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

  The world is at a crossroads when it comes to dealing with illicit economies. Organized crime is undermining democracy, the sovereignty of states, and even international peace and security. The rules-based order that has prevailed for decades is now being exploited by those who don’t play by the rules. Criminal groups are some of the biggest profiteers. Illicit economies reflect broader socio-economic, political and geopolitical processes, because criminals are often the ones who adapt first and take advantage of disruptions such as geopolitical competition, rapid technological innovation, violent conflicts, trade wars and the erosion of democracy. So, the Global Organized Crime Index is not just a tool for measuring crime: it is a mirror reflecting what is going on within states and the international system. Since this is our third edition, we now have three data sets that enable us to track and compare how criminal markets and actors have evolved over the past five years . Amon...

  Human trafficking and the smuggling of migrants continue to dominate political debates and multilateral discourse as leaders search for new tools and strategies to address these crimes. In this context, targeted financial and mobility sanctions have recently emerged as a high-profile option for policymakers. In June 2025, the Group of Seven (G7) became the latest forum to endorse the use of sanctions to counter migrant smuggling and human trafficking. In a communiqué issued after their latest meeting in Kananaskis, Canada, G7 leaders stated: ‘ We will explore, consistent with our legal systems, the potential use of sanctions to target criminals involved in migrant smuggling and human trafficking operations from countries where those activities emanate.' This statement is in line with the growing interest in applying sanctions for this purpose. In January 2025, the UK announced its intention to create a sanctions regime specifically to target the smuggling of migrants, with o...

  This is the fifth issue of the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime’s Western Cape Gang Monitor , an output of our South Africa Organized Crime Observatory. This series of bulletins tracks developments in Western Cape gang dynamics each quarter, to provide a concise synthesis of relevant trends to inform policymakers and civil society. The monitor draws on information provided by field researchers working in gang-affected communities of the Western Cape. This includes interviews with current and former gang members, civil society, and members of the criminal justice system.

  This publication explores the multifaceted risks associated with migrants transfers . Authored by Dr. Matt Herbert, the report presents a detailed analysis of how migrant expulsions could exacerbate instability in Libya and fuel smuggling and extortion networks . Libya remains an extremely fragile state, with two rival governments and widespread militia activity. Since the 2011 revolution, illicit markets have also flourished. Among the most developed and dangerous is that for human smuggling and trafficking, marked by the exploitation of migrants through extortion, forced labour, and predation. Both official and unofficial detention facilities are sites of chronic human rights violations , including torture, sexual violence, and ransom-driven extortion. Migrants deported from the US risk becoming entangled in this. Beyond humanitarian risks, the political implications of deportations would be severe. They would inflame tensions in the Tripolitania region, weakening the alr...

  Analysis from Haiti Observatories on '' Haiti on the brink as Kenya’s aid mission remains paralyzed" .

Recognizing the importance of illicit economies within West Africa’s conflict ecosystem , the GI-TOC launched the illicit hub mapping project in 2022. The initial phase identified 280 hubs of illicit economies across 18 focus countries. A quantitative metric, the Illicit Economies and Instability Monitor (‘ Monitor ’), was then applied to analyze the extent to which the illicit economies in each hub fuelled instability. This assessment was based on 30 indicators, drawing on expert analysis and existing data. Three years on, the second iteration of the illicit hub mapping project is in the final stages of development. Building on important additions to the Monitor and an extensive existing evidence base, the 2025 edition will capture the most recent trends relating to illicit economies and instability across West Africa . The updated illicit hub mapping allows for analysis of illicit economy engagement by actor type, as well as a spatial analysis of illicit hubs . It also considers t...

  - Summary highlights - Balkan criminals involved in large-scale smuggling through Hamburg. Criminal groups from the Western Balkans have emerged as key players in cocaine trafficking through the Port of Hamburg — Europe’s third-largest container hub. Both Albanian-speaking networks and Slavic-speaking groups now coordinate sophisticated smuggling operations from South America, with well-developed systems for extracting cocaine from containers and distributing it across Europe. Despite record seizures, these criminal networks demonstrate remarkable resilience and adaptability. Although German authorities have made strides in enhancing port security, significant gaps remain in addressing corruption and in developing effective coordination with Balkan law enforcement agencies.  Read more The internationalization of migrant smuggling through the Balkans. The Western Balkan route has become a critical migration corridor into the European Union, with criminal networks developing s...

  The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC) was active at the CCPCJ throughout and will participate in the following events during the week, to Highlight the latest research and activities related to enhancing understanding of issues on the agenda at this year’s CCPCJ , including crime prevention and community resilience, crimes that affect the environment, organized fraud operations, youth criminality , human trafficking and other challenges. They contributed with recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of policy responses, for better impacts on communities and societies around the world. Side event: Raising awareness of the global impact of fraud . Download. Side event: Prevention of lethal violence in organized crime - focused deterrence and other preventive strategies . Download . Side event: Responding to youth criminality linked to transnational organized crime in the Nordic and Baltic regions . Download . Breakfast event: Building resilienc...

  The challenge is felt across conflict settings, for example in Colombia, Afghanistan, the DRC, Libya, Mali, Myanmar and Haiti. The impacts of organized crime in conflict are economic, political and social, critically impacting efforts to decrease violence, establish good governance and advance peace. Addressing transnational organized crime, though recognized as a key threat, has never had an easy policy fix. And in the current geopolitical climate, the stakes are higher, yet the challenges are greater. This side-event (also available online), hosted by the United Nations Association of Germany and the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC), will explore evolving developments of the TOC-conflict nexus , discuss UN responses in the context of peace operations, and generate ideas for more effective peace interventions. The dictionary defines a spoiler as information that can ruin "a viewer's sense of surprise or suspense." Security and Rights...

  Cybercriminality , or cybercrime, is the use of computers and networks to commit illegal acts, such as fraud, theft, and harassment. These acts can range from exploiting vulnerabilities in computer systems to hacking, phishing, and distributing malware, and can cause significant financial and reputational damage. Cybercrimes can be classified as cyber-dependent, where the crime is only possible with technology, or cyber-enabled, where technology is used to facilitate a traditional crime. Cybercrime is a growing global threat, causing trillions of dollars in economic damage annually. This report explores how Eastern Europe have become a significant hub for cybercriminal activity , fueled by historical legacies, economic disparities, and state connections. Analysis from East Asian States Observatories and European Observatories on Cybercriminality.

  Analysis from Haiti Observatories on Violence and Resilience .

  Analysis from the Arab Region Observatories and South East Europe Observatories on Cocaine connections: Links between the Western Balkans and South America.

   Analysis on Sanctions and Organized Crime concerning the Asia -Asia/Pacific Observatories

  Analysis on Latinoamerica y el carib from Americas Observatories

  UN Reform The United Nations is undergoing a significant, albeit slow, shift in its approach to global drug policy , moving away from the traditional punitive " war on drugs " towards policies based on public health, human rights, and sustainable development. Key Drivers and Aspects of the Reform Failure of Prohibition: There is a growing consensus among many UN officials and member states that the decades-long prohibitionist approach, enshrined in the three core UN drug conventions (1961, 1971, and 1988), has failed to achieve a "drug-free world". Instead, it has fueled violence, mass incarceration, corruption, and a massive illegal market controlled by organized crime, while causing significant human rights violations. Human Rights and Public Health Focus : UN entities, particularly the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the World Health Organization (WHO), are advocating for a radical rethinking of policy. This includes a shift towards:Decrimin...

  Eastern Asian States Observatories on the Geopolitics and illicit economies in the South Caucasus .

  Geocriminality needs to be understood as a serious threat to national security and democratic values, rather than just a series of isolated incidents. JIED on The rise of geocriminality

  Analysis form South Eastern Europe Observatories on the Cooperation to fight Corruption.

  ECO-Solve

  On 11 February 2025, Italian police carried out a major operation in Palermo, Sicily, targeting key mafia districts. With 1 200 officers deployed in the city and surrounding areas, and aerial surveillance to support the raids, law enforcement officers arrested over 180 people from the notorious clans that have ruled the Sicilian mafia, the Cosa Nostra, for the past two decades. European Observatories Analysis : Despite a hard blow to Cosa Nostra, the  Sicilian mafia  remains resilient.