Topic: 2025-Combating Transnational Organized Crime
Country: France
Delegate Name: Khai-Thi Pham
The French Republic recognizes the grave threat that transnational crime organizations pose to global security, economic stability, and human rights. Organized criminal networks engaged in drug trafficking, human trafficking, arms smuggling, and money laundering undermine state sovereignty and fuel violence. France remains committed to international cooperation in addressing these challenges and upholding the rule of law through multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Transnational crime generates billions of dollars annually, often at the expense of human lives and economic stability. France has experienced the impacts of organized crime, particularly in the form of drug trafficking networks operating across Europe and financial crimes linked to money laundering. Additionally, technology has provided criminal organizations with new tools to evade law enforcement, making cyber-enabled crime a growing concern.
One of the key challenges is the interconnected nature of transnational crime, where criminal networks exploit weak border controls, political instability, and gaps in international law enforcement collaboration. France emphasizes the need for enhanced intelligence-sharing mechanisms and coordinated cross-border operations to dismantle these networks effectively.
France acknowledges the contributions of the UNODC in combatting transnational crime, particularly through the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and its associated protocols. The UNODC’s initiatives in financial crime prevention, illicit drug trade disruption, and human trafficking investigations have yielded significant results, including the seizure of large quantities of illegal drugs and weapons, as highlighted in the 2023 Annual Report.
Despite these successes, further efforts are required to address the evolving tactics of criminal organizations. France advocates for expanding the UNODC’s digital forensics and cybercrime investigation capabilities to combat modern threats more effectively.
France reaffirms its commitment to working with the UNODC and the international community in the fight against transnational organized crime. By strengthening intelligence-sharing mechanisms, tightening financial crime regulations, enhancing border security, addressing cybercrime, and protecting trafficking victims, the global community can better combat these criminal organizations. France stands ready to collaborate on comprehensive and sustainable solutions to dismantle transnational criminal networks and ensure global security and stability.
