The evolution of international organized crime has followed a process of rational reorganization, as criminal enterprises follow the same patterns as legal enterprises. Many organized crime groups are based on ethnic identities and cultures. They are involved in drug trafficking, illegal arms trading, stolen car rings, truck hijackings, art thefts, and money laundering to cover their other activities. There is evidence that organized crime is involved in the black market for transplant organs and in the illicit disposal of toxic wastes; of course, organized crime is also known for infiltrating legitimate businesses, which are then protected against competitors through threats and violence. Some of the UN agencies involved in the anti-organized crime effort include the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Branch, the International Drug Control Program, and the Resource Committee on Transnational Crime. International law enforcement cooperation would be enhanced by the consistent application of concepts of mutual assistance and cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of criminal activity.