Transnational Organised Crime in Southeast Asia Alone Worth Over USD $100 Billion per Year

Human Wrongs Watch

“Transnational organised crime in Southeast Asia alone is conservatively estimated to generate close to USD $100 billion per year, threatening intended economic and social benefits of regional integration,” said UNODC Representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific Jeremy Douglas at a high-level UNODC meeting in Bangkok, “Supporting the Integration of Asia Through Effective Public Security.”*

Source: UNODC

Speakers at a high-level UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) meeting warned that transnational crime and public security threats in Asia risk overwhelming border management, law enforcement and justice agencies of many states. This comes as the acceleration of trade and migration flows in the region increases.

Destabilising Impact

Proceeds of organised crime from several other parts of Asia are also significant and growing, and have a destabilising impact.

Experts at the Conference cautioned that extensive investment in transportation systems and a coordinated lowering of trade and visa barriers constituted risks which were not fully understood or considered by many regional policy leaders.

During the meeting, participants noted that drug trafficking and crimes such as human trafficking, smuggling of migrants, trade in counterfeit goods and fraudulent medicines, as well as environmental crimes such as the trafficking of illegal timber and wildlife are likely to increase unless effective national and regional responses, including cooperation mechanisms, are quickly established and supported.

Consequences of Increased Illicit Revenues

“Without effective and integrated border management, law enforcement and justice strategies, organized criminal groups will continue to expand without respect for borders and the sovereignty of states, threatening prosperity and public security. Increased illicit revenues will spread corruption, distort and impact economies, and harm people across the region,” said Mr. Douglas.

The conference brought together over 120 senior officials from several UN development agencies, the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, UNODC, the ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN parliamentarians, diplomatic missions, governments from across Asia and the Asian Development Bank. Experts met to discuss regional integration plans, transnational crime threats and challenges that are expected to accelerate, and the necessary responses to these threats.

Further information at: UNODC in Southeast Asia and the Pacific

*Source: UNODC release on meeting held on 31 October 2014. Go to Original.

2.4 Million Victims of Human Trafficking At Any Given Time Across the Globe

Who Dares to Challenge a 32 Billion Dollars Business – Human Trafficking?

Millions of Urban Children at High Risk of Violence, Exploitation and Trafficking

Mr. Ban Has a Dream: That Big Business Will Fight Against Modern Slavery!

Small Farmers, Victims of Food Marketing Companies

Financial Trafficking in Millions of Citizens Is Not ‘Illicit’!

New Brand of Slavery Surfaces in America Racism, Just Another Atrocious Weapon of Fear and Hatred

Over 100 Million Children, In Hazardous Work

Dispatch from Hell