Building the Guatemalan Interagency Task Force Tecun Uman: Lessons Identified

Guatemala is a major transit point for drugs bound for the United States. Guatemala s Interagency Task Force IATF Tec n Um n was established for the interdiction of drug flow across the Mexican border. As part of their counternarcotics missions, U.S. Southern Command USSOUTHCOM and U.S. Army South USARSOUTH have identified IATF Tec n Um n as one of their top priorities for U.S. support in Central America. USSOUTHCOM believes that this task force, if successful, can serve as a model for others operating along borders in the area, and Guatemala has already begun planning for additional units to provide security on its Honduran IATF Chort and El Salvadoran IATF Xinca borders. In support of these efforts, the RAND National Defense Research Institute analyzed progress by IATF Tec n Um n and drew lessons from that experience that can contribute to improved effectiveness of current and future task forces. The RAND analysis is based on data gathered from papers, briefs, conferences, site visits, and over 20 interviews with U.S. and Guatemalan personnel involved in IATF development and management. An initial set of interviews was conducted and data gathered in December 2013, and a follow-up data-gathering trip was conducted in June 2014 to observe progress over a six-month period. This report identifies key lessons from IATF Tec n Um n and outstanding challenges that still face the IATF. It then provides recommendations to the Guatemalan and U.S. governments on how to overcome those challenges.