Dhaka, Bangladesh/16 July 2025: Trafficking in persons (TIP) and smuggling of migrants (SOM) continue to rank among the most pervasive and complex forms of transnational organized crime, affecting countries across the globe as points of origin, transit, or destination. About 74% of traffickers operate within organized crime groups, exploiting more victims more violently than independent criminals. Addressing these crimes demands far more than isolated national efforts — it requires cohesive, coordinated law enforcement responses that transcend borders.
Recognizing this need, UNODC convened 24 senior officials from the national police anti-trafficking units of Bangladesh, Nepal, Maldives and Sri Lanka for intensive deliberations, aimed at enhancing operational cooperation among countries that lie at the heart of key trafficking and smuggling routes in South Asia.
The two-day workshop provided a focused opportunity for high-level law enforcement leaders to candidly assess domestic and regional trafficking patterns, share insights on the evolving tactics used by organized criminal groups, and examine key vulnerabilities in cross-border movement. From clandestine migration corridors to the misuse of digital platforms by traffickers, participants engaged in peer-to-peer knowledge exchange around common challenges and effective countermeasures.
Discussions also spotlighted the importance of both formal frameworks and informal channels for real-time police-to-police cooperation, through practical discussions on intelligence-sharing, evidence collection, and coordinated investigations.
The workshop culminated with the establishment of an informal regional network of police practitioners focused on combating TIP and SOM. This emerging platform will foster continued cross-border dialogue and coordination, support operational collaboration, and ultimately strengthen the region’s collective capacity to investigate and combat trafficking and migrant smuggling.
UNODC remains committed to supporting such regional initiatives under its ongoing efforts to promote transnational cooperation against organized crime.
This activity contributed to SDG 5, 16 and SDG 17: https://sdg-tracker.org/
(Supported by the European Union)
