The International Criminal Police Organization, commonly known as Interpol, is witnessing a significant rise in organized crime, particularly from networks operating across national borders. According to Interpol’s Secretary-General Jürgen Stock, the world is facing an unprecedented epidemic in cross-border organized crime. He emphasized that globally, criminal groups are becoming stronger, more influential, more dangerous, and increasingly violent in our streets. Stock asserts that combatting organized crime requires a holistic approach by society at large, as the stability of communities is at stake. He also mentioned that no single country or region can tackle the security crisis alone.
This surge in organized crime has been fueled by greater connectivity between criminal groups and the expansion of illicit activities. The Vienna Declaration, endorsed by Interpol’s Executive Committee, outlines priority actions required to address this security threat. It calls for leaders to consider transnational organized crime a national security priority and to increase investment in law enforcement tools.
This declaration emphasizes the urgent need for global cooperation to combat organized crime, which encompasses illicit financial flows, human trafficking, drug trafficking, wildlife trade, and more.
A notable instance of Interpol’s effectiveness in addressing organized crime is Operation HAECHI IV, which led to the arrest of nearly 3,500 suspects and the seizure of about USD 300 million in assets across 34 countries. This operation targeted various cyber-enabled scams, highlighting the complexity of contemporary criminal activities and the need for international collaboration.
The global scale of many organized crime networks has underlined that international cooperation through Interpol is often the only means for police in Europe and other regions to bring fugitives to justice or gather crucial intelligence. In Europe, for example, drug trafficking, money laundering, and cyber or cyber-enabled crimes top law enforcement’s list of concerns, with a significant rise in online child sexual exploitation and abuse expected in the coming years.
