How to Prevent Transnational Crime in a Globalized Society

By Dr. Matthew Loux and Bryce Loux  |  10/20/2025

How to prevent transnational crime is an urgent issue in the modern world. Globalization has opened new frontiers to commerce, travel, and technology, but it has also provided criminal organizations with new ways to operate and expand in multiple regions.

Transnational crimes may include:

• Human trafficking
• Drug trafficking
• Cybercrimes
• Money laundering
• Terrorism and its financing
• Trafficking of endangered species
• Smuggling of arms

These crimes are a significant threat to national and international security, especially because organized crime can disrupt economies and cause immense societal damage by weakening national security. Combating transnational criminal networks successfully requires a comprehensive and collaborative effort from:

• Governments of different countries
• Intergovernmental organizations
• Police
• Security institutions
• The business world
• The public

Strengthening International Cooperation 

One of the most effective ways to combat transnational organized crime is through nations working together. INTERPOL, Europol, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) support intelligence sharing, joint operations, and capacity building.

For example, INTERPOL’s Operation Lionfish resulted in numerous arrests and seizures coordinated across different criminal networks in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Extradition, mutual legal assistance, and cross-border investigations are organized under bilateral and multilateral treaties, including the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC). This framework helps guide member states and foreign partners in collective responses.

Effective cooperation also requires closing the gaps between the legal systems of other nations. Criminals are skilled at taking advantage of inconsistencies.

However, there are various ways to fight transnational crimes through:

• Consistent legislation
• Stronger international legal standards
• Reliable information sharing, particularly for areas such as maritime security, the illicit manufacturing of weapons, and cybercrime
• Enhancing intelligence efforts to warn communities about any new threat

The Root Causes of Transnational Organized Crime

Transnational criminal organizations carry out criminal activities that extend beyond one country’s borders and require collaborative prevention and prosecution. These crimes strain police resources, judicial systems, and diplomatic efforts. They also threaten the financial systems and create threats related to national and international security.

The persistence of transnational crimes stems from several causes:

• Economic disparities – A lack of reliable income or opportunity potentially drives individuals to illicit activities linked to organized criminal group networks, where illegal work offers quick financial gains.
• Weak governance – Limited oversight and corruption allow criminals to exploit safe havens while avoiding prosecution by authorities.
• Cross-border smuggling – Weak states allow networks to expand smuggling operations, destabilizing other nations.
• Conflict and instability – The absence of governments in war and conflict zones creates the conditions for transnational criminal threats, where networks exploit chaos to expand smuggling operations.
• Technological advancements – Some criminals take advantages of cyber anonymity to commit fraud or groom others for exploitation. These activities result in illicit proceeds that move swiftly across borders.

Preventive Measures 

Combating transnational organized crimes is a complex process that should be approached from multiple angles, including: 

• International cooperation – States/countries should participate in mutual legal assistance and the creation of joint international policing and prosecution treaties to combat crime.
• Legal frameworks – Unified systems can punish trafficking and deter new criminal initiatives. The UNTOC’s three protocols provide standards for human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and firearms.
• Building capacity – Training and technical assistance can bolster security organizations in developing regions.
• Public education – Outreach programs reduce victimization for vulnerable populations, especially women.
• Economic policies – Economic policies that focus on education, employment, and other infrastructures can eliminate the factors leading to criminal behavior.
• Transnational technologies – Improving digital security systems and surveillance can help authorities to fight electronic crimes. Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to be helpful in the efforts to reduce or eliminate transnational crime.

Enhancing Police and Judiciary System Capacities

Many countries lack the financial and resources for complex investigations and prosecutions. To fill this gap, foreign partners can provide training, technical assistance, and financial aid to bolster police and border control as well as forensic infrastructures.

Similarly, multidisciplinary agencies can establish specialized, collaborative task forces to tackle various problems, such as:

• Involuntary servitude of victims, especially women and children
• Wildlife poaching
• Drug trafficking
• Illicit manufacturing

Judicial reform is equally critical in breaking up organized crime networks. Complex financial and cyber cases require updated procedures and protections. Safeguards for victims and whistleblowers can:

• Uphold human rights
• Reduce the risk of violence
• Strengthen justice systems
• Ensure that legal systems punish trafficking, corruption, and other crimes

Community Engagement to Combat Transnational Organized Crime 

Community efforts are essential to prevent abuse and online fraud, especially by organized crime groups. At-risk youth can be mentored and given jobs so that they don’t get lured into criminal activities.

Civil society advocates are key in organized crime prevention. Non-government organizations (NGOs) can assist victims, lobby for better protective legislation, and act as monitors for government accountability. Public mechanisms such as anonymous tip lines or digital reporting sites allow citizens to report crimes without fear of punishment.

Building relations around confidence in both policing and community engagement is crucial. Community policing has the potential to build respect and lead to better crime reporting by keeping police officers in constant contact with local residents.

Online safety workshops can be conducted in schools and with local organizations. These workshops could feature topics such as:

• The prevention of drug abuse
• The recognition of corruption, harassment, and sexual abuse

Religious and cultural leaders hold very important positions in society. They can also aid in anti-crime initiatives by encouraging the community to be vigilant against the contaminating influence of crime.

The active participation of community members protecting their own neighborhoods can transform a community’s members from passive spectators to active defenders against crime. In turn, this dynamic allows for better integration of social relations and decreases the level of vulnerability to international crime threats.

Improving Corporate Responsibility 

Private firms are also increasingly important in combating transnational organized crime. Supply chains are vulnerable to exploitation for forced labor, smuggling, and counterfeit goods.

As a result, companies need to perform due diligence, compliance risk assessments, and audits of all suppliers to certify ethical sourcing.

Banks need to have strong anti-money laundering systems in place and file suspicious activity reports (SARs) when needed. These SARs will:

• Protect financial systems from money laundering
• Flag illicit financial activities or proceeds related to transnational organized crime networks

It is also possible for firms involved in technology and shipping to assist in resolving emerging trafficking patterns. For instance, shipping companies use data analytics to identify and report the suspicious movements of cargo.

Similarly, social media companies can work with police departments. These social media companies can identify human traffickers who use online sites to recruit and exploit victims.

Integrating Human Rights into Prevention Strategies

In dealing with transnational crime, human rights must be respected, and there should be no heavy-handed approaches involving innocent people. Overzealous enforcement frequently results in:

• Excessive detention
• Violent reprisals by security forces and transnational criminal networks
• The neglect of fundamental rights

Prevention strategies should emphasize proportionality, due process, and rehabilitation. This tactic will enable national authorities to protect national security without eroding trust.

Human rights approaches enhance the public’s confidence in law enforcement and national security. Communities are more willing to help when there is transparency and fairness in law enforcement. Restorative justice, rehabilitation, and services to crime victims should aim to reducing harm, decrease recidivism, and uphold human rights.

Protecting Everyone from Transnational Organized Crime

With collaboration from nations and stakeholders, preventing transnational organized crime is still a challenging but achievable goal. However, success can be attained through:

• Corporate and social responsibility
• Technological advancement
• International cooperation
• Strong legislative structure
• The resolution of fundamental social problems
• The improvement of education, economic development, and intelligence sharing
• A balance of law and human rights

The ultimate goal of combating transnational organized crime goes beyond just apprehending perpetrators and a strong commitment to justice. In the future, we should seek the creation of a more resilient, just, and safer global environment to keep us safe from transnational criminal networks.

The Criminal Justice Master’s Degree at AMU

For adult learners seeking to improve their criminal justice knowledge, American Military University (AMU) provides an online Master of Arts in Criminal Justice. For this degree, students can take courses in topics such as drug cartels, transnational crime and narcotics, computer crime, and counterterrorism. Other courses include criminology police administration, and criminal justice ethics.

To aid students in meeting their professional goals, this M.A. in criminal justice has three concentrations:

• Business administration
• Emergency management and disaster management
• General

For more information, visit AMU’s criminal justice degree program page.

Note: This criminal justice program is not designed to meet the educational requirements for professional licensure or certification in any state. This program has not been approved by any state professional licensing body and does not lead to any state-issued professional license.