The increasing presence of artificial intelligence is expected to lower the barriers to entry for criminal activities, enabling organized crime networks to launch more sophisticated scams, cyber attacks, and digital threats. As a result, these networks are likely to expand their operations into various sectors of the legitimate economy and increase their global reach, further complicating efforts to combat organized crime.
A recent global analysis by the United Nations Interregional Institute for Crime and Justice Research (UNICRI) highlights the evolving nature of criminal organizations. Published on September 28, the report notes that these groups are able to adapt more quickly to technological advancements, shifting markets, and regulatory changes than the institutions tasked with countering them.
Criminal networks are exploiting digital platforms and advanced technologies to facilitate their operations, leveraging encrypted communications, virtual assets, and "crime as a service" models that enable them to access specialized technical capabilities without in-house development. Furthermore, these networks are becoming increasingly complex and poly-criminal, integrating multiple illicit activities with seemingly legitimate ones.
Countries participating in the #CrimeCongress have made time-bound commitments to enhance global justice systems, combat illicit financial flows, and dismantle organized crime networks.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has found that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) significantly enhances the scope and effectiveness of illicit activities, encompassing a range of tactics including sophisticated phishing schemes, deepfakes, and malware optimized with AI technology.
According to INTERPOL's 2026 Global Financial Fraud Threat Assessment, AI-enabled scams are projected to be 4.5 times more cost-effective than conventional methods. The organization has also identified deepfake-as-a-service platforms on the dark web, which provide access to voice cloning, AI-generated avatars, and other tools to create synthetic identities.
Interpol has cautioned that deepfake scams have become a highly sophisticated and organized global phenomenon, with the use of manipulated videos, images, and audio allowing criminals to more convincingly impersonate trusted individuals.
According to a recent survey by the Global State of Scams 2025, a significant number of individuals have fallen victim to scams. The study, which polled 46,000 adults across 42 countries, found that nearly six in ten respondents, or 57%, reported being targeted by a scam within the past year. Furthermore, approximately one in four, or 23%, of those surveyed revealed that they had suffered financial losses as a result. The estimated total value of these losses across the analyzed markets is approximately $442 billion.
A recent analysis by the United Nations Development Programme found that in South America, nearly three-quarters of respondents reported encountering scams, with over four in ten experiencing financial losses as a result.
The FBI's Internet Crime Reporting Center (IC3) in the United States recorded 22,364 complaints in 2025 related to artificial intelligence misuse, resulting in estimated losses exceeding $893 million.
The shift towards digital transformation has been accompanied by a significant diversification of organized crime groups. According to UNICRI, entities previously associated with the trafficking of illicit substances such as cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamines are expanding their operations into sectors including agriculture, mining, fishing, and the exploitation of natural resources.
In Mexico, the Sinaloa Cartel and Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) have been identified as key organizations, while in Brazil, the Primeiro Comando da Capital and the Red Commando have also been implicated. These groups exploit established trade routes, supply chains, and relationships with corrupt individuals to facilitate the integration of legitimate and illicit activities.
The organization is actively pursuing new market opportunities by establishing strategic partnerships with local networks and intermediaries in both transit and destination countries.
According to a recent study by UNICRI, while murder rates are decreasing in many parts of the world, the global crime landscape has become increasingly lucrative, interconnected, and challenging to detect.
The Inter-American Development Bank reported that the economic impact of crime and violence in Latin America and the Caribbean equated to 3.44% of the region's GDP in 2022. This burden is substantial, representing approximately 78% of the public budget allocated to education, more than double the amount invested in social assistance, and 12 times the budget dedicated to research and development.
According to a recent study, crime poses a substantial challenge to societal and economic progress, hindering growth, exacerbating income disparities, and diverting both private and public resources.
Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as sub-Saharan Africa, account for roughly two-thirds of global homicide victims, a trend that persists despite the overall decline in worldwide homicide rates.
The United Nations has confirmed that in Colombia, a total of 371 minors were recruited and used by criminal organizations and armed groups in 2025, primarily in regions contested by the ELN, FARC-EP dissidents, and other factions.
According to recent reports, Haiti witnessed a disturbing trend in 2023, with 892 minors being forcibly recruited and utilized by armed gangs. Furthermore, the country experienced a tragic loss of 620 children who were either killed or suffered severe mutilations, while an additional 277 were taken hostage.
Ecuador has seen a significant escalation of violence, as evidenced by a sharp rise in homicides among children and adolescents. Official statistics, compiled by UNICEF, reveal a staggering increase from 104 recorded incidents in 2019 to at least 770 in 2023, representing a 640% surge in this disturbing trend.
The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence has created a complex challenge for law enforcement agencies, as they strive to stay ahead of criminals who are increasingly utilizing AI-powered tools to facilitate illicit activities. In response, security forces are leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as facial recognition software, smart surveillance cameras, and automated data analysis systems to prevent crimes and aid in investigations.
The United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) cautions that the development of regulations and oversight mechanisms is not always synchronized. AI systems can compromise the integrity of investigations by introducing inaccuracies, biases, or incorrect information if they are not adequately controlled.
The evolving nature of technology poses a dual challenge, as tools designed to combat organized crime are simultaneously making illicit activities more accessible, scalable, and cost-efficient. In response, the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) emphasizes the need for enhanced international cooperation to counter the growing threat of transnational networks that seamlessly navigate the boundaries between cybercrime, organized crime, legitimate markets, and illicit economies.
