Why is transnational crime so difficult to eradicate

MOKIN Russian Federation , speaking in his national capacity, said it was important to ensure that the fight against drug trafficking and organized crime was not lost among the other priorities of the United Nations. His country favoured a step by step approach for establishing a review mechanism for the Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.

His country had been very involved in technical assistance and capacity-building for law enforcement structures. There was no country where human trafficking was not a serious threat; and he welcomed the United Nations global action plan on that issue, which would help create a better understanding of the problem.

Noting a potential at the United Nations for more cooperation on a treaty basis, he suggested universal conventions on cybercrime, extradition and mutual reciprocal legal assistance. The analytical capacity of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime needed to be enhanced, as well. Terrorist groups had been feeding off the narcotics industry. The United Nations, including the General Assembly, should do more to deal with the Afghanistan drug problem, which threatened international peace and security, and an explanation was needed as to why international efforts had not been succeeding.

Synthetic drugs were another threat that needed an immediate and effective response from the international community. Therefore, ever-greater coordination was needed in the effort to combat those negative forces. Israel had a balanced supply and demand strategy against drugs, recognizing demand reduction was essential to combating the problem, she said.

It perceived drug addiction as a health disorder requiring treatment and had implemented a wide array of services to ensure accessibility to all. Following treatment, intense rehabilitation services were offered to allow successful reintegration into society. As part of its harm reduction approach to reduce illicit drug use, drug-substitutes, needle exchanges and walk-in clinics were available to assist addicts into treatment. Actions must encompass crime prevention, promotion and protection of human rights, and social development, as experience had shown that repressive measures were effective only when coupled with those focused on underlying socioeconomic factors.

The aim must be to create alternative livelihoods. Urging universal participation in the Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, he stressed that the creation of a review mechanism would make the international response more effective.

The Salvador Declaration, adopted at the Twelfth United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, in Brazil, stressed that crime prevention was integral to fostering socioeconomic development.

To address the global drug problem, he urged redoubled national efforts, as well as more regional and international cooperation. For its part, Brazil had updated its national drug policy to take into account the most recent scientific studies, while the drug law had established a legal difference between traffickers and users, and counted the financing of drug trafficking as a serious crime.

Regionally, Brazil continued to strengthen cooperation with its South American neighbours, establishing cooperation agreements with Bolivia and Paraguay, and maintaining dialogue with Colombia, Guyana and Peru. Elsewhere, Brazil had agreed to cooperate with Angola, India and Mozambique, among others, and reaffirmed its support for the principle of shared responsibility when combating drugs.

Noting that repressive solutions to the drug problem often led to violations of due process, he stated that each Member State was compelled to invest in prevention, control, combat and rehabilitation incentives. He listed other variables to consider in the fight against drugs, including economic incentives in the drug trade, strategies for prevention and treatment, the rule of law, social reinsertion and mainstreaming, and criminalization of activities tied to use and trafficking.

The demand side of the drug problem also needed to be addressed more thoroughly in United Nations reports. Underlining that the fight against the drug trade could only be won through a global response and coordinated efforts, he said developing countries should not have to devote more resources to a problem that was not created by them. With regard to fighting illicit maritime drug trafficking, for example, Costa Rica had played a leading role in CARICOM and urged other countries to join those efforts.

Multilateral organizations should have a more balanced agenda and responsibilities that focused on goals. Further, the approach to the drug problem should be undertaken with respect for human rights and the rule of law, and should avoid victimizing those who had already had their rights and dignity undermined.

Failure to resolve the problem of drugs in Afghanistan had added to the problem. His country had always supported the creation of proper mechanisms for international and regional coordination to counter the problem, particularly the Triangular Initiative that included Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan, which had led to multiple efforts, including jointly planned operations.

In addition, Iran had sacrificed thousands of police and billions of dollars in the effort to curtail illegal narcotics transfer from Afghanistan, strengthening border controls in the process and making Iran first in the world in opium and heroin seizures, with some 1, tons of different types of opium-based drugs confiscated in with some 80 per cent seized at eastern border.

Among other efforts, Iran had signed memorandums of understanding with some 40 countries, participated in operations to prevent smuggling of drug-producing chemicals and developed treatment and rehabilitation services for addicts. In conclusion, he said that there was an earnest need to reinforce regional and global policies and programmes in order to overcome shortfalls in existing initiatives. His country stood ready to fully cooperate in those efforts.

His country had committed itself to a decisive fight against criminal organizations involved in the trade, which aimed to extend a security presence throughout the national territory, break down criminal networks, strengthen and cleanse public security institutions, treat and prevent addiction and promote international cooperation through shared responsibility.

Much had been accomplished, as recognized by the United Nations World Drug Report in , which also recognized that the homicide rate in the country was much lower than the regional average. He commented that combating the scourge required the participation of various social actors, as well as Government, and said that comprehensive strategies must include actions to reduce consumption, as well as supply, and must address related crimes, such as money-laundering and arms trafficking.

International cooperation in all areas must be strengthened through the identification of synergies and effective exchange of information. As in previous years, his country would present an omnibus resolution on the issue to follow-up on the Political Declaration and Plan of Action adopted at the last session of the General Assembly.

He invited Member States to honour the commitments made in all relevant instruments against transnational crime and to reflect on how best the international community could stop the effects of the global drug problem. In addition, cross-border criminal activities caused a ripple effect that was felt throughout the international community.

To that end, Japan had suggested two key actions for the international community to undertake: Member States must enhance their cooperation, and all stakeholders must make further efforts to address the root of the cause.

Finally, his Government had actively provided technical cooperation through the activities of the United Nations Asia and Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, which provided training for criminal justice practitioners from developing countries.

CHO HYUNG WA Republic of Korea discussed cybercrimes, saying that new social networking systems, such as blogs, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, had been employed in new types of crime, such as the spreading of malicious codes, sex offences and cyberbullying, which posed threats to the safety of society. Additionally, whereas strategies for preventing drug-related crime had focused on reducing production, her country understood the need for a different approach and, based on UNODC guidelines, pursued demand-reduction policies.

The Government promoted education and programmes about the destructive consequences of drugs, such as organizing events like forums and exhibitions in June, as part of an anti-drug campaign. Her Government also encouraged involvement of civil society and NGOs in supporting education and rehabilitation programmes. Attention to both demand-reduction policies and to cybercrime demonstrated that international cooperation and technical assistance were critical elements in addressing the trends of criminal behaviour.

Further, her Government was participating in forums and information-sharing initiatives, such as a meeting in November in cooperation with world customs organizations, and a meeting with 29 countries in Asia to prevent customs fraud and illegal-narcotics transactions. As a transit country for illicit drugs, Nicaragua has had to divert resources from domestic needs to combat transnational crime. It called upon the international community to apply the principle of shared differentiated responsibility in responding to the situation.

While there had been serious increases in crime in Central America, the crime rate in Nicaragua had been declining, she said. Its homicide rate was one of the lowest in the region. Its police had been striking at international drug traffickers and local distributors alike, with a focus on dismantling logistical structures. Trafficking cells had been shut down, and property, vehicles and weapons seized.

Underground synthetic drug laboratories had also been dismantled. It was the objective of the government, despite limited resources, to make Nicaragua the least violent country in the region.

Criminal activity scared away investment and also discouraged good doctors and teachers from living in certain areas. Thailand attached great importance to tackling crime, and emphasized restorative justice, so that people could serve their sentences, return to society and become an important force for development.

Thailand also attached importance to the welfare of victims of crime, for example providing assistance, to victims of human trafficking assistance so they could reintegrate into society without stigma. Lack of development was also an important source of crime, and Thailand also gave sustainable income-generating opportunities to small farmers engaged in illicit cultivation of crops.

Its promotion of alternative development programmes may well have played a role reducing opium production in Afghanistan, Myanmar and Laos by 16 per cent from levels. In addition, drug problems had to be tackled from the demand side, as well as supply. Countering criminal networks, he said, would require cooperation and implementation of existing instruments that were supported by an effective review of implementations and mechanisms. While mechanisms existed for United Nations drug conventions and convention against corruption, he called for the development of a transnational organized crime convention during the fifth session of the conference of parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.

Regarding UNODC, he encouraged a more strategic focus and strengthened role as guardian of human rights in the area of crime and drugs. However, knowledge about the criminal groups, and having taken advantage of financial structures was necessary for an effective response. Along with that, continued international cooperation in the forms of information exchange, capacity building and technology transfer also must be enhanced.

To combat transnational crime, bilateral cooperation on issues of shared concern was effective. Information and intelligence sharing must be done on a reciprocal basis within the limits of domestic legislation, and bilateral agency-to-agency contact remained the most effective way to do just that.

Legal mechanisms might be required for sharing information on a wider scale for practical uses. For the Global Plan of Action against Trafficking in Persons to add value, it must complement the existing framework contained in the Palermo Convention and its Protocol. Malaysia condemned such trafficking, a complex issue that required global attention and resources beyond the current focus on a criminal justice response, he said. The underlying issues within countries of origin must be addressed with a view to strengthening their preventive and self-regulation measures.

The national strategic plan on anti-trafficking in persons for identified goals to steer national efforts. On the issue of drugs, he expressed concern at increased consumption of synthetic stimulants, especially among younger people.

Despite its tough drug laws, Malaysia had seen an increase in drug trafficking, a problem which underscored the need for more concerted global efforts to stem drug supply and shipment. Measures must include the provision of technical assistance and capacity-building to provide alternative income sources. Perhaps there should be a change of tack, and discussion of a completely novel approach.

Various treaty provisions were in place to deal with human trafficking, and regional frameworks were put in place, yet human trafficking had continued to rise unabatedly.

African leaders had called for urgent action to coordinate scattered efforts against the heinous crime of human trafficking. Kenya itself has stepped up campaigns against trafficking and reinforced its ports of entry and exit, in order to identify trafficking cases. An anti-trafficking bill was, meanwhile, being debated in Parliament. Kenya and the wider East African region had borne the brunt of political turmoil in Somalia, she said, with an influx of small arms and light weapons, together with piracy and terrorism, causing untold suffering.

Kenya was grateful for the assistance of UNODC and the international community, but there could only be a permanent solution once political stability was restored in Somalia.

More could be done to put together an infrastructure, to ensure that even legitimately traded arms did not end up on the illicit market. Belarus was participating actively in the joint countering of illicit arms sales and illegal migration, and backed the statements of the Governments of the Russian Federation and Kazakhstan.

Belarus also welcomed the launch of a review mechanism against corruption and would undergo its review in Because one of the most dangerous forms of crime was the trafficking of humans, Belarus noted the need to pool efforts to combat it and welcomed the adoption of a consensus plan.

A ministerial meeting of the Group of Friends United against Human Trafficking, which included 20 states, had also taken place, adopting a declaration, which would be circulated.

Her country was wedded to the development of partnerships with other States and was convinced that the global plan provided the best opportunity to prevent and ensure effective coordination, she said. A presidential decree was also presented in in support of countering illegal migration and trafficking. Educational centres were set up to retrain and teach new methods to those involved with countering trafficking of women.

To use such information, and to formulate recommendations based on such information, was liable to impact negatively on the impartiality of the Office, whose studies and assessments should be based on official information provided by Member States.

Ukraine had applied a large number of measures to raise awareness of corruption, safeguarding integrity in the public and private sectors, and putting into place legal measures to deal with money-laundering and bribery, she said. An in-depth review of the progress achieved by the Convention against Corruption, and the identification of areas requiring further action, was essential.

He said that the number included coca leaves, which were used for chewing and medicinal purposes. He noted the reduction of coca production in Bolivia, stating that the country had eradicated 6, hectares in and 3, hectares in , as well as decreased illicit cultivation in national parks. Yet, despite the efforts of Bolivia in fighting drug trafficking, the current United States Administration had once again decertified Bolivia and certified major cocaine producers, while intentionally overlooking achievements by Bolivia and contradictory information.

Bolivia continued to fight the global drug problem and trafficking, crime and corruption, he said. Bolivia had strengthened coordination with other countries, such as Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay; participated in joint and multilateral efforts with countries in the Caribbean and the European Union; and had been involved in the establishment of a South American council.

Bolivia had also begun consultations with the European Union, Russian Federation and Canada regarding a radar project and using technology in airspace to fight illicit activities and control borders. Since the world's biggest economies are also the biggest markets for illicit trade, I ask their leaders to help the United Nations fight organized crime more effectively.

At the moment there is benign neglect towards a problem that is hurting everyone, especially poor countries that are not able to defend themselves," said Mr. These are just a few examples of the wealth of new evidence included in the UNODC Report that also makes a number of suggestions on how to deal with the threats posed by the globalization of crime. In the first place, Mr. Costa called for "disrupting the market forces" behind these illicit trades. He cautioned that "law enforcement against mafia groups will not stop illicit activities if the underlying markets remain unaddressed, including the army of white-collar criminals - lawyers, accountants, realtors and bankers - who cover them up and launder their proceeds.

The greed of white collar professionals is driving black markets, as much as that of crime syndicates. The Report insists that, since crime has gone global, national responses are inadequate: they displace the problem from one country to another. He also called attention to the difference between countries being unwilling rather than being unable to fight organized crime, appealing for more development and technical assistance to reduce vulnerability of poor nations.

He also called for greater attention to criminal justice in peace-building and peace-keeping operations: "since crime creates instability, peace is the best way of containing crime," he said. He called for more robust implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, more effective anti-money laundering measures, and a crackdown on bank secrecy. The expansion of drug trafficking is often accompanied by dramatic increases in local crime and corruption, as the United Nations has detected in regions such as West Africa and Central America.

Human Smuggling. It is a criminal commercial transaction between willing parties who go their separate ways once they have procured illegal entry into a country. The vast majority of people who are assisted in illegally entering the United States and other countries are smuggled, rather than trafficked. They can move criminals, fugitives, terrorists, and trafficking victims, as well as economic migrants.

They undermine the sovereignty of nations and often endanger the lives of those being smuggled. Trafficking in Persons. Trafficking in Persons TIP , or human trafficking, refers to activities involved when one person obtains or holds another person in compelled service, such as involuntary servitude, slavery, debt bondage, and forced labor. TIP specifically targets the trafficked person as an object of criminal exploitation—often for labor exploitation or sexual exploitation purposes—and trafficking victims are frequently physically and emotionally abused.

Although TIP is generally thought of as an international crime that involves the crossing of borders, TIP victims can also be trafficked within their own countries. Traffickers can move victims between locations within the same country and often sell them to other trafficking organizations. Weapons Trafficking.

Criminal networks and illicit arms dealers also play important roles in the black markets from which terrorists and drug traffickers procure some of their weapons. Federal law enforcement agencies have intercepted large numbers of weapons or related items being smuggled to China, Russia, Mexico, the Philippines, Somalia, Turkmenistan, and Yemen in the last year alone.

Intellectual Property Theft. TOC networks are engaged in the theft of critical U. Theft of intellectual property ranges from movies, music, and video games to imitations of popular and trusted brand names, to proprietary designs of high-tech devices and manufacturing processes. This intellectual property theft causes significant business losses, erodes U. Through cybercrime, transnational criminal organizations pose a significant threat to financial and trust systems—banking, stock markets, e-currency, and value and credit card services—on which the world economy depends.

For example, some estimates indicate that online frauds perpetrated by Central European cybercrime networks have defrauded U.

According to the U. The National Cyber Investigative Joint Task Force, led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI , functions as a domestic focal point for 18 federal departments or agencies to coordinate, integrate, and share information related to cyber threat investigations, as well as make the Internet safer by pursuing terrorists, spies, and criminals who seek to exploit U.

Computers and the Internet play a role in most transnational crimes today, either as the target or the weapon used in the crime. The use of the Internet, personal computers, and mobile devices all create a trail of digital evidence. Often the proper investigation of this evidence trail requires highly trained personnel.

Crimes can occur more quickly, but investigations proceed more slowly due to the critical shortage of investigators with the knowledge and expertise to analyze ever increasing amounts of potential digital evidence.

The Critical Role of Facilitators. The range of licit-illicit relationships is broad. At one end, criminals draw on the public reputations of licit actors to maintain facades of propriety for their operations. Business owners or bankers are enlisted to launder money, and employees of legitimate companies are used to conceal smuggling operations. They also depend on fraudulently created or fraudulently obtained documents, such as passports and visas, to move themselves or their clients into the United States and illegally reside here.