Translated with AI
The volume of global trade, which the UN describes as "an engine of inclusive economic growth and poverty reduction," reached a record $33 trillion in 2024. At the heart of this extensive system are seaports and airports—key hubs through which the majority of global trade flows pass, according to the UN press service.
According to the World Economic Forum, over 90 percent of global trade is carried in containers, with more than 860 million units shipped annually. Air cargo, which accounts for approximately 35 percent of global trade by value, is also growing rapidly: in 2024, its volume increased by more than 10 percent compared to the previous year.
However, cross-border trade, so vital to global economic stability, remains vulnerable to organized crime and terrorist groups that use international routes to smuggle weapons, drugs, people and other illicit goods.
This article explains why effective border controls are critical to the security and sustainability of the global economy, and how the UN helps countries protect trade and travel.
How criminal groups exploit borders
Border crossings often become entry points for illegal goods—from weapons and drugs to counterfeit medicines, cultural artifacts, and counterfeit goods. They can also be used by criminals themselves, including drug traffickers and terrorists.
Criminals conceal contraband in containers, luggage, and even on the bodies of carriers. Criminal networks bribe border officials, customs officials, and logistics companies to ensure illegal shipments pass undetected. More sophisticated criminals hack port systems or use counterfeit codes to reroute cargo to their desired destinations.
Why is this important?
Insufficient border management capabilities and weak cross-border cooperation create dangerous gaps in trade routes. Criminal networks quickly adapt, merge with other groups, and find new ways to move goods and people, threatening the security of states and consumers.
Effective border control protects public health by restricting the flow of illicit drugs and preventing the distribution of counterfeit medications. It also increases legal revenue for states by supporting legitimate trade and depriving criminal networks of financial resources.
A robust control system prevents chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons from falling into the hands of terrorists and blocks the smuggling of chemical precursors used to produce drugs and explosives. It also helps prevent the illegal trade in wildlife and the movement of hazardous waste, reducing pressure on ecosystems and risks to human health.
What does the UN do?
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), together with the World Customs Organization and Interpol, helps countries strengthen control over air, sea, and land borders. As part of this work, 192 national cargo and passenger control units have been established in 89 countries.
These units conduct risk assessments, identify and intercept high-risk passengers, cargo, and mail. They ensure coordination between countries of origin, transit, and destination, and collaborate with the private sector to disrupt illicit cross-border flows and criminal networks.
