Global Organized Crime Index: 2025 Crime at a crossroads

The world is at a crossroads when it comes to dealing with illicit economies. Organized crime is undermining democracy, the sovereignty of states, and even international peace and security. The rules-based order that has prevailed for decades is now being exploited by those who don’t play by the rules. Criminal groups are some of the biggest profiteers. Illicit economies reflect broader socio-economic, political and geopolitical processes, because criminals are often the ones who adapt first and take advantage of disruptions such as geopolitical competition, rapid technological innovation, violent conflicts, trade wars and the erosion of democracy.

So, the Global Organized Crime Index is not just a tool for measuring crime: it is a mirror reflecting what is going on within states and the international system. Since this is the third edition, there are now three data sets that  track and compare how criminal markets and actors have evolved over the past five years. Among the findings the data of this edition of the Index identifies is that there have been several shifts in the global criminal economy. For example, synthetic drugs and cocaine are rapidly dominating world drug markets. This shows the ability of criminal actors to capitalize on changing consumer preferences, technological developments in production and increasingly interconnected trafficking networks.

Read more