Transnational Organized Crime as a Threat to International Peace and Security

Transnational organized crime (TOC) is a significant source of global instability. The UN Security Council (UNSC) has shown awareness of this issue, authorizing the adoption of coercive measures under Chapter VII of the UN Charter also against perpetrators of such crimes. This article reflects on whether TOC can fit the definition of threat to the peace currently adopted by the UNSC, and on its potential to foster a re-thinking of the meaning and scope of the concept of international peace and security. To this end, it examines the UNSC's authorizations of coercive measures aimed at repressing specific TOCs (wildlife trafficking, drug trafficking, piracy, human trafficking and migrant smuggling), in search of a common rationale or shared criteria that might provide insights as to future developments. This analysis will also prompt a reflection on the desirability and possible consequences of qualifying TOC as a threat to the peace.