The UNTOC, also known as the Palermo Convention, was adopted in 2000 to unite global efforts and enable cooperation across borders and institutions to keep pace with transnational organized crime. It is among the most ratified UN Conventions. Together with its three Protocols it remains the main global tool for preventing and addressing a broad range of criminal activities. The Convention was conceptualised in a world very different from the highly interconnected, information-driven and AI enabled world we live in today. Yet, it remains relevant because of its flexibility in application and scope in addressing a wide range of offences perpetrated by transnational organized crime thanks to its concept of "serious crime". It also concretely enables mutual legal assistance, extradition and other forms of international cooperation in criminal matters.

UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)