International Serious and Organised Crime Conference 2013
 

Taking UNODC’s Transnational Organized Crime Threat Assessment program forward

Speaker: , Regional Representative, Regional Office for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

In April 2013, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) launched a report, Transnational Organized Crime in East Asia and the Pacific: A Treat Assessment, which is the first comprehensive study of transnational organised crime threats in East Asia and the Pacific.

It details the criminal flows involved and provides estimates of annual revenues generated for criminal groups by activities related to human trafficking and migrant smuggling, illicit drugs (heroin and methamphetamine), environmental crime (wildlife, wood products, e-waste and ozone-depleting substances), and counterfeit consumer goods and fraudulent medicines. The report outlines the mechanics of illicit trade and offers estimates of values to prompt public debate and makes recommendations to address these problems. Overall, the different illicit markets in East Asia and the Pacific earn organised criminal groups approximately USD90 billion a year—an amount roughly equal to two and a half times the GDP of Myanmar, eight times the GDP of Cambodia or 12 times the GDP of Lao PDR.

The findings of the report are being used to inform the development of a new UNODC Regional Programme for Southeast Asia and a Country Programme for Myanmar. Both programs will reposition UNODC rule of law and security-related technical assistance, and assist states with challenges in part related to rapid regional integration.