When examining terrorism and organised crime, the financial aspect is perhaps one of the most important considerations, particularly when adopting an international perspective. Discovering financial channels is fundamental in identifying and locating terrorist groups and transnational criminal organisations; and delineating their economic boundaries and convergences is one of the most effective ways to both contrast and prevent their activities.

It should be noted at the outset that it is not easy to understand the financial aspects of organised criminals' and terrorists' activities. The difficulties in comprehending different money laundering systems are well known, and money laundering is only one aspect of the criminal financial field. And of course, this is not a new but a well-developed phenomenon, since terrorism and organised crime have had contacts, exchanges and co-operations for many years.

Usually, organised crime activities are not typical terrorist activities, even if we are unsure about which kind of actions are considered typical of the terrorist field. We have to consider some basic differences, which are fundamental to an understanding of the needs and uses of money in criminal and terrorist activity.

This work will examine the methods used by terrorism and organised crime to gain profit, draw out the differences and similarities, and suggest strategies to intervene practically in this field. It will also identify the various points of contact between these different organisations, and how they can co-operate (particularly economically and financially), sometimes becoming a single criminal group.