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DRUG INTERDICTION AND COUNTERDRUG ACTIVITIES, DEFENSE
• Domestic Support: DoD limits its domestic contributions to the ‘war on drugs’ to those functions that are militarily unique and
benefit the Department’s primary missions. Therefore, primary responsibility for military support to domestic law enforcement
has been placed on the National Guard; thus freeing active duty and Reserve units for operations in support of the global war on
terrorism. Domestic support includes translation, intelligence, communications, aerial and ground reconnaissance, transportation,
border fence and road construction, eradication (excluding contraband destruction), and training. DoD will work to build data
fusion and intelligence sharing networks with domestic law enforcement agencies to provide situational awareness, as well as to
increase cooperation with and support to the Mexican military and law enforcement forces.
• Intelligence and Technology Support: DoD will continue to provide critical intelligence support to national policies designed to
dismantle narcotics trafficking and international terrorist organizations benefiting from drug trafficking. Most of the collection
and analysis is unique, and is essential to the national and international efforts. The use of new technology continues to be
instrumental in combating narcoterrorist activities. DoD will continue to test, evaluate, develop and deploy technologies that are
used to collect and survey suspect narcoterrorist smuggling operations in air, land, or sea.
• International Support: DoD has expanded its CNT mission to include targeting those terrorists groups worldwide that use
narcotics trafficking to support terrorist activities. In order to support the war on terrorism, DoD will use its resources in regions
where terrorists benefit from illicit drug revenue or use drug smuggling systems. DoD CN efforts enable the United States to:
• Defeat Terrorist networks: CN efforts deny terrorists their sources of financing
• Defend the homeland in depth: CN efforts provide detection, monitoring and interdiction of threats moving toward
CONUS
• Shape the choices of countries at the strategic crossroads: CN efforts strengthen alliances with partner nations by
reducing transnational hazards including terrorism and crime
• Conduct irregular warfare and stabilization, security, transition and reconstruction operations: CN efforts place US
forces in partner nations, providing training, equipment and infrastructure required to build their capacity
• Conduct “military diplomacy”: CN efforts provide mil-to-mil and mil-to-civ relations where other DoD efforts are
refused
• Enable host countries to provide good governance: CN efforts allow partner nations to gain control of their borders and
ungoverned spaces
• Enable the success of integrated foreign assistance: CN efforts are a vital part of the security assistance offered to
partner nations
In short, the Department’s CN efforts contribute to Homeland Defense, fosters cooperation with U.S. agencies & strengthens
alliances with partner nations, and forms relationships with new international partners otherwise reluctant to cooperate with
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