America News Agency

The Russian Federation highlighted the need for global cooperation and a joint fight against crime on the occasion of the International Day for the Prevention of and Fight against All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime, observed annually on November 15 in accordance with Resolution 78/267 adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2024.

In a statement commemorating the adoption of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, it was emphasized that modern criminal syndicates have embraced information and communication technologies and are becoming increasingly aggressive and sophisticated in arms and drug trafficking, human trafficking, fraud, and money laundering. The statement also drew attention to the strengthening ties between these criminal networks and extremist and terrorist organizations.

The statement recalled that Russia had played a pioneering role in laying the foundations of the global crime-fighting architecture, was among the first countries to ratify the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC), and took the initiative in developing the UN Convention against Cybercrime. It noted that Moscow promotes multilateral cooperation, particularly through the UN, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and BRICS.

It was also stated that Russia makes an annual voluntary contribution of 3 million dollars to the budget of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. These funds are allocated to anti-drug and anti-corruption projects in Central Asia, as well as projects combating maritime piracy off the African coast.

Emphasizing that transnational crime knows no borders, the statement noted that addressing this threat requires joint, coordinated, and depoliticized efforts by the international community, with the UN playing a central coordinating role. It also warned that making cooperation between law enforcement agencies conditional on political requirements only serves the interests of criminals.