The 'Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime' has stated in a policy brief in March 2020 that while understanding the long-term impact at these early stages of the pandemic is difficult, somethings are clear - the pandemic has caused a decrease in some organized-criminal activities, while providing new opportunities in other areas, causing a change in the "organized-criminal economy" that may just be long term.[1][2] The report states that the disruption caused by the pandemic has been exploited by some criminal groups as an opportunity to scale up their activities.[2] There is a possibility of "the emergence of criminal groups as suppliers and 'partners' of the state in maintaining order".[2]