Corruption and organized crime are often intertwined, with corruption playing a pivotal role in how organized crime groups operate and expand their criminal activities while evading punishment. Corruption enables criminal groups to smuggle illicit drugs, weapons, wildlife or even people within countries and across borders while evading detection and bypassing law enforcement.
Corruption not only facilitates transnational organized crime but also allows criminal groups to infiltrate and weaken public administration in many countries. This undermines governance structures, destabilizes institutions and poses a serious threat to public order and security.
There are several ways in which corruption facilitates other types of crime:
A forged permit, a fake visa, a falsified license obtained from corrupt officials– these are just some of the tools criminals use to evade detection and carry out their illicit activities. In addition, organized criminal groups often bribe authorities to obtain documentation that allows the transport of illicit goods.
In a UNODC survey, one country reported a case of hydrocarbon fuel smuggling. The smugglers bribed customs officials, allowing them to pass through border checkpoints undetected. Some of the fuel smuggled was delivered to armed groups, possibly terrorist organizations, further destabilizing the region. As in many cases, corruption did not just enable another crime – it also played a role in triggering violence and potentially endangered national security.
Corruption is used to prevent or obstruct the detection and investigation of other crimes. One country reported a case in which a high-ranking police officer had been convicted for receiving bribes from the leader of a drug smuggling organization. In exchange, the police officer helped him evade arrest, including by sharing information on safe times to cross the border.
In human trafficking operations, meanwhile, trafficking victims may be forced to engage in sexual activity with law enforcement officers, prosecutors or judges, in exchange for their help in tipping off the criminals about searches, dropping investigations or acquitting suspects.
Corruption and transnational organized crime are also drivers of money laundering and thereby harm financial systems and the global economy. In the fuel smuggling case, the proceeds of the operation were laundered through investments in properties and businesses, obscuring the origin of the illegal profits.
Corruption is also used to gain political leadership or attempt to influence or disrupt decision-making. For example, a member of parliament could accept and use funds from an organized criminal group in exchange for a vote in a certain direction. Several countries report cases of attempts to influence the appointment of public officials to build dependency through corruption or other crimes. As a result, public officials may feel compelled to continue serving the interests of corrupt actors who have financed or supported their rise to power, reinforcing the cycle of dependency and exploitation.
Both corruption and organized crime are usually hidden, secretive and complex, involving multiple actors, networks and jurisdictions. Criminal networks are constantly evolving and adapting to the changing environment and any challenges posed by law enforcement. They use sophisticated methods and technologies to conceal their activities, communicate securely and evade detection.
It is challenging for law enforcement to keep up with the pace and complexity of criminal networks and to disrupt their operations effectively. It is also difficult to encourage reporting of such crimes, either because individuals involved have committed a crime themselves, or because they are afraid of retaliation.
When we understand how corruption enables organized crime, we can create more precise, targeted policies and responses that address loopholes, taking into consideration national and regional contexts.
Further systematic collection of information and research are needed to support these efforts.
The tenth session of the Conference of the States Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption (CoSP10) adopted the first resolution urging States parties to strengthen international cooperation and further enhance their understanding of the risks and impacts of corruption involving organized criminal groups. This marks a significant milestone for countries in recognizing the links between corruption and organized crime as a serious threat.
Linkages between organized crime and corruption can be found in different sectors and areas of life, even sports. UNODC’s new report delves into this issue, stressing the need to address the infiltration of organized crime in sports. Organized criminal groups leverage corruption as a means of infiltrating and exploiting amateur and professional sport. They employ tactics such as engaging in illegal betting, laundering the proceeds of crime, long haul fraud, manipulating competitions and trafficking of persons in pursuit of illicit profits.
For example, recent trends clearly demonstrate that organized criminal groups are playing a significant role in corruption in sport, particularly in relation to transnational betting-related competition manipulation schemes. These schemes involve sophisticated network of investors, financers, facilitators and bettors.
Learn more about UNODC’s anti-corruption work: https://www.unodc.org/corruption
