UN warns of expanding global crime networks, urges nations to ‘track down flow of money’
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) issued a stark warning on Saturday, calling for intensified global efforts to track illicit financial flows — described as the financial lifeline that sustains organized crime networks around the world.
In a statement released on the International Day Against Organized Crime, observed each year on November 15, the UN office said organized crime has become a “growing global threat” impacting communities, economies, and the environment.
The criminal activities now span everything from drug, weapons, and metal trafficking to cybercrime, human trafficking, and illegal deforestation.
According to the UNODC, transnational criminal groups generate billions in illegal profits annually, destabilizing societies and undermining security.
The 2023 Global Homicide Study revealed that nearly 22% of intentional homicides worldwide—around 100,000 deaths every year between 2015 and 2021—were directly linked to organized crime.
The Office emphasized that the damage goes far beyond murder rates:
- Counterfeit medicines endanger public health,
- Illegal logging and mining deplete natural resources,
- Large-scale fraud drains individuals financially,
- Economic crimes and money laundering erode trust in financial institutions.
UNODC also warned that crime syndicates have become more elusive due to advanced digital tools, using cryptocurrencies, shell companies, and other modern technologies to hide and rapidly move illicit funds across borders—far beyond the reach of traditional tracking methods.
The statement stressed that dismantling these networks requires sweeping international cooperation and coordinated action across multiple sectors. Tracing financial flows, the Office said, is one of the most effective ways to dismantle criminal structures and recover stolen assets.
The UN urged nations to sustain global efforts to curb the profits that fuel organized crime, underscoring that doing so is vital for justice and long-term development.
The message concluded with a clear rallying cry — “Track the money, stop organized crime” — the official slogan of this year’s campaign, highlighting the enormous cost of cross-border crime and the urgent need to cut off the financial arteries that keep these networks alive.
