ABSTRACT Far from diminishing in the current century, serious and organized crime has persisted and thrived, making use of the same trends in globalization and technology that in so many ways have made our lives simpler, faster, and even safer. This report explores the dimensions of serious and organized crime and how it has changed over the past few years by exploiting globalization and technology to become more sophisticated and tech-savvy than ever. We will then delve into some of the ways technology can help you battle this evolving threat. 1 https://www.europol.europa.eu/newsroom/news/new-major-interventions-to-block-encrypted-communications-of-criminal-networks 2 https://www.computerweekly.com/news/252497791/Arrest-warrants-for-Candians-behind-Sky-ECC-cryptophone-networks-used-by-organised-crime?vgnextfmt=print 3 https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/03/10/2190026/0/en/SKY-ECC-platform-remains-secure-and-no-authorized-Sky-ECC-device-has-been-hacked.html 4 https://edition.cnn.com/2020/07/02/uk/encrochat-crime-messaging-cracked-intl-gbr-scli/index.html 5 https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/1-500-arrested-in-swoop-on-drug-gangs-using-encrochat-7r7lnwcmv 6 https://edition.cnn.com/2020/07/02/uk/encrochat-crime-messaging-cracked-intl-gbr-scli/index.html In March 2021, law enforcement agencies around the world announced they had infiltrated the Sky ECC encrypted phone network, which had operated out of the United States and Canada for over a decade. 1 The company had a user base of 170,000 individuals who relied on the security of its dedicated hardware and encryption, in part, to facilitate transnational crime networks. 2 The company originally denied the claims that their security had been hacked along with denying allegations that it had become the “platform of choice for criminals.” 3 However, its website was later seized by the FBI and other international law enforcement agencies. While the Sky ECC case is still pending as of this writing, an earlier encrypted phone network called EncroChat was cracked in 2020 and led to the UK’s largest law enforcement operation, resulting in over 700 arrests, 4 followed by another 1,500 in early 2021. 5 The National Crime Agency had evidence that the EncroChat network was used to facilitate the “distribution of illicit goods, money laundering and plotting to kill rivals.” 6 Police claimed that in the earlier raid, they had successfully mitigated over 200 “threats to life.” DIMENSIONS OF SERIOUS AND ORGANIZED CRIME 3