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Column 041408 Brewer

Monday, April 14, 2008

The Growing Threats of Transnational Gangs and Criminals

By Jerry Brewer

What does insufficient international cooperation and

coordination mean to transnational gang interdiction efforts?

Quite simply, the answer to this incredibly complex emerging

threat is extreme havoc. Death and destruction are certainly
more ominous words that describe this scourge.

In Mexico alone drug associated killings continue to climb above

2,000 per year. From a page out of the terrorist's repertoire
victims are being beheaded and displayed along with the ritual
slaughter.

The transnational gangster is essentially one who is criminally

violent, and active and operational in more than one country.
While many traditional street gangs were concerned over
neighborhood security and "turf" wars associated with illegal
activities, today’s transnational gangsters are more
sophisticated, better armed and organized, and associated with
violent crime syndicates. Too, these cartel associations have
realized intense respect by fear reactions by police and
governments with quasi or true terrorist and intimidation tactics.

And via this mindset, of power and financial acquisition through

illegal activities, there are evolving political agendas. Agendas
that are backed-up by military and paramilitary trained
gangsters, armed with military grade explosives and assault
rifles to pave their avenues with blood-soaked streets.

Through affluence gained by corrupt and nefarious means, this

army of murdering bandits is delivering the contraband in
demand, and taking as many human lives as necessary to
achieve their mission-based agendas. The contraband sought is
essentially lined with the blood of those that were perceived
threats to the criminal enterprise. Of course, these heavily
armed gangsters also kill indiscriminately, as well as kidnap and
torture. Too, bribes to police and government officials are
considered a rite of passage within this evil mindset, and
assassination is the answer to those that refuse to comply.

Central and South America pay a heavy price to maintain any

assemblance of democracy and democratic values within this
war. Drug cartels within Mexico have been linked to bribes to
officials in Ecuador, and they routinely work with gangsters in
Guatemala, El Salvador and others along the "Pacific Corridor"
waterway and inland routes.

Mexican cartels have found the incredible value of recruiting

armed enforcers, trained soldiers and contract assassins that
have tactical expertise to defend and facilitate their operational
acts. The "Zetas” and "Kaibiles" are stark examples of these
elite trained groups of hired killers.

Mexico’s Zetas boast of military trained recruits with advanced

weapon training, as well as experience with infrared technology
and American SWAT team mentality.

The Kaibiles are a product of Guatemala's military. These well

trained special operations and counter-insurgency forces
specialize in jungle warfare, and now deserters and former
soldiers are doing it for a lot more money.

What does all of this violent mentality, and the threats from the
south, mean to the U.S. Homeland?

This is certainly no secret to U.S. law enforcement personnel,

the military, and intelligence officials. Many of them have
encountered these soldiers of death on U.S. soil. Police
encounter them in U.S. cities. And their reach is not hampered
by fences or walls, with the possible exception limited only to
those involved in people trafficking due to slow moving illegal
migrants who are seeking a new life, as the criminals use their
high power weapons and money to metaphorically cut a path.

All of this mayhem that now, and unquestionably, does not stop
at the U.S. border is quite simply a recipe of demand and supply
for illegal drugs and other criminal activities. The key ingredients
are believed to be an insatiable yearly U.S. drug habit of around
US$60 billion, with drugs flowing to the north and firearms
moving to the south.

Among the most coveted and prized possessions of these

organized criminal organizations are the lucrative transport and
distribution routes. Much of the rival violence is bred at this
level. However, the United States is not spared from this south
of the border war as these operatives move through, and many
reside in, U.S. cities. The FARC [Revolutionary Armed Forces
of Colombia] guerrillas of Colombia are also described as "part
and parcel" of the narcotics production and export threat to the
United States, as well as other countries within this hemisphere
and Europe. Furthermore, central Brazil, primarily São Paolo,
has seen and experienced Mexican drug traffickers and their
associated violence.

So what is the actual threat and long-range vision requirement

U.S. policymakers must understand?

All concerned must know that the narcotics traffickers are

showing no signs of scaling back their trade. And they must
recognize that the proliferation of weapons (including those of
mass destruction) poses an equal threat to that of terrorists
looking for criminal associations to facilitate their own missions
of death.

The United States must continue to increase intelligence

collection to continue to discover the hidden plans and
intentions of these adversaries. State sponsorship of these
transnational criminals must not be tolerated. And political
leaders in this hemisphere must consistently emphasize
cooperation and coordination in their efforts.

——————————
Jerry Brewer, the Vice President of Criminal Justice
International Associates, a global risk mitigation firm
headquartered in Miami, Florida, is a guest columnist with
MexiData.info. jbrewer@cjiausa.org