The use of cryptocurrencies, shell companies, online platforms and virtual assets allows criminals to remain anonymous. UN calls for global efforts to combat transnational organized crime Peace and Security
Transnational organized crime has become one of the most serious threats of the 21st century. It causes the death of hundreds of thousands of people, undermines government institutions, destroys ecosystems, and robs communities of a sense of security and faith in the future.
Today, criminal networks operate like well-organized corporations, and modern technology makes them even more invisible and dangerous. The use of cryptocurrencies, anonymous companies, online platforms and virtual assets allows them to move funds around the world in a matter of seconds. values
Illicit trafficking in weapons, drugs, rare species of animals and plants, cultural property and counterfeit medicines, human trafficking, smuggling of migrants, money laundering and obstruction of justice – all this undermines the well-being of people and the development of economies.
A global threat requires a global answer
In 2024, the UN General Assembly proclaimed November 15 as the International Day for the Prevention and Combating of All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime. This date is intended to highlight the need for international cooperation and draw attention to the scale of the threat.
Criminal groups have long gone beyond traditional mafia structures. Now these are flexible networks operating in several jurisdictions at once. Victims, criminals, witnesses and financial flows are distributed across different countries, which makes interaction between states vital.
The key document for this remains the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. It covers all serious crimes of a transnational nature and is today one of the most ratified international legal instruments. world – approximately 100 thousand deaths per year are associated with organized crime. But the damage doesn’t stop there.
Counterfeit medicines threaten the health of millions, illegal deforestation and mining destroy nature, river and soil pollution undermine food security, cyber fraud robs people of their savings, and money laundering erodes trust in public institutions.
Stop the channels of illegal income
UNODC 2025 campaign focuses on the financial dimension of the problem. Transnational crime brings criminals billions of dollars in illicit profits every year. These funds fuel human trafficking, drug trafficking, corruption and armed conflict.
Modern technology allows criminals to hide the origin of funds, their final recipients and routes of movement. Cryptocurrencies, shell companies and complex cross-border transfer schemes are making investigations increasingly difficult.
To effectively combat organized crime, the UN calls for:
- Track illicit financial flows;
- Disrupt the financial structures of criminal groups;
- Strengthen international data exchange and cooperation;
- Modernize legislation in the field of control of virtual assets;
- Increase the capacity of law enforcement agencies to investigations;
- Return stolen assets to affected states and communities.
Financial investigations can identify the leaders of criminal networks, expose connections between various crimes and deprive groups of their economic basis.