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

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.