Core Insights - The rise of illegal trade in Latin America has become a primary revenue source for organized crime groups, leading to significant fiscal losses for countries and negatively impacting public health and key sectors such as pharmaceuticals, textiles, and agriculture [1] - Organized crime groups utilize proceeds from illegal trade to fund violent activities, posing a serious threat to public safety [1] Summary by Category Illegal Trade Index - The latest report from TRACIT indicates that the average score for 158 assessed countries on the 2025 Illegal Trade Index is 49.9, with higher scores indicating less impact from illegal trade [1] - Denmark ranks highest with a score of 76, while Yemen ranks lowest at 25.7 [1] - Latin America's performance is notably poor, with countries like Venezuela (27.1), Haiti (32.2), Nicaragua (33.3), Bolivia (38.5), and Honduras (39.3) scoring low [1] - The region's average score is 47.4, which is lower than North America (73.3), Europe (61), and Asia (50.9) [1] Focus Areas of Illegal Trade - Illegal trade activities in Latin America are primarily concentrated in tobacco, alcohol, and counterfeit products [1] - In Panama, 96% of cigarettes sold come from illegal sources, with Ecuador (85%), Costa Rica (47%), and Colombia (36%) also showing high levels of illegal tobacco sales [1] - Ecuador experiences annual losses of over one hundred million dollars in government revenue due to illegal alcohol sales [1]