Disrupting Cocaine Trafficking Networks: Interdicting a Combined Social-Functional Network Model
Abstract
The U.S. military has supported U.S. law enforcement in counter drug-trafficking efforts since the1980s; the interagency counterdrug approach developed during that periodand still used todayfocuses primarily on interdiction of cocaine conveyances in transit from South America to Central America. Increasing violence in the countries through which the cocaine transits is evidence that this approach is not working. Furthermore, the U.S. rebalance toward Asia and a worsening shortfall of interdiction assets signal a new strategic and operational environment that requires a counter threat network (CTN) approach. Instead of simply attacking a functional trafficking network, as does an interdiction-focused strategy, we combine traditional Operations Research (OR) maximum flow and attacker-defender problems with social network analysis to directly interdict the traffickers social-management network (and the resources it provides) in order to obtain indirectyet potentially more effectivedisruptions of the functional network. The Drug Trafficking Organization Social-Functional Network Interdiction (DTOSFNI) model described herein can be used to provide insight in order to combat the numerous trafficking organizations in a coherent mannerrather than relying upon independent, often isolated, investigationsand inform development of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Consolidated Priority Organization Target (CPOT) list and its associated investigations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2016
- Accession Number
- AD1027593
Entities
People
- Christopher P. Santos
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School