About the Journal

The proposed Journal of Illicit Trade, Financial Crime, and Compliance (JITFCC) will serve as the premier academic and professional platform for scholars, policymakers, law enforcement agencies, and compliance professionals. Under the leadership of Professor Nikos Passas - a globally recognized authority on financial crime and illicit networks - and in partnership with the Anti-Corruption Academy of India (ACAI), where Prof. Passas serves as Chair of the Academic Council, the journal will bridge theory and practice in combating transnational financial crimes.

Aims and Scope

The JITFCC will focus on three core areas:

Illicit Trade

  • Smuggling and counterfeit goods
  • Human trafficking and modern slavery
  • Narcotics and illegal arms trade
  • Environmental crimes (wildlife trafficking, illegal logging)

Financial Crime

  • Money laundering and terrorist financing
  • Fraud (cyberfraud, corporate fraud, investment scams)
  • Corruption and bribery (with focus on transnational cases)
  • Tax evasion, offshore financial secrecy, and illicit flows

Compliance and Enforcement

  • Anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CTF)
  • Sanctions and export controls
  • Corporate governance and ethical business practices
  • Public-private partnerships in crime prevention

Journal Affiliation & Leadership

The JITFCC will be formally affiliated with the Anti-Corruption Academy of India (ACAI), India's premier institution for anti-corruption education and research, where Editor-in-Chief Professor Nikos Passas serves as Chair of the Academic Council. This partnership will:

  • Provide institutional support and global credibility
  • Facilitate engagement with policymakers and enforcement agencies
  • Enable access to ACAI's network of anti-corruption experts
  • Support special issues on emerging Asian and global corruption trends

JUSTIFICATION FOR THE JOURNAL

Escalating Global Threats

Illicit trade accounts for nearly 3% of global GDP (OECD), while financial crime costs economies trillions annually(UNODC).

Policy-Relevant Research

Existing journals lack focus on practical enforcement solutions. JITFCC will bridge this gap, esp. in light the suggested ACAI partnership.

Unique Editorial Leadership

Professor Passas brings unparalleled expertise through his roles at:

  • Northeastern University (Professor of Criminology)
  • Anti-Corruption Academy of India (Academic Council Chair)
  • UNODC, World Bank, OECD, Council of Europe, EU, UN Security Council, IMF, and FATF (consultant)

Target Audience

  • Academics (criminology, law, economics)
  • Policymakers (FATF, FinCEN, EU Commission)
  • Financial institutions & compliance officers
  • Law enforcement (Interpol, Europol, CBI)
  • International organizations (UNODC, World Bank)

Publication Model

  • Open Access with institutional support from ACAI
  • Double-blind peer review
  • Quarterly publication with special issues
  • Digital-first with print options

Expected Impact

  • Enhance global understanding of illicit financial flows
  • Influence anti-corruption policy through ACAI's government connections
  • Foster Asia-focused research on financial crime

Conclusion

The JITFCC, under Prof. Passas's leadership and ACAI's institutional support, will become the definitive forum for research on illicit finance and compliance. We invite partnerships to launch this critical initiative.