A series of international instruments enable nations to cooperate and coordinate their efforts to combat transnational organized crime. Such cooperation is necessary to track perpetrators, victims, and illicit proceeds across national borders and jurisdictional lines and to make the most effective use of limited resources.

The United Nations (UN) and regional organizations have enacted a multitude of international instruments to address transnational organized crime. Each instrument is unique in its scope and its approach to joint action, but such instruments have several common features. Often nations are required to create legislation that criminalizes both primary crimes, such as human trafficking, and enabling activities, such as money laundering. Instruments also regularly include a mechanism for financial assistance and a framework for mutual cooperation in law enforcement, extradition, ...