Journal of Illicit Economies and Development. Illicit economies have a major yet often overlooked influence on the development trajectories of countries. With a large number of people globally involved in the supply chains of illicit markets, these have undermined governance and catalysed insecurity in some contexts, whilst consolidating power and providing important economic spillovers for marginalised communities in others. The ways in which these markets influence and intertwine with development processes have historically been overlooked, with research produced in academic siloes. …This journal provides immediate open access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge.