By 2030, significantly reduce illicit financial and arms flows, strengthen the recovery and return of stolen assets and combat all forms of organized crime
Illicit financial flows generated from crime, corruption, embezzlement and tax evasion represent a major drain on the resources of developing countries, reducing tax revenues and the scope for progressive taxation, hindering development and the rule of law, exacerbating poverty and inequality, and undermining the enjoyment of human rights. Tax evasion and abuse are considered to be responsible for the majority of all illicit financial outflows, followed by illicit financial flows related to criminal activities, such as drug and human trafficking, the illicit arms trade, terrorism and corruption-based illicit financial flows.
Stolen assets are the proceeds of corruption and may be money, property or other assets amassed through corrupt acts. These include bribery, embezzlement, the misappropriation of property or funds, trading in influence, and the abuse of functions in the public sector.
Asset recovery is the process by which the proceeds of corruption are recovered and returned to the country of origin.
Organised crime is a category of transnational, national or local groupings of highly centralised enterprises run by criminals who intend to engage in illegal activity, most commonly for money and profit.
Some criminal organisations, such as terrorist groups, are politically motivated. Sometimes criminal organisations force people to do business with them — for example when a gang extorts money from shopkeepers for so-called protection. Gangs may become sufficiently disciplined to be considered organised. A criminal organisation or gang may also be referred to as a mafia, mob or crime syndicate; while the network, subculture and community of criminals may be referred to as the underworld.
Other organisations — including states, militaries, police forces and corporations — may sometimes use the methods of organised crime to conduct their activities, although their powers derive from their status as formal social institutions. A distinction is typically made between organised crime and other forms of crime, such as white-collar crime, financial crime, political crime, war crime, state crime and treason.
