Homicides fall as organised crime grows more profitable – and networked

Billy Odell Tucker-Robinson Founder & Host — Banking With Billy Network • Intelligence Network • Data Science • AI Research • World News
Published: 2026-09-30T19:04:28.279Z • Permanent link

New data from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reveals a paradoxical trend: while homicides are falling globally, organized crime is on the rise in many regions. The report, which analyzes crime trends from 2015 to 2020, highlights the growing profitability of organized crime networks, which are diversifying into new areas such as human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and the exploitation of natural resources.

According to the UNODC, global homicide rates decreased by 10% between 2015 and 2020, with some of the largest declines observed in Europe and the Americas. However, organized crime groups are adapting to these changes by expanding into new areas, including the illicit trade in goods and services. In 2020, for example, the UNODC reported a significant increase in the number of cases of human trafficking, with an estimated 2.5 million victims worldwide.

The rise of organized crime is also linked to the growing influence of digital technologies, which have enabled the creation of sophisticated networks and the dissemination of information across borders. In the United States, for example, law enforcement agencies have reported a significant increase in the number of cases involving cybercrime and digital exploitation. The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) reported a 15% increase in complaints in 2020, with the majority involving online scams and phishing attacks.

The rise of organized crime and the decline of traditional violent crime have significant implications for research communities, markets, and policy environments. Companies operating in regions affected by organized crime, such as multinational corporations and small businesses, must take steps to protect themselves and their employees from the risks posed by these groups. Research communities, including academics and policymakers, must also adapt to these changes by incorporating new data and insights into their analysis and policy recommendations.

For example, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reported that organized crime groups are increasingly targeting financial institutions and markets in their efforts to launder money and finance their activities. The IMF has called for greater cooperation between governments and financial institutions to combat these threats and prevent the misuse of financial systems. Similarly, research communities must prioritize the development of new methodologies and tools to analyze and understand the complex networks and behaviors of organized crime groups.

The rise of organized crime and the decline of traditional violent crime are part of a larger pattern of shifting crime trends and security threats around the world. In recent years, there have been significant increases in the number of terrorist attacks and cyberattacks, as well as an increase in the number of cases involving human trafficking and migrant smuggling. These trends are linked to broader global challenges, including poverty, inequality, and climate change.