Uzbekistan's Organized Crime Level Low, But Challenges Persist, Study Finds
A new report, the Global Organized Crime Index 2025 by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC), indicates that Uzbekistan has a low level of organized crime. The country scored 4.93 out of a possible 10 on the organized crime index, ranking 108th out of 193 countries surveyed. This score is below the global average of 5.08. Despite this relatively low score for criminal activity, the report also highlights that Uzbekistan's resilience to criminal threats is low. It received a resilience score of 3.83, placing it 140th globally. This suggests that while the prevalence of organized crime may be contained, the country's capacity to withstand and combat its impacts remains a significant concern.
The GI-TOC's findings present a nuanced picture of Uzbekistan's position regarding organized crime. While the low score on the crime index might suggest effective containment, the simultaneously low resilience score indicates underlying vulnerabilities. This dichotomy suggests that the structures and mechanisms in place to counter organized crime may not be robust enough to withstand external pressures or internal decay. Future policy considerations could focus on strengthening institutional capacity, improving inter-agency coordination, and fostering greater societal engagement to build long-term resilience against evolving criminal networks. Addressing the root causes of vulnerability, rather than solely focusing on crime prevalence, will be crucial for sustainable security in the coming decade.
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