Follow the Money: The Global Fight Against Transnational Organized Crime
The International Day for the Prevention of and Fight Against All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime, observed annually on November 15, serves as a powerful global call to action. It reminds the world that cross-border criminal networks pose a threat to peace, security, human rights, economic stability, and the environment.
The day underscores the urgent need for international cooperation, ethical governance, and active citizen engagement to dismantle criminal organizations that exploit technology, weak institutions, and global interconnectedness.
Transnational organized crime has evolved into a complex and adaptive force. Its reach spans money laundering, human trafficking, arms trafficking, cybercrime, wildlife crime, and the illicit drug trade, among others. This observance urges nations to uphold justice, strengthen accountability, and reinforce the rule of law, while recognizing that global unity is essential to confronting these threats.
Theme for 2025: “Follow the Money. Stop Organized Crime.”
The 2025 theme, “Follow the money. Stop organized crime.”, highlights how criminal enterprises thrive on illicit profits. From drug trafficking and cyber fraud to illegal mining, wildlife poaching, and firearm trafficking, transnational organized crime generates billions each year.
The theme emphasizes that tracing and disrupting these financial flows is one of the most powerful ways to weaken criminal networks.
Understanding Transnational Organized Crime
Transnational organized crime refers to planned, coordinated illegal activities carried out across borders by structured groups whose primary objective is power or profit.
These crimes are not isolated events. They form part of global systems that erode institutions, destabilize economies, exploit the vulnerable, and endanger lives.
Major forms of transnational organized crime include:
- Human trafficking and migrant smuggling
- Drug trafficking and arms trafficking
- Cybercrime and identity theft
- Money laundering, fraud, and corruption
- Wildlife trafficking and environmental crime
- Organ trafficking and terrorism financing
The observance promotes collective action, strengthening legislation, intelligence-sharing, and local empowerment through education and prevention.
Children at Risk: The Prey of Organized Crime
Although organized crime is often discussed in terms of global security and economic disruption, its most devastating effects are felt by children and young people. Criminal networks target children; they are not only affected by these crimes but are also recruited in their illegal activities.
How Children Are Exposed to Organized Crime
a. Human Trafficking and Exploitation
Children are trafficked for forced labor, sexual exploitation, domestic servitude, and early marriage, generating billions for criminal groups.
b. Forced Labor in Illegal Operations
From illegal mining and logging to drug cultivation, children are exploited in dangerous environments far from education or protection.
c. Online Abuse and Cyber Exploitation
Digital platforms expose children to grooming, blackmail, trafficking, and child sexual abuse materials controlled by organized cyber networks.
d. Recruitment Into Gangs and Criminal Groups
Children are lured with false promises of belonging, money, or protection, making them easy targets for gang manipulation.
e. Living in Crime-Controlled Communities
In areas infiltrated by drug traffickers or armed groups, children experience violence, fear, and limited access to education and safety.
The Human Cost of Organized Crime
The toll of organized crime extends far beyond illicit profits. According to the UNODC 2023 Global Study on Homicide, organized crime accounted for 22% of all intentional homicides worldwide between 2015 and 2021, approximately 100,000 deaths each year.
But the damage does not stop at loss of life. Organized crime:
- fuels conflict and weakens peace and security
- undermines health systems through counterfeit medicines
- destroys ecosystems through illegal logging, mining, and waste dumping
- erodes public trust through corruption and financial crime
- harms economies by destabilizing markets and draining national resources
Many who have been affected suffer in silence, while perpetrators often hide behind digital tools, corruption, and financial secrecy.
Historical Background
The observance traces its roots to the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC), the Palermo Convention, adopted on November 15, 2000, in Palermo, Italy.
UNTOC established three key protocols:
- Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children
- Protocol Against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea, and Air
- Protocol Against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms
The International Day itself was formally created in 2024, when the UN General Assembly acknowledged the escalating threat of organized crime and called for stronger global awareness and cooperation.
The first observance, held in November 2024, focused on crimes such as money laundering, illegal arms trafficking, human trafficking, and drug smuggling.
Why Criminal Networks Thrive: Profit as the Driving Force
Organized crime groups continue to expand because of their ability to generate, move, conceal, and reinvest illicit money. They increasingly rely on:
- Cryptocurrencies
- advanced digital tools
- complex cyber networks
- shell companies
- encrypted communications
These technologies enable criminals to move illicit funds rapidly and discreetly, often beyond the reach of traditional law enforcement.
Taking Action: Why Following the Money Matters
To truly dismantle organized crime, nations must target the financial systems that sustain it. Tracking illegal transactions enables authorities to:
- disrupt criminal networks
- seize illicit assets
- arrest perpetrators
- prevent further exploitation
Following the money is not just about catching criminals; it also reduces the financial incentives that fuel organized crime, supporting justice, development, and long-term stability.
Why This Observance Matters
Transnational organized crime is one of the most serious threats to global stability. Its impacts include:
a. Economic Damage
Billions are lost annually through money laundering, fraud, and illegal trade.
b. Human Rights Violations
Human trafficking and forced labor devastate individuals and communities.
c. Environmental Destruction
Illegal logging, mining, and wildlife trafficking irreversibly damage ecosystems.
d. Political Corruption
Criminal networks infiltrate government structures and undermine democracy.
e. Technological Threats
Cybercrime compromises digital infrastructure and personal data security.
What Parents, Society, and Governments Must Do
Protecting children from organized crime requires everyone’s participation.
1. Parents: The First Line of Defense
In this digital age, parental vigilance is vital. Parents must:
- Teach children digital safety
- Monitor online activities
- Maintain open communication
- Empower children to recognize manipulation and abuse
2. Society and Communities
Communities can:
- Report suspicious activities,
- Support affected children and vulnerable groups,
- Provide mentorship and safe spaces for youth,
- Strengthen neighborhood safety initiatives,
- Promote awareness programs.
A supportive community makes children harder targets for exploitation.
3. Government
Governments must:
- Enforce stronger laws against trafficking, cybercrime, and exploitation
- Increase cross-border cooperation
- Regulate digital spaces to protect children
- Incorporate child-protection programs into national security frameworks
- Address poverty and inequality that criminal networks exploit
Government leadership determines whether children are protected or left vulnerable.
How to Commemorate International Day for the Prevention of and Fight against All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime
Communities, institutions, and individuals can participate by:
1. Running Awareness Campaigns
Share facts, stories, and infographics across social platforms.
2. Hosting Roundtable Discussions
Engage experts in conversations about global justice and crime prevention.
3. Organizing Youth Workshops
Empower young people and vulnerable groups through storytelling and education.
4. Screenings and Exhibitions
Use films and displays to highlight the environmental and human impact of organized crime.
5. Advocating for Stronger Governance
Push for anti-crime policies, transparency, and accountability reforms.
6. Digital Security Drives
Teach communities about online safety, cybercrime prevention, and data protection.
Every awareness effort contributes to a wider global movement for justice and integrity.
Conclusion
The International Day for the Prevention of and Fight Against All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime is far more than a symbolic observance; it is a reaffirmation of global commitment to justice, human dignity, and collective security.
As criminal networks grow more sophisticated in the digital age, our response must be equally innovative, united, and resilient. Governments, civil society, and individuals must work together to ensure that justice triumphs over corruption, cooperation over isolation, and humanity over greed.
By following the money, strengthening alliances, and empowering communities, the world can weaken the financial lifelines of organized crime and build a safer, more just future for all.
