MARITIME TRANSNATIONAL ORGANISED CRIME PROJECTIONS IN THE REGION

Abstract

Transnational organized crime remains a significant threat to regional and international security, particularly in Southeast Asia’s or Indo-Pacific complex maritime domain. This study examines the multidimensional challenges of maritime crime, including drug trafficking, illegal waste and timber trade, and human smuggling, through the lens of transnational crime theory and the regime theory of international cooperation. Guided by international legal frameworks such as the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has implemented a range of initiatives focused on capacity building, international collaboration, and legal harmonization. Employing a qualitative content analysis of policy documents, institutional reports, and peer-reviewed literature from the past decade, the study identifies a rise in criminal sophistication, including advanced concealment methods and exploitation of regulatory gaps. Despite the growing complexity of these crimes, efforts such as the Maritime Law Enforcement Dialogue, the Sulu–Celebes Seas contact group, and the proposed ASEAN Coast Guard Forum demonstrate positive developments in regional coordination. The findings highlight the critical importance of real-time information sharing, public-private partnerships, and community engagement. Strengthening collaborative frameworks and leveraging both regional and global legal instruments are essential steps to enhancing Southeast Asia’s resilience in combating maritime transnational organized crime.