Responding to Transnational Organised Crime: Case Study of Human Trafficking and Drug Trafficking

Human trafficking and illicit drug trafficking are arguably the most intractable of all transnational crimes. They are an issue of both domestic and foreign policy concern and a subject of longstanding multilateral policy commitment. This Alert reviews past and present policies adopted by countries in Southeast Asia in response to human trafficking and illicit drug trafficking. It argues that the approach adopted by countries in the region is still skewed in favour of a traditional law enforcement approach. This approach, which primarily targets organised criminal groups and individuals, is not sufficient as most trafficking flows are driven by the market rather than by the groups involved in them.