How to measure organized crime?
A series of 13 discussion papers, one for each illicit market considered during the development of the Index.
Read more on globalinitiative.netCriminal markets
1.930.23
An assessment of the value, prevalence and non-monetary impacts of a specific crime type.
Human trafficking
1.500.00
Illicit activity involving coercion, deception, abduction or fraud for the purpose of exploitation, regardless of the victim’s consent.
Human smuggling
1.000.00
Activities by an organized crime group involving the illegal entry, transit or residence of migrants for a financial or material benefit.
Extortion and protection racketeering
1.00 n/a
Crimes linked to exerting control over a territory/market including as a mediator and/or requesting a benefit in exchange for protection.
Arms trafficking
1.000.00
The sale, acquisition, movement, and diversion of arms, their parts and ammunition from legal to illegal commerce and/or across borders.
Trade in counterfeit goods
4.00 n/a
The production, transport, storage and sale of goods that are fraudulently mislabeled or fraudulent imitations of registered brands.
Illicit trade in excisable goods
3.00 n/a
The illicit transport, handling and sale of excise consumer goods despite a ban or outside a legal market. Excludes oil and counterfeits.
Flora crimes
1.000.00
The illicit trade and possession of species covered by CITES convention, and other species protected under national law.
Fauna crimes
5.000.00
The poaching, illicit trade in and possession of species covered by CITES and other species protected by national law. Includes IUU fishing.
Non-renewable resource crimes
1.000.00
The illicit extraction, smuggling, mingling, bunkering or mining of natural resources and the illicit trade of such commodities.
Heroin trade
1.000.00
The production, distribution and sale of heroin. Consumption of the drug is considered in determining the reach of the criminal market.
Cocaine trade
1.500.00
The production, distribution and sale of cocaine and its derivatives. Consumption is considered in determining the reach of the market.
Cannabis trade
2.500.00
The illicit cultivation, distribution and sale of cannabis oil, resin, herb or leaves. Consumption is used to determine the market's reach.
Synthetic drug trade
1.500.00
The production, distribution and sale of synthetic drugs. Consumption is considered in determining the reach of the market.
Cyber-dependent crimes
1.50 n/a
Organized crimes that rely solely on using information communications technology with the aim of obtaining a monetary/material benefit.
Financial crimes
2.50 n/a
Organized crime that results in a monetary loss via financial fraud, embezzlement, misuse of funds, tax evasion and abusive tax avoidance.
Criminal actors
1.30-0.08
An assessment of the impact and influence of a specific criminal actor type on society.
Mafia-style groups
1.000.00
Clearly defined organized crime groups that usually have a known name, defined leadership, territorial control and identifiable membership.
Criminal networks
1.000.00
Loose networks of criminal associates engaging in criminal activities who fail to meet the defining characteristics of mafia-style groups.
State-embedded actors
1.500.00
Criminal actors that are embedded in, and act from within, the state’s apparatus.
Foreign actors
1.50-0.50
State and/or non-state criminal actors operating outside their home country. Includes foreign nationals and diaspora groups.
Private sector actors
1.50 n/a
Profit-seeking individuals/entities who own/control a part of the legal economy free from the state, that collaborate with criminal actors.
Political leadership and governance
5.500.00
The State's role in responding to organized crime and its effectiveness. Strong political leadership/governance suggests higher resilience.
Government transparency and accountability
6.000.50
The degree to which states have put oversight mechanisms in place to ensure against state collusion in illicit activities.
International cooperation
5.000.00
A country's supranational structures and processes of interaction, policy making and concrete implementation to respond to organized crime.
National policies and laws
6.500.00
A state's legal action and structures put in place to respond to organized crime.
Judicial system and detention
8.000.00
Refers to a state’s judiciary’s power to effectively and independently enforce judgments on organized crime-related cases.
Law enforcement
7.000.00
The state’s ability to investigate, gather intelligence, protect and enforce adherence to its rules and procedures against organized crime.
Territorial integrity
6.500.00
The degree to which states are able to control their physical and cyber territory and infrastructure against organized criminal activities.
Anti-money laundering
6.500.50
A state’s ability to implement measures to combat money laundering and other related threats to the integrity of its financial system.
Economic regulatory capacity
6.000.00
The ability to control/manage the economy and regulate transactions (national and international) for trade to thrive within the rule of law.
Victim and witness support
4.500.00
Assistance provided to victims of various forms of organized crime, including initiatives such as witness protection programs.
Prevention
4.50-0.50
Refers to the existence of strategies, measures, resource allocation, programmes and processes that are aimed to inhibit organized crime.
Non-state actors
7.000.00
The degree non-state actors are allowed to engage in OC responses and their roles in supporting State efforts/ as watchdogs to governments.
Political leadership and governance
5.500.00
The State's role in responding to organized crime and its effectiveness. Strong political leadership/governance suggests higher resilience.
Government transparency and accountability
6.000.50
The degree to which states have put oversight mechanisms in place to ensure against state collusion in illicit activities.
International cooperation
5.000.00
A country's supranational structures and processes of interaction, policy making and concrete implementation to respond to organized crime.
National policies and laws
6.500.00
A state's legal action and structures put in place to respond to organized crime.
Judicial system and detention
8.000.00
Refers to a state’s judiciary’s power to effectively and independently enforce judgments on organized crime-related cases.
Law enforcement
7.000.00
The state’s ability to investigate, gather intelligence, protect and enforce adherence to its rules and procedures against organized crime.
Territorial integrity
6.500.00
The degree to which states are able to control their physical and cyber territory and infrastructure against organized criminal activities.
Anti-money laundering
6.500.50
A state’s ability to implement measures to combat money laundering and other related threats to the integrity of its financial system.
Economic regulatory capacity
6.000.00
The ability to control/manage the economy and regulate transactions (national and international) for trade to thrive within the rule of law.
Victim and witness support
4.500.00
Assistance provided to victims of various forms of organized crime, including initiatives such as witness protection programs.
Prevention
4.50-0.50
Refers to the existence of strategies, measures, resource allocation, programmes and processes that are aimed to inhibit organized crime.
Non-state actors
7.000.00
The degree non-state actors are allowed to engage in OC responses and their roles in supporting State efforts/ as watchdogs to governments.
There is no evidence of human trafficking or smuggling within Tuvalu’s borders. Though Tuvalu’s geographical location makes the country susceptible to regional risks, there have been no reported incidents of these crimes.
Despite having few economic opportunities, Tuvalu is an unlikely location for human smuggling because of its free education system and strong community support. Additionally, there is no information available regarding extortion or protection racketeering on the island.
Tuvalu has no recorded evidence of arms trafficking within its borders. The country is not strategically attractive or economically permeable for organized crime groups involved in this type of crime. Illicit firearms are not known to be in circulation, and even the National Police do not carry firearms. The low crime rate in the country, combined with the low socio-economic status of many Tuvalu residents, makes it unlikely for an arms trafficking market to emerge.
There is no indication of a significant market for counterfeit goods within the country, nor any evidence of organized crime involvement in such trade. However, recently, there has been an increase in the trade of counterfeited goods in the Oceania region, with growing demand. Counterfeited items, such as clothes, pharmaceutical products, pesticides, and electronic gadgets, mostly originating from China, are becoming more prevalent in commercial and e-commerce trade in Tuvalu. Similarly, the illicit trade in excise goods, specifically tobacco products, have been also on the rise in the region and in the country, due to the increasing levels of excise taxes.
The market for flora crimes in Tuvalu is nonexistent, though the small size of the islands and limited forest make them more vulnerable to the importation of illegally harvested timber. The main form of fauna crime committed in the country is illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, with revenue from tuna fishing contributing almost half of the government's revenue. Like several other Pacific Islands, Tuvalu benefits from permanent bilateral ship rider agreements with the US Coast Guard, allowing Tuvaluan law enforcement to expand their reach of monitoring and control for a limited number of days annually. Tuvalu has declared less than 1% of its exclusive economic zone as a marine protected area.
There is no evidence of a nonrenewable resource crimes market in Tuvalu, and the country has recently withdrawn support for deep-sea mining activities.
The prevalence of heroin and cocaine trade in Tuvalu is low. However, the country is vulnerable to being a stopover on the Latin America-Oceania drug highway due to its proximity to the high-value market of Australia. Despite this, Tuvalu is not an attractive destination market for drug traffickers due to low drug consumption and purchasing power.
Tuvalu likely has a small illicit market for cannabis, with local production meeting local demand at a relatively low price. There is no evidence of organized crime involvement in Tuvalu's cannabis trade, and the size and value of the market are believed to be much smaller than in neighbouring countries. Tuvalu is not linked to the synthetic drug trade. However, as the South Pacific region is reportedly on a global trafficking route for methamphetamines, there is a possibility that Tuvalu has a transit market for synthetic drugs, albeit limited.
In recent years, Tuvalu has been accelerating its digitization process with the goal of becoming the world's first paperless society. Most of the population owns mobile phones, and the government is working to provide access to more advanced internet technologies. Despite the progress made, there have been no significant cases of cyber-dependent crimes in Tuvalu. Economic factors suggest that Tuvalu will remain a low-value target for organized crime in the cyber realm.
Tuvaluans are vulnerable to exploitation by criminals seeking to use their country as a pathway to Australian and New Zealand markets. While there is no evidence of financial crimes in Tuvalu, the country remains vulnerable to exploitation due to its geographic location and the presence of wealthy Australians seeking to minimize their taxes. Aside from these cases, there is no evidence of widespread financial fraud, embezzlement, or misuse of funds in Tuvalu.
There is no evidence of mafia-style groups or organized crime in Tuvalu, with the exception of the foreign-led illegal fishing trade. Despite Tuvalu's criminal market being dominated by foreign actors, it is relatively small compared to that of other nations.
State-embedded actors as well as private sector actors involved in any criminal markets and/or corrupt schemes are limited in number. Overall, Tuvalu appears to be at a lower risk of organized crime and criminal networks.
Tuvalu's government has not been actively involved in anti-organized crime efforts since it is not a prevalent issue in the country. The government's focus is on more pressing needs such as economic issues and climate change. While Tuvalu's position against child labour and human trafficking has improved since 2013, child labour is still tolerated in practice. The country has shown commitment to tackling human smuggling but has failed to communicate strong opposition to IUU fishing, which is the primary form of organized crime prevalent in its neighbourhood. Nevertheless, there are no indications of government involvement with organized crime. Tuvalu's political system is relatively volatile, with frequent votes of no-confidence against the prime minister, which has contributed to low trust in the government. Despite this, Tuvalu is generally regarded as a free country. While Tuvalu has anti-corruption instruments in place, the government has few coordinated measures targeting corruption. As a preventive measure against it, Tuvalu is part of an initiative led by New Zealand in cooperation with the UN to strengthen anti-corruption laws in the Pacific Island region.
Tuvalu has a positive record of information-sharing and international cooperation as a member of the Commonwealth of Nations and partner to bilateral agreements with the US. The country has committed to regional platforms such as the Pacific Islands Forum and the Asia-Pacific Group on Money Laundering. However, its commitment to international treaties on transnational organized crime and related issues is patchy, as it has not signed/ratified/acceded to several key conventions. Tuvalu has national legislation criminalizing several acts related to transnational organized crime, including human smuggling, human trafficking, and piracy. IUU fishing is criminalized with dedicated legislation and New Zealand has offered support to address illegal tuna fishing. The country's size and community-based approach to governance make its laws and policies considered appropriate.
Tuvalu has an independent judiciary system consisting of island courts, magistrates' courts, a High Court, a Court of Appeal, and the UK-based Privy Council. The government generally respects judicial independence and impartiality. The Tuvalu prison system comprises one jail on the Fongafale islet in Funafuti, which reportedly houses between eight and 12 inmates at any given time. The conditions in the prison and detention centre do not raise concerns regarding living conditions or inmate abuse, and impunity is not an issue in the country.
Tuvalu's law enforcement response is pragmatic and consistent with the location, community, and economic resources available. The country has no military force, but it has a National Police Force consisting of a Maritime Surveillance Unit, Customs, Prisons, and Immigration units. Tuvalu is a member of various transpacific island law enforcement forces and initiatives created to combat transnational organized crime. With the help of Australia, Tuvalu defends its territorial integrity against IUU fishing and smuggling. In 2021, the country began its journey towards digital resilience with the help of the Oceania Cyber Security Centre in Melbourne. This, along with other international programmes, will provide Tuvalu with the capacity to resist cyber-infiltration and improve its cybersecurity.
Tuvalu appears to be committed to anti-money laundering measures, with no major problems reported. Although Tuvalu is compliant with independent recommendations, it has not yet undergone a Mutual Evaluation Report and has not made efforts to become a full member of the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG). However, the APG has welcomed Tuvalu's efforts to strengthen its anti-money laundering system, including establishing a Transaction Tracking Unit within the Tuvalu National Police Force. Tuvalu plans to install a domestic Financial Intelligence Unit, and cooperation with the Fiji Financial Intelligence Unit has been strengthened to devise a possible organizational structure and job descriptions. Tuvalu recognizes the importance of developing an effective supervisory framework for the banking sector, as it does not have a central bank and uses the Australian dollar as its currency.
Tuvalu's economy is dependent on external factors such as remittance payments, fishing licenses, and small-scale exports. The country's GDP is mostly service-based and it has received bilateral aid from Australia and New Zealand. Tuvalu's GDP growth is one of the strongest among the South Pacific island states, and it can generally be seen as a middle to upper-middle-income country. There are no specific sectors captured by organized crime or involved in any economic market regulation activities. Tuvalu's economy was not severely affected by the pandemic as its fishing revenues and donor grants allowed the country to avoid a recession. However, its vulnerability to the effects of climate change, domination by the public sector, and narrow revenue base present economic challenges for the country.
Tuvalu has legislation in place to protect victims of violent crimes, including provisions for compensation and legal representation. However, while there are child protection victim services, adult protection services, particularly for women, remain inadequate. As of 2022, Tuvalu may not be adequately equipped to support crime victims should this become a larger issue in the future. In terms of prevention, Tuvalu lacks specific action plans or national frameworks for organized crime prevention.
NGOs are free to operate in Tuvalu and focus on areas such as good governance, community support, and environmental work. However, there is no information available regarding NGOs that specifically address organized crime-related issues. Overall, Tuvalu is considered to be a free country, but government control over the sole radio and television station limits the expression of independent views.
Access the GI-TOC website for more content related to the Global Organized Crime Index
For a better experience, please rotate your device.
The criminal markets score is represented by the pyramid base size and the criminal actors score is represented by the pyramid height, on a scale ranging from 1 to 10. The resilience score is represented by the panel height, which can be identified by the side of the panel.
A series of 13 discussion papers, one for each illicit market considered during the development of the Index.
Read more on globalinitiative.net
We're constantly working to improve the Index. By participating in this survey, you will be providing us with insights and suggestions that will help us make the Index an even better resource.
give us your feedback
This report was funded in part by a grant from the United States Department of State.
ENACT is funded by the European Union and implemented by the Institute for Security Studies and INTERPOL, in affiliation with the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime.
The opinions, findings and conclusions stated herein are those of the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of State.