Abstract
In this special issue, we call for rigorous research that borrows from various disciplines and presents relevant and original work related to the disruption of illicit markets using OR and analytics approaches. This can be rendered in various forms, such as a new way of framing the issue via problematization, design approaches and constraint inducements, and behavioral and technological solutions. We are interested in research exploring factors that contribute to or facilitate initiatives solutions to disrupt illicit markets using OR and analytics methodology and understanding the dynamic systems from descriptive characterization and predictive estimation control solutions against illicit networks. Further, we recommend focusing efforts toward developing potential solutions to the problem of illicit operations by using a sustainable supply chain design and management lens wherein we desire to disrupt certain exploitive and harmful activities and dynamics while enhancing other constructive and beneficial economic activities and behaviors. However, while it stands to reason that OR and analytics can play a unique and effective role in in-counter illicit efforts, several practical challenges exist for OR and analytics practitioners in applying their techniques: the extent of the problem is unknown, traffickers and smugglers dynamically adapt their deceptive techniques, with fragmented data, and limited resources. At the same time, these challenges present opportunities to advance OR and analytics methodologies. There are many possibilities for members of this community to apply their skills to counter illicit operations. In what follows, we suggest some open opportunities to do so; however, authors are not limited to these topics: 1. Integrative study of ecosystems that includes illicit and licit components. 2. Identification of victims, perpetrators, and relevant operational environments by criminal network analysis. 3. Development of acute interventions, including but not limited to the initial target. Victimcentered interventions include exit costs and appropriate duration for restorative care. 4. Design of sustainable systems management strategies to combat illicit markets. 5. Formulation of operational models with objective functions that capture multiple and conflicting goals. 6. Frameworks for data collection, management, and sharing. 7. Embrace intersectionality and nuance. 8. Generating synthetic networks for illicit interdiction operations. 9. Disrupting illicit markets using community-based resource allocation models. 10. Predicting the supply and number of potential victims by reducing recruitment effectiveness and addressing the root causes of risk factors. 11. Estimating demand for goods and services supplied by illicit networks. 12. Disrupting trust among illicit actors. Examples of topics of illicit operations include (but are not restricted to): The exploitation of people, such as human trafficking, human smuggling, slavery, irregular migration, online sexual exploitation The illicit wildlife trade, illicit environmental markets for natural mineral resources and endangered terrestrial and marine species, such as illegal logging timber, conflict diamonds, elephant poaching, oil illegal taps, e-waste dumped illegally, smuggling gold, pangolin poaching Drug production, like cocaine, meth, opioids (opium), cannabis, heroin Cybercrime through online commerce, such as identity theft, cyber extortion, darknet markets, ransomware attacks (WannaCry), cryptocurrency hackers Illegal production and sale of illegal goods, such as counterfeiting, EU customs, Operation Pangea, toxic substances, online purchase counterfeiting, pharmaceutical counterfeiting, illegal pesticides Instructions for authors can be found at: https://www.springer.com/journal/10479/submission-guidelines
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