International law enforcement

International law enforcement operates by multilateral and bilateral agreements. In some cases, by working through an international organization such as Interpol, even countries with no diplomatic relations may cooperate in the investigation of transnational crime, and in the apprehension and trial of individuals accused of crimes.

Categories of internationally recognized crime

Certain types of crime, such as piracy and slavery, have long fallen under the theory of Hostis humani generis, or crimes against humanity against which any nation can act.

Interpol identifies categories of special interest as including:

• Terrorism, with the caveat that there is no universal definition of terrorism or authority over suspected terrorists
• Child sexual abuse images
• Organized crime, which frequently includes illicit drug trade
• Cyber crime
• Fugitives, especially with respect to international legal forums such as the International Criminal Court, the International Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and for Rwanda and the Special Court for Sierra Leone. This is a controversial area, as not all nations have ratified the treaties.
• Corruption