How Can the International Criminal Court (ICC) Address Financial Crimes Such as Money Laundering and Illicit Financial Flows That Are Central to Transnational Crime Networks?

This paper explores the role of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in addressing transnational financial crimes and the challenges facing it. Because of the acceleration of globalisation, crimes like money laundering, tax evasion, corruption, and terrorist financing have become common tools for global criminals. Since the ICC primarily prosecutes war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity, its current legal framework does not extend to financial crimes. By finding the ICCs jurisdictional limitations and real-world case studies, this paper reveals how gaps in international law create openings for financial criminals to act with little fear of prosecution. To bridge these gaps, it proposes key reforms, including expanding the ICCs jurisdiction, improving its technical and investigative capabilities, and stimulating stronger global cooperation. In the end, this paper points out that tackling financial crime worldwide requires a more adaptive and cooperative approach to ensure justice systems can keep pace with the ever-changing tactics of financial criminals.