Organised crime ranges from protection economies and extortion rackets to cybercrime, oil theft, money laundering, counterfeiting, maritime piracy and the trafficking and/or smuggling of people, firearms, illicit drugs, and wildlife. It is sometimes associated with violence, but there is no strong correlation between them. Conventional law enforcement and security approaches to tackling organised crime are insufficient, and can sometimes be counterproductive. The development of broader, integrated approaches is key, but remains a work in progress.
Updated for 2018
In addition to the topic guide, please see also the attached update for 2018, which provides a review of the latest new developments in the field and research on the impacts of serious and organised crime.