals abroad are often mistaken for Beijing's agents
South Kivu Gold Trail – What the recent court case reveals about Chinese smuggling networks
Governance Gaps – How weak enforcement and political protection fuel illicit economies
Cryptocurrency Networks – The rise of Chinese-linked crypto operations in Nigeria and beyond
Weapons on the Move – Why Chinese-made guns keep appearing in Africa's conflict zones
The UAE Hub – How Dubai became the transit point for arms and illicit finance
The Leaky Bucket – Why illicit flows don't imply coordination or state intent
Local Complicity – The real role of African politicians, militaries, and brokers
Reputational Risks for Beijing – Embassy frustrations and the cost of unmanaged actors
Media Distortions – How U.S. and European narratives simplify complex realities

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Chinese Nationals' Role in Africa's Illicit Weapons, Mining, and Money Flows

The China in Africa Podcast