Transnational Criminal Organizations as a Threat to U.S. National Security

Abstract

While Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCO) are threats, with the potential to grow and diversify, they have not reached a level that warrants them being called a threat to United States (U.S.) national security. This paper will show that while law enforcement agencies are successful at the tactical and operational levels, the U.S. has failed to adapt its strategic level policies by misdiagnosing TCO as a direct threat to national security. The U.S. stance on TCO has shifted from the first NSS, through the end of the Cold War and most dramatically post-9/11. These events increased the perceived threat of TCO to National Security, which led to the publication of the US Strategy to Combat Transnational Organized Crime in 2011. Issues such as the existence of various definitions throughout multiple agencies, constantly adjusting agency budgets, lack of a common operating picture for integration, and operational priorities raise the question of this strategy s effectiveness. In conclusion, with logical guidance, predictable budgets and common terminology and operational picture, agency success could be amplified.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 28, 2015
Accession Number
AD1175915

Entities

People

  • Rogelio Maese

Organizations

  • Marine Corps University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Cold War
  • Crime
  • Criminals
  • Department Of Homeland Security
  • Governments
  • Homeland Security
  • International Relations
  • International Security
  • Law
  • Law Enforcement
  • National Security
  • Security
  • Terrorism
  • United States
  • United States Northern Command
  • United States Southern Command
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Government and Public Administration Law.
  • Irregular Warfare and Special Operations Cyberspace Operations against Adversarial Threats.
  • Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.