An urgent international call on the International Day against Organized Crime news

The United Nations commemorated the World Day Against Organized Crime – which falls on November 15 of each year – under the slogan “Trace the money… Stop organized crime.”

The United Nations said that organized crime, which includes drug trafficking, electronic fraud crimes, human trafficking, arms trade and vital minerals, extends its activities everywhere, and its networks generate billions of dollars annually.

She stressed that it is now classified as a growing global threat, harming individuals, societies, economies and the planet, calling on countries around the world to join efforts to combat it.

According to information issued by the United Nations Office on Crime and Drugs, the profits made by organized crime networks come at the expense of human losses, as the figures recorded that between 2015 and 2021, about 22% of premeditated murders globally – that is, about 100,000 deaths annually – were linked to organized crime.

The United Nations explained that fraudulent crimes deprive people of their savings, and economic crimes and money laundering destabilize financial systems and undermine confidence in institutions.

A call to action

The United Nations said that the ability to generate, move, hide and reinvest illicit profits allows organized crime networks to maintain and expand their activities, and even expand into committing other types of crimes.

Today, these networks use advanced digital tools, based on advanced cyber skills, modern technologies, cryptocurrencies, and front companies to hide the sources and destinations of illicit funds.

The United Nations urged the need to take action and unite the public in order to confront these crimes, calling for strengthening cross-border cooperation and information exchange.

She pointed out that in order to combat organized crime effectively, the financial systems that rely on it should be targeted by tracking illicit money flows, as this helps uncover the networks behind the crimes, enabling law enforcement agencies to disrupt the activities of these groups, prosecute their perpetrators, and recover the looted assets.

The United Nations explained that tracking money is not only aimed at stopping criminals, but that reducing financial incentives that fuel organized crime also contributes to establishing justice and achieving sustainable and long-term development.