convergence

Introduction
public resources. The Department of Defense Counternarcotics and Global Threats Strategy,
derived from national strategic and military guidance, according to William F. Wechsler and
Gary Barnabo, lays the foundation for how DOD supports the fight against transnational
illicit networks. To ensure that the resources expended against illicit networks have maximum
strategic impact, DOD must also link its efforts against transnational organized crime to other
national security priorities and agencies.
Many other departments and agencies are involved in fighting transnational organized
crime. The Treasury Department and various law enforcement agencies lead various aspects of
the nonkinetic effort to drain the illicit economy. The SCTOC proposed to create a legislative
package targeted at improving the authorities available to investigate, interdict, and prosecute
the activities of top transnational criminal networks across the Federal Government and in
partnership with state, local, tribal, and territorial levels, as well as with foreign partners. Under
existing authorities, law enforcement agencies have the lead for transnational organized crime,
while DOD and the State Department have the lead on counterterrorism and counterinsurgency
issues; however, it is crucial that all agencies work together. Recently, we have seen that
an increase in two-way support—from DOD to law enforcement and from law enforcement
to the military—is a strategically important evolution in how the U.S. Government organizes
to combat transnational organized crime. Moreover, the increased use of interagency task forces
such as the Joint Interagency Task Force–South, whose success combating drug trafficking in
the Caribbean is widely acknowledged, is another way to use the strengths and tools of various
agencies. Such efforts must continue. Collaboration is ever more critical as we look to best use
existing congressional authorities for each agency.
Attack the Financial Resources
To stop international narcotics trafficking and money-laundering networks, we must limit
their access to the global financial system. It is widely acknowledged that nearly 95 percent
of money laundering goes undetected. Recent indictments of multiple banking institutions
and convictions of a growing number of commercial banks are indicative of increased official
initiative in this area, but are also likely reflective of the widespread presence of money-laundering
activities. Stuart Levey, former Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial
Intelligence, stated that “any financial institution that collaborates in illicit conduct on this scale
risks losing its access to the United States.” We must make good on this threat.
Speaking at the National Defense University in 2011, Treasury Department Assistant
Secretary Daniel Glaser noted that analysts often cite the low cost of conducting a terrorist
attack as a reason it is difficult to stop these networks, but that explanation neglects the
cost of running and maintaining an illicit network. Salaries, training, logistics, bribes, and
other expenses all expose the organization to potential vulnerabilities. The international
community must be more proactive and determined in pursuing the money that enables
these groups to operate. Governments must aggressively engage the financial sector and
forge partnerships that will reduce the vulnerability of financial institutions and increase
the efficacy of anti-money-laundering procedures.
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