The World Customs Organization (WCO) just published its latest Illicit Trade Report (ITR) on 5th February, 2026. The WCO Illicit Trade Report 2024 provides a comprehensive, data-driven assessment of global illicit trade trends based on seizure data voluntarily submitted by customs administrations worldwide through the Customs Enforcement Network (CEN) in the year of 2024. The report highlights the growing sophistication of transnational criminal networks and underscores the increasingly critical role of Customs authorities in safeguarding global supply chains.
Key findings point to persistent growth in high-risk areas including drug trafficking, counterfeit goods, environmental crime, revenue fraud, and security-related threats. Cannabis remained the most frequently seized drug, while cocaine and synthetic substances continued to pose serious cross-border risks. Notably, the report introduces initial seizure data on fentanyl, signalling heightened concern over synthetic opioids and their severe public-health and security implications, even at low volumes.
A significant trend identified is the fragmentation of illicit shipments, particularly through e-commerce, express courier services, and postal channels. Over 70% of intellectual property rights (IPR) seizures were linked to online sales, highlighting enforcement challenges arising from small parcels and high shipment volumes. Counterfeit medical products and consumer goods also continued to rise, posing direct risks to health, safety, and brand integrity.
The report further records a marked increase in trafficking of small arms components and ammunition, rather than fully assembled weapons. These components are often shipped separately, sometimes produced using emerging technologies such as 3D printing, making detection more complex and reinforcing the need for enhanced intelligence-led targeting.
Environmental crime remains a growing concern, with substantial increases in seizures involving wildlife, waste, ozone-depleting substances, and hazardous chemicals. These offences are frequently linked to broader criminal networks and illicit financial flows, amplifying their economic and environmental impact.
Overall, the WCO stresses that effective enforcement now depends on risk-based controls, advanced data analytics, inter-agency cooperation, and international intelligence sharing. The report serves as a strategic reference for customs administrations and policymakers, reinforcing that illicit trade is not only a compliance issue but a global security, economic, and sustainability challenge requiring coordinated, technology-enabled responses.
Please refer to the following link on the full WCO report: