Information and communications technology (ICT) has transformed conceptions of organized crime. Specifically, ICT has had an impact on the nature of organized crime activities and the types of individuals who can participate in organized crime. While there is a growing body of research into various forms of cybercrime, there is comparatively less research on cyber organized crime. Without understanding the exact nature and extent of the threat, States continue to struggle in containing the security threat emanating from cyber organized crime. Moreover, without this information, policymakers and other stakeholders cannot make informed decisions in response to cyber organized crime and identify proper courses of action to respond to or otherwise address cyber organized crime.
To remedy this, the present case digest seeks to shed light on cyber organized crime and identify cyber organized crime cases from different regions. It identifies and analyses cyber organized crime cases in an attempt to determine not only key characteristics of this form of crime and the groups that commit such crime, but also gaps in knowledge and criminal justice practices as they relate to the investigation, prosecution and adjudication of cases involving this crime.
7-8 December 2022
A regional workshop on "Cyber Organized Crime in West Africa" was organized in Abidjan from 7 until 8 December 2022 by the UNODC Regional Hub on Transnational Organized Crime in West and Central Africa in cooperation with the UNODC Global Programme on Implementing the Organized Crime Convention: from Theory to Practice, the Global Programme on Cybercrime, and the Terrorism Prevention Branch.
The aim of the workshop was to discuss cyber organized crime and relevant cases and to share challenges, UNODC tools and national practices in investigating, prosecuting and adjudicating such crime in West Africa.
The workshop was made possible through the financial support of the Federal Republic of Germany and kind hospitality of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire.
28 March - 1 April 2022
In cooperation with the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA San Salvador), UNODC organized an online webinar on investigating and prosecuting cyber organized crime in Latin America and the Caribbean held from 28 March to 1 April 2022.
This webinar aimed to enhance the knowledge and expertise on cyber organized crime and related issues of practitioners in Latin America and the Caribbean, and to facilitate the exchange of practices in addressing cyber organized crime among practitioners from the region.
24- 26 November 2021
A virtual Expert Group Meeting on Cyber Organized Crime in Anglophone Africa was held from 24 to 26 November 2021 to further identify and discuss cyber organized cases from the region. This allowed UNODC to expand the digest and to ensure an equitable representation of cases from different geographical regions and legal systems, to the extent possible.
Both events are made possible through funding received from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
21-24 September 2020
A virtual Expert Group Meeting on Cyber Organized Crime was held online from 21 to 24 September 2020 with the aim of facilitating the sharing of knowledge and expertise on investigating, prosecuting, and adjudicating cases of cyber organized crime.
The meeting featured presentations and analyses of cases, as well as discussions on practical challenges and good practices in tackling those cases. It laid the groundwork for the drafting of the digest.
The meeting was made possible through the financial support of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
