International Day for the Prevention of and Fight against All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime

  Analysis from the Americas States Observatories on the Environmental impacts and transitions across illicit, informal and licit economies in Colombia. Illicit economies have been related in complex ways to the armed conflict and criminal governance in Colombia (CEV, 2022; Rettberg, Cárdenas, Ortiz-Riomalo, 2017). The development of these activities, along with state responses to control them, have had significant consequences for local economies and have also impacted the environmen t (Brombacher, Garzón & Vélez, 2021; UNODC, 2022; UNODC, 2021; Rubiano, Vélez & Rueda, 2020). The aim of this report is to analyze the functioning of the coca, cocaine, and gold mining production markets in Colombia to assess their relationships with environmental damages, such as deforestation . In addition to the functioning of these markets, this research explores the interactions of these illicit activities with other productive sectors that also generate environmental costs, such as cat...

  The first meeting of this group will take place in Vienna from 30 June to 2 July 2025, and may be followed by a second meeting in early 2026, ahead of the 15th UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in the United Arab Emirate s in April. The group will be expected to report on its work at the 13th UNTOC COP in October 2026. This new process is the culmination of a long-brewing movement towards addressing environmental crimes beyond what can be controlled through CITES. For example, it builds on progress made at France’s initiative to push forward resolutions on environmental crime that are within the scope of existing UN instruments. Crucially, in 2022, Resolution 31/1 of the UN Commission of Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) , tabled by Angola, Kenya and Peru called for views on a potential new protocol on wildlife trafficking to be collected (the first time a protocol had been mentioned in a UN resolution). This followed a campaign led by the Globa...

  Analysis from the Americas Region observatories on llegal mining and gold supply chains in Ecuador . In recent years, Ecuador’s gold sector has transformed dramatically. Once a largely informal livelihood, artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) has evolved into a criminally exploited industry. This report investigates this transformation and the illicit gold supply chains that are fueling it. Drawing on interviews, fieldwork, and open-source analysis, the report examines how systemic vulnerabilities have enabled organized crime groups (OCGs) to capture sections of the ASGM sector and launder gold and illicit finance into formal supply chains. With limited government oversight, widespread corruption, and a culture of impunity, Ecuador’s gold sector has become a major source of income for OCGs, alongside growing violence, environmental degradation, and financial crime. Let's  focus on the critical gold processing hubs of Zaruma and Portovelo, in El Oro province . Gold e...

  The last decade and a half have seen an alarming surge in illegal wildlife trade (IWT) on the internet. However, a dearth of data regarding the scale of the market, its dynamics, operations and ramifications, especially on a global scale, is a significant hindrance to combating this crime. To address this, ECO-SOLVE has developed a Global Monitoring System (GMS) to systematically monitor global online IWT and gather data to feed into law enforcement activity and to inform policymaking. The GMS is a network of data hubs in countries whose domestic online markets are considered the largest or most consequential in their regions. National monitoring nodes are being set up in a staggered process and the size and scope of the network will grow with each edition of the Global Trend Report. This report draws on data from November 2024 to January 2025 from data hubs in Brazil, South Africa and Thailand. By identifying areas of high pressure on endangered species and ecosystems, monito...

The report reveals how major EU exporters—including the UK, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands—take advantage of regulatory gaps to mislabel contaminated or mixed plastic as recyclable, circumventing EU and international law s . Türkiye’s weak enforcement, fragmented regulations, and entrenched corruption make it an easy target for both legal and illegal waste flows. Ports like Adana, Mersin, and Ambarlı have become hotspots for plastic waste imports , with Adana alone handling over 60% of the national total. Satellite imagery, field interviews, and customs data consistently show open dumping, illegal burning, and hazardous storage of waste, much of which is unsuitable for recycling. Multinational corporations and waste brokers exploit legal grey areas to offload low-grade waste onto Türkiye, bypassing their environmental responsibilities. Through subcontracting, blending of waste types, and obfuscating end destinations , they create a system of plausible deniability and profit. O...

  Coalescing a more coherent and effective international response was a daunting, but necessary common objective of the government of France and the GI-TOC, who invited a diverse set of participants in Paris for the third security and development dialogue on environmental crime in Paris in April 2025 , with the financial support of the European Union through the ECO-SOLVE project. The event is part of a series aimed at building political will and momentum for a more ambitious global response to environmental crime through the multilateral system . The dialogue series aims to determine shared priorities for action and to prepare for collective engagement ahead of important multilateral processes taking place in 2025 and 2026, with an agenda focused on ways of prioritizing environmental crimes for urgent and collective action at global, regional and national levels to protect both people and planet . As such, it enables participants to:discuss strategies to draw attention to the env...

  ECO-Solve

Environmental crime includes a range of illegal acts that harm the environment, human health, or both, such as illegal dumping of hazardous waste, pollution of air and water, wildlife trafficking, and illegal logging. These offenses can be violations of environmental laws, like the Clean Air Act or Clean Water Act, and often have serious consequences, including financial penalties and imprisonment. Types of environmental crimes Illegal waste disposal : Illegally dumping or exporting hazardous waste, which can include electronic waste. Pollution : Discharging pollutants into water sources or the air in violation of laws like the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act. Wildlife and plant trafficking : Illegal trade of endangered species, animal parts like ivory, and protected plants.Illegal logging and fishing: Illegally harvesting timber and engaging in unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU fishing). Other offenses: These can also include tampering with drinking water supplies, smugg...