The Convention applies to the prevention, investigation, and prosecution of serious crimes involving organized criminal groups. These crimes include drug trafficking, money laundering, counterfeiting, theft of cultural objects, theft of nuclear material, terrorism, illegal manufacture of and trafficking in firearms, and corruption of public officials. An organized criminal group is defined to include a structured group of three or more persons that has existed for a period of time and that aims to commit a serious crime in order to obtain financial or other material benefits. Articles of the Convention cover participation in criminal organizations, measures to combat transnational organized crime, corporate liability, prosecution, adjudication, sanctions, confiscation, jurisdiction, extradition, mutual legal assistance, special investigative techniques, witness and victim protection, law enforcement cooperation, information collection and exchange, training and technical assistance, and organized crime prevention at national and international levels. The role of the UN and other relevant organizations in preventing transnational organized crime is addressed.