PARTNERS IN CRIME: NARCO-TERRORISM MENACES WORLD

Within the context of current world events, narco-terrorism has two
definitions assigned by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration.
The first is an international drug trafficker who uses terrorist tactics
against the citizens of a country to further his political agenda and to
protect his drug trade. The second is an organized group that is complicit
in the activities of drug trafficking in order to further, or to fund,
premeditated, politically motivated violence against civilian targets with
the intention of influencing a government or group of people.

Terrorist organizations use a number of sources to garner funds; however,
drug trafficking is among the most profitable. According to U.S. government
estimates, Americans spend approximately $64 billion per year on illegal
drugs. In the broadest sense, some terrorist groups may be involved in all
aspects of the drug trade, from cultivation, production, transportation,
and wholesale distribution to money laundering.

Traffickers Pay 'Tax'

These groups also may provide security for drug traffickers to transport
their product through territory controlled by terrorist organizations or
their supporters. In some cases, terrorist groups or their supporters may
require a "tax" to be paid on illicit products, for passage through
controlled territory.

Many insurgent and extremist groups are suspected of drug-trafficking
involvement, such as al-Qaeda, Hezbollah, and the Islamic Resistance
Movement (HAMAS), which operate in the area known as the "Fertile Crescent"
of Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan. In South America the Sendero Luminoso,
known as the "Shining Path," is based in Peru and operate as security
forces for the cocaine trade in the region. In Colombia the Communist rebel
group FARC provides security for the Colombia drug cartels. The Basque
Fatherland and Liberty (ETA) in Spain is heavily involved in illegal drug
trafficking throughout Europe. The level of involvement is often different,
but the ultimate aim is acquiring large sums of untraceable cash to further
their violent agendas.

When looking at the connection between drugs and violence, it is important
to differentiate between drug-related violence and narco-terrorism. By
definition, terrorism is premeditated, politically motivated violence
perpetrated against innocent civilian targets. With drug-related violence,
we see financially motivated violence perpetrated against those who
interfere with or cross the path of a drug-trafficking organization. While
we see drug-related violence daily on the streets of our country,
narco-terrorism is less visible, with the funding source often well-disguised.

Three Crucial Elements

Law-enforcement officials see three elements crucial to attacking
narco-terrorism: targeted enforcement efforts, intelligence gathering, and
international cooperation. Many terrorist groups rarely act within the
borders of one state, but tend to have a more global view in regard to
their activities and fundraising. This means that combatting
narco-terrorism requires a global network of law-enforcement and
intelligence officials to tackle this issue wherever it appears. The key is
cooperation at all levels. Cooperation will prevent atrocities perpetrated
by terrorist organizations financed by drug money. International efforts to
combat narco-terrorism are focusing on asset seizure and control of all
funding sources used by terrorist organizations.

In response to the incidents of September 11, 2001, the United States,
along with the international community, expanded efforts to stop financing
that supports terrorism. On September 28, 2001, the United Nations Security
Council unanimously adopted an anti-terrorism resolution that called for
the suppression of terrorist-group financing and improved international
cooperation against terrorists. The Security Council noted the close
connection between international terrorism and the trafficking of illegal
drugs, with its related money-laundering and illicit arms-trafficking.

9/11's New Focus

The events of 9/11 brought new focus to this old problem of
narco-terrorism. These events have forever changed the world and
demonstrate the vulnerability to acts of terrorism on even the most
powerful nation. Through attempts to combat this threat, the link between
drugs and terrorism came to the forefront. Whether it is a state aiding in
the supply of heroin such as formerly Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, or a
narco-terrorist organization such as the FARC protecting the cocaine trade
in Colombia, the nexus between drugs and terrorism is evident and lethal.

Federal, state, and local law-enforcement agencies throughout the United
States are aligning with our President and Congress to combat this imminent
threat to international society. The War on Terror and the War on Drugs are
linked. The War on Terror has brought about a rededication by
law-enforcement personnel and ordinary people throughout the world to fight
the War on Drugs. Thanks to television and magazine ads, people in Richmond
and across the country understand that the profits from illegal drugs are
just as deadly to society as the drugs themselves.

We must fight these wars to protect our children and future gen- erations.
Our grandparents were called to save the world from fascism and
totalitarianism, and they met the challenge for us. We are now called to
save the world from illegal drugs and the terrorism financed by their sale;
as concerned adults and parents, we cannot fail.

Joe Dombroski, a Rich-mond-area enforce-ment supervisor for the U.S. Drug
Enforcement Administration, is a 2003 Commentary Columnist.