Untangling transnational criminal networks | Eduardo Salcedo-Albarán | TEDxYale

[Music]

[Music] let’s imagine for a second that some of

let’s imagine for a second that some of

let’s imagine for a second that some of our friends one day get together to

our friends one day get together to

our friends one day get together to protest against corruption okay and

protest against corruption okay and

protest against corruption okay and let’s imagine that when they’re

let’s imagine that when they’re

let’s imagine that when they’re protesting the police comes by and takes

protesting the police comes by and takes

protesting the police comes by and takes them and then all of our friends

them and then all of our friends

them and then all of our friends disappear it’s scary right well that’s

disappear it’s scary right well that’s

disappear it’s scary right well that’s exactly what happened two years ago in a

exactly what happened two years ago in a

exactly what happened two years ago in a small Mexican city where 43 students

small Mexican city where 43 students

small Mexican city where 43 students were protesting against the God that the

were protesting against the God that the

were protesting against the God that the corruption in the government and the

corruption in the government and the

corruption in the government and the police came by kidnapped them and all of

police came by kidnapped them and all of

police came by kidnapped them and all of them disappeared so at this point we

them disappeared so at this point we

them disappeared so at this point we don’t even know if they’re alive or not

don’t even know if they’re alive or not

don’t even know if they’re alive or not all we know is that these two

all we know is that these two

all we know is that these two individuals ordered the action they were

individuals ordered the action they were

individuals ordered the action they were the leaders of the criminal organization

everything is shocking and scary about

everything is shocking and scary about this case of violence and corruption but

this case of violence and corruption but

this case of violence and corruption but there is a particular characteristic

there is a particular characteristic

there is a particular characteristic that makes this case even more difficult

that makes this case even more difficult

that makes this case even more difficult to understand and is the fact that the

to understand and is the fact that the

to understand and is the fact that the person who ordered the action was

person who ordered the action was

person who ordered the action was actually the mayor of the city that’s

actually the mayor of the city that’s

actually the mayor of the city that’s even more scary right

and that’s difficult to understand

and that’s difficult to understand because it’s not clear for as how is it

because it’s not clear for as how is it

because it’s not clear for as how is it possible that a public servant in a

possible that a public servant in a

possible that a public servant in a relevant public position is at the same

relevant public position is at the same

relevant public position is at the same time the leader of a criminal

time the leader of a criminal

time the leader of a criminal organization and to understand why it’s

organization and to understand why it’s

organization and to understand why it’s so difficult to make sense of that

so difficult to make sense of that

so difficult to make sense of that situation I want to invite you to think

situation I want to invite you to think

situation I want to invite you to think on the concept of organized crime so for

on the concept of organized crime so for

on the concept of organized crime so for a second please think what do we imagine

a second please think what do we imagine

a second please think what do we imagine when we speak about organized crime

when we speak about organized crime

when we speak about organized crime [Music]

unfortunately how we imagine crime is a

unfortunately how we imagine crime is a lot more simplified and as I’ll show you

lot more simplified and as I’ll show you

lot more simplified and as I’ll show you even wrong then what crime is in reality

so this is the typical organizational

so this is the typical organizational chart that journalists policymakers

chart that journalists policymakers

chart that journalists policymakers enforcement agents around the world use

enforcement agents around the world use

enforcement agents around the world use to define a criminal organization but

to define a criminal organization but

to define a criminal organization but this idea of crime is too simple in fact

this idea of crime is too simple in fact

this idea of crime is too simple in fact this is how the Mexican authorities

this is how the Mexican authorities

this is how the Mexican authorities defined a criminal organization known as

defined a criminal organization known as

defined a criminal organization known as La Familia Michoacana in 2010 but with

La Familia Michoacana in 2010 but with

La Familia Michoacana in 2010 but with my research group we wanted to

my research group we wanted to

my research group we wanted to understand if this was really the

understand if this was really the

understand if this was really the structure of such a powerful criminal

structure of such a powerful criminal

structure of such a powerful criminal group so we gathered additional

group so we gathered additional

group so we gathered additional information to identify individuals and

information to identify individuals and

information to identify individuals and interactions that sustained La Familia

interactions that sustained La Familia

interactions that sustained La Familia Michoacana and the result was a lot more

Michoacana and the result was a lot more

Michoacana and the result was a lot more complex than what we initially thought

complex than what we initially thought

complex than what we initially thought at the beginning we were thinking about

at the beginning we were thinking about

at the beginning we were thinking about 15

15

15 full time criminals bad people isolated

full time criminals bad people isolated

full time criminals bad people isolated from the rest of society at the

from the rest of society at the

from the rest of society at the beginning we thought that La Familia

beginning we thought that La Familia

beginning we thought that La Familia Michoacana was this closed group that

Michoacana was this closed group that

Michoacana was this closed group that was operating at the other side of the

was operating at the other side of the

was operating at the other side of the rest of us however the reality was that

rest of us however the reality was that

rest of us however the reality was that La Familia Michoacana consisted of more

La Familia Michoacana consisted of more

La Familia Michoacana consisted of more than eight hundred not only full-time

than eight hundred not only full-time

than eight hundred not only full-time criminals by the special mayor’s and

criminals by the special mayor’s and

criminals by the special mayor’s and policemen so that’s the first idea that

policemen so that’s the first idea that

policemen so that’s the first idea that I want to live in your mind slave the

I want to live in your mind slave the

I want to live in your mind slave the huge gap between the theoretical way of

huge gap between the theoretical way of

huge gap between the theoretical way of understanding crime and the reality and

understanding crime and the reality and

understanding crime and the reality and I think that their gap is not only wrong

I think that their gap is not only wrong

I think that their gap is not only wrong but that it’s dangerous to think in

but that it’s dangerous to think in

but that it’s dangerous to think in those terms why is that because when we

those terms why is that because when we

those terms why is that because when we think in those terms in terms of the

think in those terms in terms of the

think in those terms in terms of the classic criminal organizations pyramidal

classic criminal organizations pyramidal

classic criminal organizations pyramidal structures we focus our attention as

structures we focus our attention as

structures we focus our attention as society on the criminal leader on the

society on the criminal leader on the

society on the criminal leader on the Pablo Escobar of the moment

Pablo Escobar of the moment

Pablo Escobar of the moment and we assume we think that that leader

and we assume we think that that leader

and we assume we think that that leader concentrates all the information and all

concentrates all the information and all

concentrates all the information and all the power in the structure so we think

the power in the structure so we think

the power in the structure so we think that chasing that individual is enough

that chasing that individual is enough

that chasing that individual is enough for making the entire structure to

for making the entire structure to

for making the entire structure to collapse and every enforcement agency

collapse and every enforcement agency

collapse and every enforcement agency around the world usually think in those

around the world usually think in those

around the world usually think in those terms however that’s not only wrong

terms however that’s not only wrong

terms however that’s not only wrong because phenomenal structures do not

because phenomenal structures do not

because phenomenal structures do not fall when you remove the peak of the

fall when you remove the peak of the

fall when you remove the peak of the structure but it’s also wrong because in

structure but it’s also wrong because in

structure but it’s also wrong because in reality there is not a single criminal

reality there is not a single criminal

reality there is not a single criminal mastermind that concentrates all the

mastermind that concentrates all the

mastermind that concentrates all the power in fact here we’re looking at La

power in fact here we’re looking at La

power in fact here we’re looking at La Familia Michoacana again but we are

Familia Michoacana again but we are

Familia Michoacana again but we are leaked but we are looking the soup

leaked but we are looking the soup

leaked but we are looking the soup networks of the structure

networks of the structure

networks of the structure and now we can see that this is actually

and now we can see that this is actually

and now we can see that this is actually a decentralized structure that there is

a decentralized structure that there is

a decentralized structure that there is not a single criminal mind that we can

not a single criminal mind that we can

not a single criminal mind that we can remove to make the entire structure

remove to make the entire structure

remove to make the entire structure collapse in fact if we zoom in in one of

collapse in fact if we zoom in in one of

collapse in fact if we zoom in in one of those sub structures we are going to see

those sub structures we are going to see

those sub structures we are going to see that a subnetwork is articulated into

that a subnetwork is articulated into

that a subnetwork is articulated into the main web into the main network of

the main web into the main network of

the main web into the main network of interactions by a public servant because

interactions by a public servant because

interactions by a public servant because here the codes beginning with the

here the codes beginning with the

here the codes beginning with the letters fu n represent public servants

so this means that when we focus our

so this means that when we focus our attention only on the public squad of

attention only on the public squad of

attention only on the public squad of the moment we don’t understand all the

the moment we don’t understand all the

the moment we don’t understand all the complexity of money and political power

complexity of money and political power

complexity of money and political power sustaining that Pablos who are so this

sustaining that Pablos who are so this

sustaining that Pablos who are so this explains and this explains why criminal

explains and this explains why criminal

explains and this explains why criminal structures around the world remain

structures around the world remain

structures around the world remain untouched despite the fact that usually

untouched despite the fact that usually

untouched despite the fact that usually the criminal bosses are changing are

the criminal bosses are changing are

the criminal bosses are changing are constantly changing

constantly changing

constantly changing in fact el chapo guzman the famous chapo

in fact el chapo guzman the famous chapo

in fact el chapo guzman the famous chapo guzman leader of the Sinaloa cartel

guzman leader of the Sinaloa cartel

guzman leader of the Sinaloa cartel explained this to our friend Sean Penn

explained this to our friend Sean Penn

explained this to our friend Sean Penn in the famous interview at Rolling Stone

in the famous interview at Rolling Stone

in the famous interview at Rolling Stone so the chapo guzman said the day I don’t

so the chapo guzman said the day I don’t

so the chapo guzman said the day I don’t exist drug trafficking is not going to

exist drug trafficking is not going to

exist drug trafficking is not going to decrease in any way at all through

decrease in any way at all through

decrease in any way at all through trafficking does not depend on one

trafficking does not depend on one

trafficking does not depend on one person

and what do you think that happened when

and what do you think that happened when after the interview el chapo guzman was

after the interview el chapo guzman was

after the interview el chapo guzman was captured do you think that the structure

captured do you think that the structure

captured do you think that the structure that the criminal structure collapsed do

that the criminal structure collapsed do

that the criminal structure collapsed do you think that the Sinaloa cartel does

you think that the Sinaloa cartel does

you think that the Sinaloa cartel does not exist anymore do you think that drug

not exist anymore do you think that drug

not exist anymore do you think that drug trafficking changed in Mexico or the

trafficking changed in Mexico or the

trafficking changed in Mexico or the entire Western Hemisphere

entire Western Hemisphere

entire Western Hemisphere I can tell you the answer is not zero

I can tell you the answer is not zero

I can tell you the answer is not zero change nothing happened and that’s why

change nothing happened and that’s why

change nothing happened and that’s why that is the case because the politicians

that is the case because the politicians

that is the case because the politicians the people with mourning the public

the people with mourning the public

the people with mourning the public servants are is still operating and no

servants are is still operating and no

servants are is still operating and no one’s paying attention to them so why is

one’s paying attention to them so why is

one’s paying attention to them so why is it important to overcome this classic

it important to overcome this classic

it important to overcome this classic idea of crime I hope it’s everything for

idea of crime I hope it’s everything for

idea of crime I hope it’s everything for you now but I want to mention mention

you now but I want to mention mention

you now but I want to mention mention some specific cases in which

some specific cases in which

some specific cases in which understanding crime in classic terms in

understanding crime in classic terms in

understanding crime in classic terms in these traditional terms is dangerous for

these traditional terms is dangerous for

these traditional terms is dangerous for example let’s leave Mexico on let’s go

example let’s leave Mexico on let’s go

example let’s leave Mexico on let’s go to Bulgaria Eastern Europe where huge

to Bulgaria Eastern Europe where huge

to Bulgaria Eastern Europe where huge criminal structures that involved public

criminal structures that involved public

criminal structures that involved public servants kidnap women to sell them to

servants kidnap women to sell them to

servants kidnap women to sell them to breach European countries to force them

breach European countries to force them

breach European countries to force them into sexual work let’s go to Africa

into sexual work let’s go to Africa

into sexual work let’s go to Africa where huge criminal structures enslaved

where huge criminal structures enslaved

where huge criminal structures enslaved children to force them to extract called

children to force them to extract called

children to force them to extract called the same mineral that then ends up in

the same mineral that then ends up in

the same mineral that then ends up in our cell phones and our laptops in fact

our cell phones and our laptops in fact

our cell phones and our laptops in fact those children are also forced

those children are also forced

those children are also forced to participate in malicious and

to participate in malicious and

to participate in malicious and something very similar happens in

something very similar happens in

something very similar happens in Colombia where the luxury of gold begins

Colombia where the luxury of gold begins

Colombia where the luxury of gold begins with an extraction that destroys the

with an extraction that destroys the

with an extraction that destroys the environment and that actually poisoned

environment and that actually poisoned

environment and that actually poisoned the poor farmers involved in that

the poor farmers involved in that

the poor farmers involved in that destruction because they use mercury the

destruction because they use mercury the

destruction because they use mercury the entire day and the same happens with

entire day and the same happens with

entire day and the same happens with rhinos because there is a criminal

rhinos because there is a criminal

rhinos because there is a criminal market for the rhino horn powder some

market for the rhino horn powder some

market for the rhino horn powder some people in China and Vietnam think that

people in China and Vietnam think that

people in China and Vietnam think that the rhino horn powder has medicine

the rhino horn powder has medicine

the rhino horn powder has medicine powers so they sometimes pay even more

powers so they sometimes pay even more

powers so they sometimes pay even more for rhino horn powder than for gold and

for rhino horn powder than for gold and

for rhino horn powder than for gold and that explains why criminal structures

that explains why criminal structures

that explains why criminal structures are killing and destroying the entire

are killing and destroying the entire

are killing and destroying the entire Rhino species although rhino horn has

Rhino species although rhino horn has

Rhino species although rhino horn has not him your own nails in half as

not him your own nails in half as

not him your own nails in half as Richard Branson reminds us and the same

Richard Branson reminds us and the same

Richard Branson reminds us and the same happens with Pangolin a beautifully

happens with Pangolin a beautifully

happens with Pangolin a beautifully small animal that most of us don’t even

small animal that most of us don’t even

small animal that most of us don’t even know about but is the most traffic

know about but is the most traffic

know about but is the most traffic mammal in the world because there is

mammal in the world because there is

mammal in the world because there is also a market for its skin in Vietnam

also a market for its skin in Vietnam

also a market for its skin in Vietnam and shine as you can imagine at this

and shine as you can imagine at this

and shine as you can imagine at this point I could keep just listen and

point I could keep just listen and

point I could keep just listen and listen cases of huge criminal structures

listen cases of huge criminal structures

listen cases of huge criminal structures and that’s why the second idea that I

and that’s why the second idea that I

and that’s why the second idea that I want to live in or in your minds today

want to live in or in your minds today

want to live in or in your minds today is that in order to confront all these

is that in order to confront all these

is that in order to confront all these problems all these forms of traffic we

problems all these forms of traffic we

problems all these forms of traffic we need to understand criminal structures

need to understand criminal structures

need to understand criminal structures criminal understanding criminal

criminal understanding criminal

criminal understanding criminal structures is ground zero for this

structures is ground zero for this

structures is ground zero for this battle so I hope that you are asking

battle so I hope that you are asking

battle so I hope that you are asking yourselves

yourselves

yourselves what to do what shall we do well the

what to do what shall we do well the

what to do what shall we do well the first and most important task is to talk

first and most important task is to talk

first and most important task is to talk and to expose these structures because

and to expose these structures because

and to expose these structures because now that you recognize the gap now you

now that you recognize the gap now you

now that you recognize the gap now you know that the iceberg remains unchanged

know that the iceberg remains unchanged

know that the iceberg remains unchanged so we need to put light on those regions

so we need to put light on those regions

so we need to put light on those regions on those areas when bankers famous

on those areas when bankers famous

on those areas when bankers famous people politicians keep providing money

people politicians keep providing money

people politicians keep providing money and power for the political order

and power for the political order

and power for the political order criminal structures because fighting

criminal structures because fighting

criminal structures because fighting crime is not only about being a cop

fighting rhino horn trafficking is not

fighting rhino horn trafficking is not only about being a cop in the Kruger

only about being a cop in the Kruger

only about being a cop in the Kruger National Park in South Africa fighting

National Park in South Africa fighting

National Park in South Africa fighting crime is also about exposing these

crime is also about exposing these

crime is also about exposing these structures exposing these famous and

structures exposing these famous and

structures exposing these famous and powerful people to facilitate that with

powerful people to facilitate that with

powerful people to facilitate that with my research group we have been working

my research group we have been working

my research group we have been working during the last years designing some

during the last years designing some

during the last years designing some tools that I want to share with you

tools that I want to share with you

tools that I want to share with you today the first one today for the first

today the first one today for the first

today the first one today for the first time in public I want to present the

time in public I want to present the

time in public I want to present the global observatory of transnational

global observatory of transnational

global observatory of transnational criminal networks and initiative in

criminal networks and initiative in

criminal networks and initiative in which we invited journalists research

which we invited journalists research

which we invited journalists research institutes scholars and activists from

institutes scholars and activists from

institutes scholars and activists from Brazil South Africa Senegal Spain from

Brazil South Africa Senegal Spain from

Brazil South Africa Senegal Spain from around the world to come this cause this

around the world to come this cause this

around the world to come this cause this problem and to expose networks of crime

problem and to expose networks of crime

problem and to expose networks of crime and corruption so I won’t invite you to

and corruption so I won’t invite you to

and corruption so I won’t invite you to engage in this discussion criminal

engage in this discussion criminal

engage in this discussion criminal networks that org and there you’re also

networks that org and there you’re also

networks that org and there you’re also going to find this tool which is a

going to find this tool which is a

going to find this tool which is a massive visualization for observing and

massive visualization for observing and

massive visualization for observing and understanding that runs national

understanding that runs national

understanding that runs national movement of traffic resources but we

movement of traffic resources but we

movement of traffic resources but we need more data we need more information

need more data we need more information

need more data we need more information we need to process more cases and that’s

we need to process more cases and that’s

we need to process more cases and that’s why I want to invite you today to engage

why I want to invite you today to engage

why I want to invite you today to engage in this in this battle and this fight as

in this in this battle and this fight as

in this in this battle and this fight as another tool that I want to share with

another tool that I want to share with

another tool that I want to share with you I want to tell you about this

you I want to tell you about this

you I want to tell you about this documentaries in which vortex the

documentaries in which vortex the

documentaries in which vortex the research group that I direct word

research group that I direct word

research group that I direct word researching to understand eight criminal

researching to understand eight criminal

researching to understand eight criminal markets from around the world to support

markets from around the world to support

markets from around the world to support the production of eight films about this

the production of eight films about this

the production of eight films about this criminal criminal markets so I want to

criminal criminal markets so I want to

criminal criminal markets so I want to invite you because this November these

invite you because this November these

invite you because this November these films are going to be released so you

films are going to be released so you

films are going to be released so you can use them as a tool to boost this

can use them as a tool to boost this

can use them as a tool to boost this discussion with the right money you can

discussion with the right money you can

discussion with the right money you can buy anything drugs

fusion presents why did you want to talk

fusion presents why did you want to talk to me

to me

to me the farha diet takes you on a global

the farha diet takes you on a global

the farha diet takes you on a global journey we’ve walked into a trafficking

journey we’ve walked into a trafficking

journey we’ve walked into a trafficking house the buyers I gave him the money

house the buyers I gave him the money

house the buyers I gave him the money in return I got his kid the sellers

in return I got his kid the sellers

in return I got his kid the sellers really rich the one inside

really rich the one inside

really rich the one inside billion-dollar black markets hiding in

billion-dollar black markets hiding in

billion-dollar black markets hiding in plain sight it sounds to me like

plain sight it sounds to me like

plain sight it sounds to me like legalized trafficking the traffickers

legalized trafficking the traffickers

legalized trafficking the traffickers premieres November 13th on fusion

premieres November 13th on fusion

premieres November 13th on fusion unfortunately with the right money you

unfortunately with the right money you

unfortunately with the right money you can buy anything but now all of us here

can buy anything but now all of us here

can buy anything but now all of us here know that this is not only about the

know that this is not only about the

know that this is not only about the buyer and the seller now we know that

buyer and the seller now we know that

buyer and the seller now we know that always there is a criminal market that

always there is a criminal market that

always there is a criminal market that involves great wages part-time criminals

involves great wages part-time criminals

involves great wages part-time criminals people playing between the legal and the

people playing between the legal and the

people playing between the legal and the legal sectors of society so I want to

legal sectors of society so I want to

legal sectors of society so I want to invite you to participate in this

invite you to participate in this

invite you to participate in this discussion to have an active role

discussion to have an active role

discussion to have an active role because as I just told you we need more

because as I just told you we need more

because as I just told you we need more data we need to understand the

data we need to understand the

data we need to understand the complexity of criminal structures from

complexity of criminal structures from

complexity of criminal structures from around the world and fortunately no

around the world and fortunately no

around the world and fortunately no one’s paying attention to this issue

one’s paying attention to this issue

one’s paying attention to this issue because every second that we don’t care

because every second that we don’t care

because every second that we don’t care about this it’s a second and we we

about this it’s a second and we we

about this it’s a second and we we condemn millions of people especially

condemn millions of people especially

condemn millions of people especially children to the darkness of corruption

children to the darkness of corruption

children to the darkness of corruption and crime don’t get me wrong because my

and crime don’t get me wrong because my

and crime don’t get me wrong because my my idea today is not to get you to

my idea today is not to get you to

my idea today is not to get you to depressed in fact I need you to have

depressed in fact I need you to have

depressed in fact I need you to have hopup about this because I know that the

hopup about this because I know that the

hopup about this because I know that the world is actually doing great I know

world is actually doing great I know

world is actually doing great I know that we as humans we have amazing tools

that we as humans we have amazing tools

that we as humans we have amazing tools we have amazing technology we have

we have amazing technology we have

we have amazing technology we have amazing economic resources and actually

amazing economic resources and actually

amazing economic resources and actually peaceful regions around the

peaceful regions around the

peaceful regions around the word however in several countries across

word however in several countries across

word however in several countries across Latin America especially Central America

Latin America especially Central America

Latin America especially Central America Eastern Europe and West Africa things

Eastern Europe and West Africa things

Eastern Europe and West Africa things are not going that well and that’s why

are not going that well and that’s why

are not going that well and that’s why we need to participate in this because

we need to participate in this because

we need to participate in this because every second that we don’t do it we lose

every second that we don’t do it we lose

every second that we don’t do it we lose human lives and that’s something that we

human lives and that’s something that we

human lives and that’s something that we cannot afford to do thank you

you

you [Music]