Combating Transnational Organized Crime: A Comprehensive Report on Liechtenstein’s Efforts
Overview
Liechtenstein has made significant strides in combating transnational organized crime, but like any nation, it faces challenges and areas for improvement. This report provides a comprehensive overview of the country’s strengths and weaknesses in this area, offering key points and recommendations to enhance its efforts.
Strengths
Effective Governance
- Transparent government: Liechtenstein has a strong stance against organized crime, with a transparent government that publishes budgets, procurement contracts, and other relevant information.
- Efficient judicial system: The country’s judicial system is efficient and transparent, with courts that can effectively investigate and prosecute criminal cases.
Transparency and Banking Reform
- Reducing banking secrecy: Liechtenstein has made significant strides in reducing banking secrecy and increasing transparency, which has helped to combat money laundering.
- International cooperation: The country actively participates in international cooperation efforts against organized crime, including intelligence sharing treaties and extradition agreements.
Weaknesses
Lack of Capacity
- Sentences in Austrian prisons: Due to the lack of capacity, individuals with sentences of more than two years carry out their terms in Austrian prisons.
- Financial secrecy: Despite efforts to increase banking transparency, financial secrecy still has an impact on the exchange of information, making it difficult to combat money laundering.
Limited Civil Society Engagement
- Lack of organized crime groups: Civil society groups are not particularly focused on crime prevention due to the lack of organized crime groups in Liechtenstein.
Recommendations
- Continue to strengthen international cooperation: Liechtenstein should continue to participate in international efforts against organized crime, including intelligence sharing and extradition agreements.
- Improve financial transparency: The country should further increase banking transparency to combat money laundering and reduce financial secrecy.
- Increase civil society engagement: The government should engage with civil society groups to raise awareness about the risks of organized crime and encourage their involvement in prevention efforts.
By addressing these weaknesses and building on its strengths, Liechtenstein can continue to effectively combat transnational organized crime and maintain its reputation as a secure and transparent country.