Illicit Network Dynamics: The Formation and Evolution of a Drug Trafficking Network

Abstract

Objectives: The project aims to: (1) investigate structural and functional changes in an Australian drug trafficking network across time to determine ways in which such networks form and evolve. To meet this aim, the project will answer the following research questions: (1) What social structural changes occur in drug trafficking networks across time? (2) How are these structural changes related to roles/tasks performed by network members? (3) What social processes can account for change over time in drug trafficking networks? Method: The relational data on the network was divided into four two years periods. Actors were allocated to specific roles. We applied a stochastic actor-oriented mod..