NARCOTERRORISM
Moscow, Russia
December 9-10, 2009
International Institute For
Security and Cooperation
Rodolfo Peikov
Member of the
Advisory Board
IISC
DRUGS AND TERRORISM
A GLOBAL THREAT
P
E
N
T
A
G
O
N
189
dead
P
E
N
N
N
S
Y
L
V
A
N
I
A
44
dead
World Trade Center, New York, USA, September 11, 2001
over 3000 dead, over 5000 wounded
World Trade Center, February 26, 1993
6 dead, over 1000 wounded
DRUGS AND TERRORISM
A GLOBAL THREAT
Kuta, Bali, Indonesia, October 12, 2002
202 dead, 209 wounded
Bali, Indonesia, October 1, 2005
23 dead, 129 wounded
DRUGS AND TERRORISM
A GLOBAL THREAT
British Consulate and Synagogues, Istanbul, Turkey,
November 15-20, 2003
57 dead, over 700 wounded
DRUGS AND TERRORISM
A GLOBAL THREAT
Atocha Train Station, Madrid, Spain, March 11, 2004
191 dead, over 2000 wounded
DRUGS AND TERRORISM
A GLOBAL THREAT
Beslan, Респу́блика Се́верная Осе́тия-Ала́ния, Respublika Severnaya Osetiya-Alaniya,
September 1-3, 2004
over 300 dead, over 700 wounded
DRUGS AND TERRORISM
A GLOBAL THREAT
Metro and Bus, London, United Kingdom, July 7, 2005
56 dead over 700 wounded
DRUGS AND TERRORISM
A GLOBAL THREAT
Train station attacks, Mumbai (Bombay), India, July 11, 2006
209 dead over 700 wounded
DRUGS AND TERRORISM
A GLOBAL THREAT
Benazir Bhutto is assassinated by an attacker who blows himself up
resulting in over 20 dead and several wounded.
Rawalpindi, Pakistan, December 27, 2007
DRUGS AND TERRORISM
A GLOBAL THREAT
Mumbai (Bombay), India, November 26-29, 2008
over 173 dead over 300 wounded
DRUGS AND TERRORISM
A GLOBAL THREAT
Peshawar, Pakistan, October 28, 2009
over 95 dead over 220 wounded
DRUGS AND TERRORISM
A GLOBAL THREAT
Невский экспресс , Nevsky Espress (St. Petersburg-Moscow),
November 27, 2009
27 dead over 90 wounded
DRUGS AND TERRORISM
A GLOBAL THREAT
“Kill one,
frighten thousands.”

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Sun Tzu
The Art of War
(China 544 B.C. – 496 B.C.)
NARCOTERRORISM
This
presentation is intended only to furnish you with a
basic knowledge of terrorism and drug related terrorism,
and could be a starting point for further and more detailed
study.
It is not to be taken as a complete or detailed work but,
rather, as an introduction to a very complex and dynamic
subject.
It gives a minimum essential background knowledge
required to properly analyze the terrorist threat at the
worldwide level.
FLAGS OF TERRORIST
ORGANIZATIONS
LIST OF TERRORIST
ORGANIZATIONS
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Abu Nidal organization, (ANO) , Fatah—the Revolutionary Council, Arab
Revolutionary Brigades, Black September, and Revolutionary Organization of
Socialist Muslims (now inactive since the closing of offices in Egypt and Lybia
in 1999. Abu Nidal found dead in Iraq August 2002. (Palestine, Lebanon)
Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) or al-Harakat al-Islamiyya (Philippines, Brunei,
Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand)
Aden-Abyan Islamic Army (Yemen)
Al-Aqsa Foundation (Palestine)
Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade (al-Aqsa) (Palestine)
Al- Badr (India, Pakistan)
Alex Boncayao Brigade, ABB (in 1997 it was joined by the Revolutionary
Proletarian Army, RPA) (Philippines)
Al-Gama’a al-Islamiyya, Gamaat Islamiya, al Jamaat al Islamiya, Gama'a El
Islamiyya (Islamic Group, IG) (Egypt)
Al Ghurabaa (re-established along with the Saviour Sect in Ahlus Sunnah wal
Jamaah as an Internet forum in 2005) (Al Ghurabaa and Saviour Sect were
banned in 2006) (U.K.)
Al-Haramain Foundation (Saudi Arabia) (banned GLOBAL by the U.N. 1267
in 1999)
Al Ittihad Al Islamia (Somalia)
page 1 of 9
Al-Shabaab (Somalia)
LIST OF TERRORIST
ORGANIZATIONS
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Alliance of Eritrean National Force, AEFN (in 1999 the Eritrean opposition
groups formed the AEFN) (Eritrea)
Al-Qaeda, Qa‘idat al-Jihad (Afghanistan, Pakistan, now Global)
Al-Umar Mujahidin (India)
All Tripura Tiger Force (India)
Absa-al-Islam (Pakistan)
Ansar-us-Sunna (Iraq)
Armata Corsa, AC, Corsica Army (founded in 1999 is rival to the other
Corsican group FLNC) (France)
Armed Islamic Group (GIA al-Jama'ah al-Islamiyah al-Musallaha) (Algeria)
Asbat al-Ansar (Lebanon)
Aum Shinrikyo (Supreme Truth), now called Aleph (Japan)
Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia, United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia,
AUC (Colombia
Babbar Khalsa International (India, Pakistan)
Balochistan Liberation Army (Iran, Pakistan)
Brigate Rosse, Red Brigades (BR) (Italy)
Communist Party of India (India)
Communist Party of Philippines/New People’s Army (CPP/NPA) (Philippines)
page 2 of 9
LIST OF TERRORIST
ORGANIZATIONS
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Continuity Irish Republican Army, Óglaigh na hÉireann (Ireland, U.K.)
Deendar Anjuman, Islamic Organization (India)
Dukhtaran-E-Millat, Daughters of the Nation, Wahabbi Fundamentalist
Group (India, Pakistan)
Egyptian Islamic Jihad, Jihad Group, Islamic Jihad, Al-Jihad (Egypt)
Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN), National Liberation Army (Colombia)
Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA), Basque Homeland and Freedom (Spain)
Fatah al-Islam, Conquest of Islam (Lebanon, Palestine)
Fianna na hEireann (Ireland, U.K.)
Frontu di Liberazione Nazionalista Corsu, FLNC, Corsican National
Liberation Front (France)
Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, Revolutionary Armed Forces
of Colombia (FARC) (Colombia
Grupos de Resistencia Antifascista Primero de Octubre (GRAPO), Partido
comunista de Espana. (possibly disbanded during June 2007 after the arrest of
six components in Barcelona) (Spain)
Hamas, Ḥarakat al-Muqāwamat al-Islāmiyyah, Islamic Resistance Movement
(now a political party in Palestine). (Lebanon, Palestine)
page 3 of 9
LIST OF TERRORIST
ORGANIZATIONS
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Harkat al-Jihād al-Islāmi fi Filastīn, Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine (Palestine)
Harkat ul-Mujahidin (HUM), Movement of Holy Warriors, (formerly Harkat ul-Ansar,
HUA, or Jamiat ul-Ansar) (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan)
Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin (HIG) (Afghanistan)
Hezbollah (Party of God), Islamic Jihad, Revolutionary Justice Organization,
Organization of the Oppressed on Earth, and Islamic Jihad for the Liberation of
Palestine. Information reveals that from 1992 Hezbollah (Hizbollah) operated in
Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and other South American countries against Israelian
targets (1). (Palestine, Lebanon)
Hizb ut-Tahrir, Party of Liberation. (Lebanon, Palestine, Syria)
Hizbul Mujahideen, Party of Freedom Fighters (Pakistan)
Holy Land Foundation (allegedly an Islamic Charity Foundation. In 2009 the founders
were sentenced to life in prison for funding HAMAS with $12 million) (USA, Palestine)
Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (might be associated to All Tripura) (India)
International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) (banned from India, UK, Canada) (India)
Irish Republican Army (IRA) (now used by the Provisional Irish Republican Army or
PIRA) (Ireland, U.K.)
(1) (Source: Italian Intelligence Magazine Gnosis, n. 1/2006)
page 4 of 9
LIST OF TERRORIST
ORGANIZATIONS
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İslami Büyükdoğu Akıncılar Cephesi, Great Eastern Islamic Raider’s Front
(Turkey)
Islamic Jihad Union (IJU) (cell from Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan IMU
(Uzbekistan, Afghanistan)
Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU)) (after the killing of Juma
Namangami former Soviet paratrooper in 2001 in Afghanistan, might reemerge as Islamic Movement of Turkestan) (Uzbekistan, Afghanistan,
Kyrgystan, Tajikistan)
Jaish-e-Mohammed (JEM) (Army of Mohammed) (Pakistan)
Jamaat-ul-Mujahidin, Jama'atul Mujahidin (Bangladesh)
Jemaah Islamiya (JI), associated with Tandzim al-Qaedat Indonesia. Leader
Noordin Mohammed Top’s assistant Amir Ibrohim (Amir Abdullah) was killed
in a gunfight with police in Temanggung, Java, Indonesia on August 8, 2009.
Noordin Mohammed Top was killed in a police raid in Indonesia on September
16, 2009. (Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand)
Jund Ansar Allah, Soldiers of the Companions of God, associated to Al Qaeda.
On August 14, 2009 the leader Abdel-Latif Moussa, known also as Abu alNour al-Maqdessi committed suicide during a gunfight with the police in Gaza
in which 17 of his militants were killed along with six Hamas police officers
and a baby girl. (Palestine)
page 5 of 9
LIST OF TERRORIST
ORGANIZATIONS
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Jund Ash Sham, Jund al-Sham, Soldiers of Damascus
(Palestine)
Kahane Chai, Kach (Israel) Khalistan Commando Force, KCF
(India)
Kongra-Gel, former Kurdistan Workers’ Party, PKK, Partîya
Karkerén Kurdîstan, Kurdistan Freedom and Democracy
Congress, KADEK, Freedom and Democracy Congress of
Kurdistan. (Turkey)
Khuddam ul-Islam, Islamist Militant Group possibly
associated with Jaish-e-Mohammed, JEM (Pakistan)
Kurdistan Freedom Falcons, Teyrêbazên Azadiya Kurdistan,
TAK, Kurdistan Freedom Hawks (Turkey)
Lashkar-e-Taiba(LT), Laškar-ĕ Tayyiba, Army of the Good,
Army of the Righteous, Army of the Pure (Pakistan)
page 6 of 9
Lashkar I Jhangvi (LJ), Army of Jhangvi (Pakistan)
LIST OF TERRORIST
ORGANIZATIONS
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Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, (LIFG), Al-Jama’a al-Islamiyyah al-Muqatilah biLibya (Libya)
Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF) (Ireland, U.K.)
Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group, Moroccan Islamic Fighting Group, Groupe
Islamique Combattant Marocain (GICM) (Morocco)
Movimiento Revolucionario Tùpac Amaru, Tupamaros (MRTA), Revolutionary
Movement Tupac Amaru (Peru, Uruguay)
Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK or MKO), National Liberation Army of Iran
(NLA, the militant wing of the MEK), the People’s Mujahedin of Iran (PMOI), National
Council of Resistance (NCR), the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI),
Muslim Iranian Student’s Society (front organization used to garner financial support).
(Iran)
Muslim Brothers, Al-Ikhwān Al-Muslimūn, Society of the Muslim Brothers, Al-Ikhwān,
the Brotherhood, (MB) (Egypt)
National Democratic Front of Bodoland, (NDFB), Bodo Security Force (agreed to
ceasefire on June 1, 2005) (India)
National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) (India)
Ndrangheta, Organized crime group in Calabria (Italy), associated with the AUC,
Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia
Orange Volunteers (Ireland, U.K.)
Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ) (Palestine)
page 7 of 9
LIST OF TERRORIST
ORGANIZATIONS
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Palestine Liberation Front (PLF) (Palestine)
People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) (India)
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) (Palestine)
Real IRA (RIRA), True IRA (Ireland, U.K.)
Red Hand Commando (associated with Ulster Volunteer Force
(decommissioned in June 2009) (Ireland, U.K.)
Red Hand Defenders (RHD) (Ireland, U.K.)
Revolutionary Nuclei, Επαναστατικοί Πυρήνες or Epanastatiki Pyrines), (RN)
(former Revolutionary Popular Struggle) (inactive since 2000) (Greece)
Revolutionary Organization 17 November, Epanastatiki Organosi 17 noemvri ,
17 November (Greece)
Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party/Front, Devrimci Halk Kurtuluş
Partisi/Cephesi, (DHKP/C) (Turkey)
Revolutionary Struggle, Επαναστατικός Αγώνας or Epanastatikos Agonas (EA)
Greece
The Salafist Group for Call and Combat (GSPC) (Algeria) (possibly connected
now with Al-Qaeda)
Sendero Luminoso, Shining Path (SL) (Peru)
page 8 of 9
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LIST OF TERRORIST
ORGANIZATIONS
Society of the Revival of Islamic Heritage, Jamiat Ihya at-Turaz al-Islami,
(RIHS) (a Non Governmental Organization in Kuwait was, possibly, infiltrated
by Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Embargoed by the U.S. and the
ONU. Banned in Russia) (Kuwait, Afghanistan, Pakistan)
Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) (possibly infiltrated by Al-Qaeda,
might operate now under the name Indian Mujahidin) (India)
Takfir wal-Hijra, Excommunication and Exodus (might operate in Spain
under the name Martyrs of Morocco) (Egypt, Morocco, Spain)
Taliban. (Students of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam) Leader of Taliban group Tehrik-iTalibani Pakistan, Baitullah Mehsud, killed August 5, 2009 in drone plane
attack in the Zangar area of South Waziristan.(*) (Afghanistan, Pakistan and
other countries)
Tandzim al-Qaedat Indonesia (Indonesia)
Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi, Movement for the Enforcement of
Islamic Law (TNSM) (banned in Pakistan in 2002) (Pakistan, Afghanistan)
Ulster Defence Association (UDA), Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF) (terminated
operations on November 11, 2007) (Ireland, U.K.)
United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) (India)
United Mujahidin Forces of the Caucasus, Congress of the Peoples of Ichkeria
and Dagestan (leader Shamil Basayev died July 10, 2006) (Chechnya)
United Wa State Army, (Myanmar-Burma, Thailand)
Vanguard of Conquest, VC, al Jihad, Egyptian Islamic Jihad (joined Al’Qaeda
in 2001) (Egypt)
(*)source: The Guardian, UK August 7, 2009
page 9 of 9
LIST OF TERRORIST ATTACKS
SINCE 2001
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Year Victims Attacks
2001
3221
26
2002
1184
81
2003
581
31
2004
1339 222
2005
419
38
2006
675
51
2007
801
91
2008
2241 226
2009(July) 781 137
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Attacks in Iraq only. Not included
in the other list
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2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
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25
140
478
297
442
257
76
NARCOTERRORISM
Khun Sa
Pablo Escobar
Drug money has financed terrorist activities in countries such as Colombia, Peru and
other South American countries and that the international drug trade generates
profits which help terrorists flourish in Afghanistan?
Source:
2009
NARCOTERRORISM
“Narcoterrorismo” (Narcoterrorism or Narco-Terrorism).
Term coined in 1983 by Fernando Belaúnde Terry,
President of Peru (1963-68 / 1980-1985) when describing
terror against his nation’s anti-narcotics police. The president
was referring to “Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path)” a
communist group conducting terrorist attacks against
the police and institutions in his country.
Fernando Belaúnde Terry (1912-2002)
NARCOTERRORISM
UNITED NATIONS
CONVENTION AGAINST ILLICIT
TRAFFIC IN NARCOTIC DRUGS
AND PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCES,
1988
See next page
NARCOTERRORISM
The
Parties to this Convention,
Deeply concerned by the magnitude of and rising trend
in the illicit production of, demand for and traffic in
narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, which pose
a serious threat to the health and welfare of human
beings and adversely affect the economic, cultural and
political foundations of society…,
Recognizing the links between illicit traffic and other
related organized criminal activities which undermine
the legitimate economies and threaten the stability,
security and sovereignty of States…
(page 10 of the:)
FINAL ACT OF THE UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE FOR THE ADOPTION OF A
CONVENTION AGAINST ILLICIT TRAFFIC IN NARCOTIC DRUGS AND PSYCHOTROPIC
SUBSTANCES
NARCOTERRORISM
International Narcotics Control Board
(INCB)
(1992)
5. Illicit cultivation of narcotic plants and illicit trafficking in
drugs continue to be a threat to the political, economic and social
stability of several countries. Links appear to exist between illicit
cultivation and drug trafficking and the activities of subversive
organizations in some countries in South America and south east
Asia, but similar connections have also been reported in other
regions in the world. Proceeds derived from offering “protection”
to illicit cultivators and from involvement in the illicit marketing
and distribution of the illicit products often constitute the main
financial basis of terrorist activities.”
NARCOTERRORISM
World Conference
on Human Rights
Vienna, Austria, 14-25 June, 1993
17. The acts, methods and practices of terrorism in all its
forms and manifestations as well as linkage in some
countries to drug trafficking are activities aimed at the
destruction of human rights, fundamental freedoms and
democracy, threatening territorial integrity, security of
States and destabilizing legitimately constituted
Governments. The international community should take
the necessary steps to enhance cooperation to prevent and
combat terrorism.
NARCOTERRORISM
Council of Europe Pompidou Group
2nd Pan-European Ministerial Conference
Strasbourg, 4 February, 1994
"considering the continuous increase in and
the spread of drug trafficking incidents, the
involvement of violent organizations in such
activities constitute a serious threat to the
contemporary society", and thus, "it is vital
for the security forces to combat terrorism
effectively" (Art.15)
NARCOTERRORISM
United Nations Declaration
49th Session of the General Assembly
2005
Underlines the concern of the international
community at the growing and dangerous
links between terrorist groups, drug
traffickers, and their paramilitary gangs
which have resorted to all types of violence,
thus endangering the constitutional order of
the States and violating basic human rights.
Definitions of
NARCOTERRORISM
In the original context, narcoterrorism is understood to mean that the narcotics
traffickers attempt to influence the policies of governments by the systematic threat or use
of violence.
Oxford Dictionary: Narcoterrorism:
Terrorism associated to the trade of illegal drugs. (1999)
U.S. criminologist Rachel Ehrenfeld: Narcoterrorism:
Use of drug trafficking to conduct the objectives of some governments and terrorist
organizations. (1990)
Rachel Ehrenfeld
Italian economist Loretta Napoleoni: Narcoterrorism:
Use of terror tactics by the narco-traffickers and drug lords to protect their illegal
businesses. It also describes the alliance between drug lords and armed
organizations. Both have interests in destabilizing governments and breaking
down the established social order. (2003)
Loretta Napoleoni
Definitions of
NARCOTERRORISM
C. Augustus (Gus) Martin, California State University Dominguez Hill:
Narcoterrorism:
Political violence committed by dissident drug traffickers who are primarily
concerned with protecting their criminal enterprise. (2003)
Combs & Slann (Encyclopedia of Terrorism): Narcoterrorism:
Narcoterrorism is the alliance between drug producers and an insurgent
group carrying out terrorist acts. (…) While the ultimate ends sought by
each group are usually different, the alliance offers them immediate
benefits. The members of these alliances – the coca growers, drug
traffickers, and terrorist groups – often share common goals. These
include, but are not limited to, the destabilization of the government, the
creation of discipline (for market purposes) among growers, and liberation
from the meddling of the police and military. Mutual needs make the
pursuit of these goals beneficial in some respects to all involved. (2003)
Definitions of
NARCOTERRORISM
Gregory J. Petrakis (+2008): Narcoterrorism:
…. the involvement of terrorist organizations and insurgent groups in the
trafficking of narcotics,…. there are three main variants of narcoterrorism.
These include:
1. Insurgents using the drug trade to support their political objectives;
2. States sponsoring ´drugs for arms´ and narcotics operations to further their
influence to create instability;
3. Dope dealers utilizing terrorist tactics like bombings, assassinations and
kidnappings to enhance their profits. (2001)
United States Drug Enforcement Administration. Asa Hutchinson, Administrator:
Narcoterrorism:
A subset of terrorism, in which terrorist groups, or associated individuals,
participate directly or indirectly in the cultivation, manufacture, transportation, or
distribution of controlled substances and the monies derived from these activities.
(…) Further, DEA uses the term to characterize the participation of groups or
associated individuals in taxing, providing security, or otherwise aiding or abetting
drug trafficking endeavours in an effort to further, or fund, terrorist activities. (2002)
Definitions of
NARCOTERRORISM
Rudolf Giuliani, former Mayor of New York:
The links between drugs and terrorism are substantial. The
link has been known to law enforcement for a long time, but
we didn't see it as Americans because we thought we were
immune to terrorism.
General Serrano
arrests Miguel
Rodriguez Orejuela
(Cali Cartel)
General Rosso Josè Serrano Cadena, former Chief of the Colombian
Police from 1994 to 2000:
Pablo Escobar Gaviria and the others used terror, yes, but as a mean to
intimidate the legimate Colombian government not to interfere with
their criminal activities”. Those were regular criminals without
ideologies, they only were delinquents following the myth of Al
Capone and were not looking for power, but only for space to conduct
their criminal activities. They were brutal and were not looking for
public approval in some revolutionary antisystem ideologies as it
happens now with the Taliban or FARC (Fuerzas Armadas
Revoluzionarias de Colombia).
Terrorists and Narcotics
The Nexus
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Some terrorist groups believe that they can weaken
their enemies by flooding their societies with
addictive drugs.
Terrorists gain a source of revenue and expertise in
illicit transfer and laundering of proceeds from illicit
transactions.
Drug traffickers benefit from the terrorists military
skills, weapons supply, and access to clandestine
organizations.
Traffickers and terrorists have similar logistical needs
in terms of material and the covert movement of
goods, people and money.
Terrorists and Narcotics
The Nexus
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The methods used for moving and laundering
money for general criminal purposes are
similar to those used to move money to
support terrorist activities.
Migrant smuggling, document fraud, arms
trafficking, auto theft, smuggling of
contraband, and illegal financial transactions
are tools for terrorists as well as narcotics
traffickers.
Five categories of
Narcoterrorism
1. Narcotics traffickers use terrorist tactics to further the organizations
narcotics enterprise. Avoid prosecution, hinder or prevent enforcement
activity, through intimidation of judges, prosecutors, police, and the
public.
-Pablo Escobar
(Colombia)
-Medellin/Cali/Norte del Valle Cartels (Colombia)
- Mexican Drug Cartels
(Mexico)
SENDERO LUMINOSO (Peru)
FARC Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia
ELN Ejército de Liberación Nacional, Colombia
AUC Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia
Five categories of
Narcoterrorism
2. Terrorist organization provides
protection for narcotics traffickers or
allows shipments to travel through
regions without interference for money
but is not involved in narcotics
trafficking.
-Al Qa’eda
-AUC
Five categories of
Narcoterrorism
3. Organization actively
involved in narcotics
trafficking and using
proceeds to fund terrorist
activities.
-FARC
-Sendero Luminoso
Five categories of
Narcoterrorism
Drug Trafficking Organization shares its
smuggling routes, money laundering
capabilities and other criminal enterprises
with terrorist organizations in exchange for
money/weapons.
But Lorenzo Fernando Da Costa
4.
exploits was in Colombia.
According to the Colombian
military, he hooked up with the
rebel Revolutionary Armed
Forces of Colombia, or FARC,
providing cash and weapons
smuggled from Suriname in
exchange for cocaine and
protection.
Souce: CNN May 27, 2001
Five categories of
Narcoterrorism
5. Governments and Terrorist Organizations who,
allegedly, flood their “enemy” with narcotics aimed at
the destabilization of the target government and the
undermining of its society.
Taliban
Asian
countries
-Colombia
-Cuba
World Narcoterrorism Countries
Содружество Независимых Государств СНГ
(CSI)
Ireland
United States
Mexico
Cuba
Panama
Venezuela
Colombia
Peru
Baltic Countries
Spain
China
Syria Afghanistan
Libya
Israel Pakistan
Lebanon
Iran
Egypt
Sri Lanka
Japan
Cocaine
Coca Plant
Cocaine HCL
Coca Cultivation Areas
Cocaine Trafficking Routes
ICELAND
FINLAND
NORWAY
RU SSIA
SWEDEN
EST.
UNITED
KINGDOM
LAT.
DENMARK
Atlantic
Ocean
CANADA
LITH.
BELARUS
POLAND
IRELAND
NETH.
BEL.
RUSSIA
GERMANY
CZECH
REPUBLIC
LUX .
AUS.
LIECHT.
FRANCE
PORTUGAL
UKRAINE
MOLDAVA
SLO.
MONGOLIA
K A Z A K H S TA N
ROMANIA
CROATIA
BOSNIA SERBIA
AND
HERZ.
BULGARIA
MONT.
ITALY
from Mexico to central U.S.
SLOVAK
REPUBLIC
HUNG.
SWITZ.
UNITED
S TAT E S
GEOR.
MACEDONIA
ALB.
SPAIN
ARM. AZER .
KYRGYSTAN
UZBEKISTAN
TURKEY
GREECE
TURKMENISTAN
N.
KOREA
TAJ.
c
S.
KOREA
SYRIA
TUNISIA
LEBANON
JAPAN
CHINA
AFGHANISTAN
IRAN
IRAQ
MOROCCO
t
JORDAN
ISRAEL
KUWAIT
ALGERIA
BAHRAIN
EGYPT
LIBYA
QATAR
MEXICO
WESTERN
SAHARA
CUBA
JAMAICA
EL SALVADOR
HONDURAS
PANAMA
VENEZUELA
SIERRA
LEONE
GUYANA
SURINAME
LIBERIA
TAIWAN
BURMA
Hong
Kong
VIETNAM
LAOS
THAILAND
SUDAN
ERITREA
Pacific
Ocean
YEMEN
CAMBODIA
BURKINA
GUINEA
DJIBOUTI
BENIN
COSTA RICA
from Colombia to the Far East
BHUTAN
BANGLADESH
PHILIPPINES
CHAD
NIGER
THE
GAMBIA
GUINEA-BISSAU
NEPAL
INDIA
MALI
SENEGAL
NICARAGUA
PAKISTAN
OMAN
PUERTO
RICO
HAITI
BELIZE
GUATEMALA
MAURITANIA
DOM.
REP.
U.A.E.
SAUDI
ARABIA
SOMALIA
IVORY
COAST GHANATOGO
NIGERIA
SRI
LANKA
ETHIOPIA
C.A.R.
BRUNEI
CAMEROON
FR.
GUIANA
i
COLOMBIA
GABON
ECUADOR
BRAZIL
M A L AY S I A
EQUATORIAL
GUINEA
UGANDA
REPUBLIC OF
THE CONGO
DEMOCRATIC
REPUBLIC OF
THE CONGO
RWANDA
SINGAPORE
KENYA
Indian
Ocean
BURUNDI
TANZANIA
INDONESIA
PAPUA
NEW
GUINEA
ANGOLA
PERU
ZAMBIA
BOLIVIA
MALAWI
MOZAMBIQUE
ZIMBABWE
Pacific
Ocean
MADAGASCAR
NAMIBIA
COCAINE
BOTSWANA
CHILE
PARAGUAY
AUSTRALIA
SWAZILAND
Atlantic
Ocean
ARGENTINA
URUGUAY
LESOTHO
SOUTH
AFRICA
Source Countries
NEW
ZEALAND
Source: DEA
Andean Potential Cocaine Production
1997 – 2008 (in metric tons)
1200
1000 875
925
825
1008 980 984 994
879
175 141
800
325 240
827
879
859
845 Totals
270 260 280 290
150 160 230
302
600
640 640 610 600
400 350 435 680 695 617
580 550
430
200
200 150
70 43 60 60 79 98 80 94 104 113
0
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Bolivia
Colombia
Source: UNODC World Drug Report 2009
Peru
NARCOTERRORISM
MAJOR COCAINE
TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATIONS

Pablo Escobar

Medellin Cartel
At the height of their power the Medellin Cartel was making over 60
million dollars per months for an estimated total of over 28 billion dollars.
Responsible for the murder of government officials and police officers
along with the killings of rival traffickers.

Cali Cartel
Colombian sources say that at the height of their power, the Cali Cartel was
responsible for 80% of the cocaine exported from Colombia to the U.S.
Responsible for the murder of government officials and police officers
along with the killings of rival traffickers.
NARCOTERRORISM
MAJOR COCAINE
TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATIONS
Norte del Valle Cartel
According to RICO, the U.S. Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt
Organizations Act, between 1990 and 2004, the Norte del Valle Cartel
exported from Colombia to the U.S. over 500 tons of cocaine valued at
over 10 billion dollars. Their fight against rival traffickers caused over
1000 deaths between 2003 and 2004 in the region of Valle del Cauca.

Mexican Cartels
Mexico, a major drug producing and transit country, is the main foreign
supplier of marijuana and a major supplier of methamphetamine to the
United States. Although Mexico accounts for only a small share of
worldwide heroin production, it supplies a large share of heroin consumed
in the United States. An estimated 90% of cocaine entering the United
States transits Mexico. In the actual drug wars in Mexico there have been
over 5000 deaths so far in 2009 (January-September).
NARCOTERRORISM
MAJOR COCAINE
TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATIONS


NDRANGHETA
Italian organized crime group originating from
Calabria, a region in the lower tip of Italy.
Pablo Escobar
The
most wealthy and ruthless of the
Colombian drug traffickers was Pablo
Emilio Escobar Gaviria.
Born in a suburb of Medellin
(Colombia) in 1949, in 1975 took the
position of Fabio Restrepo who was
murdered that year.
He became known for his way of
dealing “Plata o Plomo” (Silver or Lead)
indicating that he was willing to pay for
services or kill whoever he could not
buy.
Pablo Escobar

Escobar was, allegedly, behind the November 6, 1985 attack on
the Supreme Court, carried out by the “19th of April”
insurrectionist movement in which 12 of 25 Supreme Court
Justices were killed. (On July 11, 2008, Virginia Vallejo, former lover of
Pablo Escobar from 1983 to 1987 gave a statement at the Colombian
Consulate in Miami in which she said that Escobar told her he gave 1 million
dollar cash plus 1 million dollar in weapons and ammunitions to the
movement “19th of April” to attack the Supreme Court to steal files of the
cocaine traffickers to be extradited to the United States).

On November 27 1989 a bomb exploded on Avianca flight 203
from Bogota to Cali few minutes after take off killing all 107
passenger and crew plus 3 victims on the ground. The alleged
target was César Gaviria Trujillo, leading candidate in the
presidential election who was not on board.
Virginia Vallejo Garcia
author of the book:
Amando a Pablo, Odiando a Escobar
(Loving Pablo, Hating Escobar)
Random House, 2007
Pablo Escobar

Later accused for the bomb on the Avianca flight was
Dandeny Muñoz Mosquera, also known as "La Quica",
allegedly chief assassin for the Pablo Escobar’s
Medellin Cartel. Muñoz Mosquera was arrested in
Queens, New York while travelling with false passport
in 1991 and was eventually sentenced to 10 life
sentences plus 45 years, all to be served consecutively at
the Federal ADX Florence prison, the same were
Zacarias Moussaoui, the terrorist who admitted guilty
on the September 11, 2001 bombing in New York, is
incarcerated.
Pablo Escobar
On
December 6, 1989, a bomb on a bus which was
parked outside DAS Colombia's police intelligence
headquarters in Bogota, was detonated by remote
control. Over 70 people died and hundreds were
wounded, more than 300 commercial properties in the
area destroyed.
Had
over 500 Medellin police officers killed in 1990
paying $2,000.00 to $3,000.00 for each death.
Once arrested, afraid of being extradited to the United
States he escaped from prison and was eventually
killed in a gunfight with police on December 2, 1993.

Pablo Escobar
Medellin Cartel
Jorge Ochoa
Juan David Ochoa
Fabio Ochoa
Gonzalo Rodriguez Gacha
Barry Seal
George Jung
plus others
Carlos Lehder
Cali Cartel
Helmer Herrera Buitrago
“Pacho”
Gilberto Rodriguez-Orejuela
Victor Patiño-Fomeque
Jose Santacruz Londono
Miguel Rodriguez-Orejuela
plus others
Henry Loaiza-Ceballos
El Alacran (The Scorpion)
Norte del Valle Cartel
Diego Leon Montoya Sanchez
Carlos Alberto Rentería Mantilla
Luis Hertnando
Gomez-Bustamante
Wilber Alirio Varela Fajardo
Juan Carlos
Ramirez-Abadia
plus others
José Dagoberto Flores Ríos
Eugenio Montoya Sanchez
Mexico
Source: Map Resources
Congressional Research Service, Mexico’s Drug Cartels, updated February 25, 2008
Mexican Cartels
Source: U.S. Drug Enforcement Admnistration
Congressional Research Service, Mexico’s Drug Cartels, updated February 25, 2008
Mexican Cartels
After the disappearance of Colombia's Cali and Medellin, Mexican drug cartels or Drug Trafficking
Organizations, in existence sine the 1980’s, have become more powerful. Mexico, a major drug producing
and transit country, is the main foreign supplier of marijuana and a major supplier of methamphetamine to the
United States. Although Mexico accounts for only a small share of worldwide heroin production, it supplies a
large share of the heroin distributed in the United States. Drug cartels in Mexico control approximately 70%
of the foreign narcotics that flow into the United States. The State Department estimates that 90% of cocaine
entering the United States transits Mexico with Colombia being the main cocaine producer and that
wholesale of illicit drug sale earnings estimates range from $13.6 billion to $48.4 billion annually. Mexican
drug traffickers increasingly smuggle money back into Mexico in cars and trucks, likely due to the
effectiveness of U.S. efforts at monitoring electronic money transfers.
The violence of these cartels is recognizable by the number
of deaths, approximately 15.000 from December 2006 to
September 2009 of whom over 1.000 police and other
government officials such as prosecutors and hundreds of
civilians. Close to 45.000 cartel members are incarcerated.
close to 50.000 soldiers and 10.000 policemen are at war
against un undisclosed number of traffickers (close to
10.000). In addition the war of the cartels against themselves.
Red area are where most of the conflicts take places
Source: Congressional Research Service, Mexico’s Drug-Related Violence, May 27, 2009
Mexican Cartels
Sinaloa Federation and Cartel (Sinaloa)
By 2008, a federation dominated by the Sinaloa cartel (which included the Beltrán Leyva
Organization and the Carillo Fuentes or Juárez cartel) broke apart. The federation reportedly had
controlled a majority of the cocaine passing through Mexico to the United States. The Sinaloa
cartel itself remains strong and effective in smuggling cocaine from South America to the United
States, but it has lost control of territory in Mexico to its competitors as the result of the intercartel battles during 2008. It is headed by Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, probably the most
wanted drug smuggler in Mexico.
Gulf Cartel (Tamaulipas)
A year ago, the Gulf cartel was considered the most powerful DTO in Mexico, but it has been a
steady target of the government campaign and now it is “an open question…whether the cartel is
intact.”19 The cartel’s headquarters is the northeastern Mexican state of Tamaulipas. The
suspected leader of the cartel, Osiel Cardenas Guillen, was arrested in 2003. However, he was not
extradited to the United States until 2007. The Gulf cartel no longer controls Los Zetas, formerly
their paramilitary enforcement arm. The relationship today between the Gulf cartel and Los Zetas
remains unclear though it is likely they still cooperate.
Source: Congressional Research Service, Mexico’s Drug-Related Violence, May 27, 2009
Mexican Cartels
Beltrán Leyva Organization (Michoacan)
Until last year, this syndicate was a part of the Sinaloa federation. As part of the Sinaloa
federation, it controlled access to the U.S. border in Sonora state. It has become independent of
the Sinaloa federation and has grown to be one of the most powerful drug trafficking
organizations in Mexico, still controlling large areas of the country. It is believed to be
responsible for the May 2008, assassination of acting federal police director Edgar Millán Gomez
in Mexico City, and has gone after other high-ranking government officials. This organization has
quickly secured narcotics transport routes in the states of Sinaloa, Durango, Sonora, Jalisco,
Michoacan, Guerrero and Morelos. Their attempt to take territory from their former Sinaloa
partners reportedly unleashed a wave of violence.
Arrellano Felix Organization/Tijuana Cartel (Baja California)
This syndicate, once one of the two most powerful Drug Trafficking Organizations, was
weakened significantly in 2008 by both U.S. and Mexican law enforcement efforts to capture
their highest ranking leadership. The arrest of Eduardo “El Doctor” Arrellano Felix, in October
2008, the last of the Arrellano brothers to be captured or killed, was symbolic of its demise. This
cartel split into two groups whose conflict for dominance led to extensive violence in the Tijuana
area.
Source: Congressional Research Service, Mexico’s Drug-Related Violence, May 27, 2009
Mexican Cartels
Vicente Carillo Fuentes Organization/Juárez Cartel (Chihuahua)
This organization is based in Ciudad Juárez in Chihuahua state, across the border from El Paso, Texas. It
operates in much of northern Chihuahua state and part of Nuevo Leon and Sonora states. Over the past year
there has been an ongoing violent battle between Sinaloa (their former partner) and this cartel for control of
Juárez. The Juárez cartel has a longstanding alliance with the Beltrán Leyva Organization. Some analysts fear
that this once very powerful cartel will again grow in power after splitting from Sinaloa.
La Familia Michoacana (Michoacan)
Once a criminal group affiliated with the Sinaloa cartel and now described by the DEA as an “emergent
cartel,” is active in the struggle for control of drugs arriving from Colombia in the seaports of Michoacán,
Guerrero, Oaxaca and Chiapas states. La Familia was among three Drug Trafficking Organizations
designated as significant foreign narcotics traffickers under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act,
on April 15, 2009 by President Barack Obama in advance of his trip to Mexico to meet with President
Calderón.29 Four days after this designation, which imposes U.S. financial sanctions on group members, the
Mexican government arrested an entire party of suspected La Familia members at a christening hosted by
Rafael Cedeña Hernández, allegedly the number two in the gang. During October 2009, U.S. DEA and FBI
arrested over 300 members of the Familia in the United States. (source: DEA October 22, 2009)
Source: Congressional Research Service, Mexico’s Drug-Related Violence, May 27, 2009
Mexican Cartels
Los Zetas
This group of former military counternarcotics commandos, known for its violence and
effective use of tactics and weaponry, has grown in power even though it lost Daniel
Perez Rojas. He was arrested in Guatemala this past year and was allegedly the leader
of the group’s activities in Central America. Los Zetas, since their split with the Gulf
cartel, have contracted themselves to a variety of drug trafficking organizations
throughout the country, notably the Beltrán Leyva Organization. The Zetas who formed
as fearsome enforcers for the Gulf cartel have gained power under suspected Zeta
leader Heriberto Lazcano. In 2009, U.S. authorities have come to believe this
organization may be operating as an independent Drug Trafficking Organizations. Los
Zetas quickly established a reputation as one of the most violent enforcer gangs with
military-level expertise in intelligence, weaponry and operational tactics. Some argue
that the escalation in violence in 2007 and 2008 can be traced in part to them.
Source: Congressional Research Service, Mexico’s Drug-Related Violence, May 27, 2009
NDRANGHETA
The most powerful and wealthy Italian organized crime group. It originates from
Calabria, the lower tip of Italy, mostly in the province of Reggio Calabria.
Today this group is the most dangerous and active in the drug trafficking specializing in
cocaine. It is estimated that since the early 1990’s the Ndrangheta imported from South
America tons and tons of cocaine. From 1991 trough 1994 they had already imported 11
tons of cocaine, 5.4 tons of which were seized in northern Italy in 1994. The
Ndrangheta had dealing with Colombian guerrilla groups such as the AUC
(Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia) whose leader Salvatore Mancuso Gomez, son of
an Italian emigrant to Colombia, was arrested in 2007 and extradited to the United
States during May 2008, along with other 13 guerilla associates.
According to Eurispes 2008, Ndrangheta has a business turnover of 44 billions Euro.
Salvatore Mancuso Gomez
Source: Open Sources
DEA
Italian Direzione Centrale per i Servizi Antidroga
HEROIN
Brown Heroin
White Heroin
Heroin Source Areas
MEXICO
AFGHANISTAN
PAKISTAN
BURMA
LAOS
COLOMBIA
THAILAND
The Threat from Illegal Drugs
International Heroin Trafficking Flows
Mexico
Guatemala
Colombia
Iran
Lebanon
Pakistan
Afghanistan
Burma
Laos
Thailand
Heroin Movement from Afghanistan
K.K.T.C.
•NORTHERN BLACK SEA ROUTE
•BALKAN ROUTE
•EAST MEDITERRANEAN ROUTE
Source: Turkish Police 2008
Estimated Worldwide Opium Production
1997 – 2008 (in metric tons)
9000
8847
8178
8000
7000
6000
5000
6610
5764
4823
4346
Totals
4692
4520 4783 4850 4620
4000
3000
2000
1630
1000
0
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
2008 estimates are a total for Afghanistan, Pakistan, Lao, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam
and Colombia. Estimates for Mexico and smaller production countries not available.
Source: UNODC World Drug Report 2009
COMPARING OPIUM PRODUCTION BETWEEN
AFGHANISTAN AND REST OF THE WORLD
Year
OPIUM
PRODUCTION IN
AFGHANISTAN
(TONS)
GLOBAL
OPIUM
PRODUCTION
(TONS)
PERCENTAGE OF
PRODUCTION IN
AFGHANISTAN
1998
2,693
4,346
62%
1999
4,565
5,764
79%
2000
3,276
4,691
70%
2001
185
1,596
12%
2002
3,400
4,491
76%
2003
3,600
4,765
76%
2004
4,200
4,850
87%
2005
4,100
4,620
89%
2006
6,100
6,610
92%
2007
8,200
8,847
93%
Source: UNODC
Source: UNODC World Drug Report 2008
Estimated Worldwide Heroin Production
1997 – 2008 (in metric tons)
900
880
815
800
700
600
500
660
576
482
435
Totals
469
452 478 485 462
400
300
200
163
100
0
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
2008 estimates are a total for Afghanistan, Pakistan, Lao, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam
and Colombia. Estimates for Mexico and smaller production countries not available.
Source: UNODC World Drug Report 2009
NARCOTERRORISM
MAJOR HEROIN
TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATIONS

Khun Sa
Chang Chi-fu (traditional Chinese: 張奇夫. Thai Name : Chan Jangtrakul (Thai : นายจันทร์ จาง
ตระกูล), more commonly known by the nom de guerre of Khun Sa, was a warlord from Burma.
He was also dubbed the "Opium King" due to his opium trading in the so-called Golden
Triangle (350,000 square kilometres that overlaps the mountains of four countries of
Southeast Asia: Myanmar (Burma), Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand) . He was the leader of the
Shan United Army.

Le Milieu French-Corsican. The French Connection.
In partnership with the Italian Mafia, the Milieu, whose leaders for drug trafficking were
François Spirito and Antoine Guérini associated with Brasilian Auguste Ricord, the Corsicans
Paul Mondoloni and Lucian Sarti and others, was trafficking heroin from France to the United
States.


Mafia (Italy). The Pizza Connection.
When the French Connection was disbanded from police authorities, Italian Mafia
took over the heroin trafficking from Southeast Asia to Italy and the United States.
Taliban (Afghanistan-Pakistan)
Afghan and U.S. officials believe that taliban insurgents and regional groups associated with
Al Qaeda continue to profit from Afghanistan’s burgeoning narcotics trade. Officials also
suspect that drug profits provide some Al Qaeda operatives with financial and logistical
support. U.S. officials believe that financial and logistical relationships between narcotics
traffickers, terrorists, and criminal groups pose threats to the security of Afghanistan and
the wider international community. (source: International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs)
HEROIN



Khun Sa
Until January 1996, Khun Sa also known by his
Chinese name of Chang Chi Fuwas, the head of
the Shan United Army (SUA), was the leading
heroin trafficking group in the Golden Triangle,
which comprises the countries of Burma,
Thailand, and Laos. In 1989 a court in New York
accused him to have attempted to introduce 1000
kilograms of heroin to the USA.
Khun Sa and his family have been active in the
opium trade for many years. In 1960, the
Burmese government organized a self defense
force under Khun Sa to defend itself against
ethnic Shan resistance groups in the Shan State.
To support his self defense force, Khun Sa
transported opium for some of the major
traffickers. By January 1969, Khun Sa emerged as
one of the most powerful ethnic Chinese self
defense force leaders in Upper Burma.
Source: Open Sources
Drug Enforcement Administration
HEROIN


After arrest and subsequent release by Burmese authorities,
Khun Sa took up residence in Thailand. A Thai sweep
operation against his Shan United Army headquarters forced
Khun Sa to relocate most of his headquarters to Burma. Khun
Sa eventually built an army from a few thousand men to an
estimated 20,000 well-equipped and well trained troops. With
this army, Khun Sa became the most significant heroin
trafficker in the Golden Triangle and the world.
Beginning in 1994, however, three major developments
combined against Khun Sa. First, the Thai Government closed
their border against him, thus depriving the SUA of valuable
goods and services; second, the DEA, working with the Royal
Thai Government, arrested 13 of Khun Sa's top lieutenants in
"Operation Tiger Trap," thus depriving the SUA of cash from
heroin trafficking; and third, the Burmese Army stepped up
military operations against him, thus depriving the SUA of
needed military hardware.
Source: Open Sources
Drug Enforcement Administration
HEROIN



With their heroin-trafficking empire disabled, the Shan United Army surrendered to the
Burmese Army in December 1995, and Khun Sa stepped down from its leadership. After the
surrender, Khun Sa relocated to Rangoon, and is reportedly involved in a number of business
deals with the Burmese Government and the Burmese business community.
Khun Sa died in Rangoon October 29, 2007.
But during March 2009, Peerayuth Phetsakol, Charn-narong Muser also known as
Kasemthat, and Vicharn Suthiphan were arrested in Chiang Mai, Thailand on charges of
heroin trafficking and found in possession of some rifles and U.S. $ 3.4 million in cash.
According to a statement from the Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation, their
office was urged by Drug Enforcement Administration in Thailand to investigate a drug and
money laundering network.
The group has a drug production factory in Burma near Thailand’s
border, where it produces heroin and methamphetamine.
The factory is guarded by UWSA (United Wa State Army).
The drugs were smuggled in for sale in Thailand, China, Lao,
Cambodia Vietnam and later sent to Philippines, Canada and USA.
The group is related to the late Khun Sa.
Source: Open Sources
Drug Enforcement Administration
HEROIN

French Connection
The heroin trafficking of the Milieu originated in 1937 and the so-called French Connection is
only a chapter of the history. After years of fighting the traffic, in 1971 the Turkish government
agreed to a complete ban on the growing of Opium, effective from June 29, 1972 thus stopping
the flow of opium to the French laboratories in Marseille. In the same period the United States
Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (BNDD), predecessor of the U.S. DEA, had major
roundups and BNDD agents with French authorities seized 50 kg of heroin at the Paris airport.
Subsequently, traffickers Jean-Baptiste Croce and Joseph Mari were arrested in Marseilles.
Another seizure by French authorities netted 95 kg of heroin worth $38 million (1973).
In February 1972, French traffickers offered a U.S. Army sergeant $96,000 to smuggle 109 kg of
heroin into the United States. He informed his superior who in turn notified the BNDD. As a
result of this investigation, five men in New York and two in Paris were arrested with 120 kg of
heroin, which had a street value of $50 million. In a 14-month period, starting in February 1972,
six major illicit heroin laboratories were seized and dismantled in the suburbs of Marseilles by
French national narcotics police in collaboration with U.S. drug agents. On February 29, 1972,
French authorities seized the shrimp boat, Caprice des Temps, as it put to sea near Marseilles
heading towards Miami, it was carrying 415 kg of heroin.
Additional success of the police authorities finally terminated the trafficking operation. The
French Connection investigation demonstrated that international trafficking networks were best
disabled by the combined efforts of drug enforcement agencies from multiple countries. In this
case, agents from the United States, Canada, Italy and France had worked together to achieve
success. (source: Open Sources)
HEROIN

Pizza Connection
When the heroin trafficking of the French Connection stopped around 1973-1974 with the disbanding of
the organization, the Italian Mafia started its own laboratories in Sicily for the production of heroin to
send to the United States. The opium was coming from the Golden Triangle thanks to Khun Sa and other
suppliers. In addition the murder of Carmine Galante, a New York based Mafia boss in 1979 and who did
not want to share the drug trafficking market with other Mafia groups, left the road open to the Sicilians
and production started.
Several U.S. police agencies were seizing heroin and were working investigations without talking to each
other until the request of the subscriber for one telephone number in Philadelphia brought together the FBI
in New York working with the New York Police Department and the DEA in Philadelphia.
The result was the Pizza Connection from the location were the heroin transactions were made, in pizza
shops along the U.S. East Coast.
Furthermore the assistance of Tommaso Buscetta and Salvatore Contorno, Mafia bosses who started to
cooperate with authorities helped to bring to trial 32 mafia members and associates who were indicted in
the case. Gaetano Badalamenti, a major player in the Mafia drug trafficking organization, was arrested in
Spain and extradited to New York for the trial where he was sentenced to 45 years in prison and died
incarcerated in 2004.
The war between the Mafia groups in Sicily and the success of the authorities eventually ended the heroin
trafficking between Italy and the United States. This war also claimed, in the years 1980-1984, thousand
of victims including magistrates and police officers. The war of the Mafia against the Institutions claimed
also the life of Judges Giovanni Falcone (May 23, 1992) and Paolo Borsellino (July 19, 1992).
(source: Open Sources)
HEROIN

Taliban
The Taliban (Pashto: ‫ طالبان‬ṭālibān, meaning "students") (students of Jamiat
Ulema-e-Islam), also known as Taleban, is a Sunny Islamist, predominantly
ethnic Pashtun radical religious. After the collapse of the Democratic
Republic of Afghanistan in 1992 (born after the retreat of the Soviet Army
in 1989), supported by the URSS, Afghanistan found itself in a civil war
among the various fighters of Islamic resistance (mujaheddin) each fighting
its own Jihad (fight). The Taliban were mostly Madrasah (public schools)
teachers and Afghan refugees who had studied in Islamic schools in
Pakistan, some were former military. With training, supplies and arms
received from the Pakistani government, particularly the Pakistani InterServices Intelligence (ISI) and headed by Mullah Mohammed Omar, they
waged a guerrilla war against the other groups and eventually were able to
enter Kabul in 1996 and taking control of Afghanistan until 2001 when the
U.S. lead coalition entered Afghanistan. The Taliban used, at the beginning,
drug trafficking revenues until the year 2000 when they banned opium
production in Afghanistan. The production of opium returned, increasing,
to normal after 2001. Since the Taliban’s return to illegality the drug
trafficking has become their major revenue.
(source: Open Sources)
HEROIN

Taliban and Al Qaeda

Taliban are making more money today with narco-traffic that when they were in
power in Afghanistan.

Ten years ago the Taliban were receiving $75-100 million per year by taxing the
opium cultivation and that was the only way they could obtain dollars. Today the
Taliban obtain approximately $125 million yearly by taxing the cultivation and
commerce of opium plus they obtain money from the laboratories which are
refining opium into heroin and from the importation of precursor chemicals
necessary to the laboratories. Furthermore, Taliban and groups connected to AlQaeda are obtaining money from the opium products market in Pakistan (a market
which is valued at approximately $1billion).

The involvement of the Taliban in the drug trafficking allow them to finance a war
machine always more complex and geographically expanded. Narco-cartels are
now growing in Afghanistan and nearby countries.
Source: UNODC Vienna, October 21, 2009
Statement by Antonio Maria Costa
Executive Director
DRUGS AND TERRORISM
A GLOBAL THREAT
Al-Qaeda

(source: Open Sources)
DRUGS AND TERRORISM
A GLOBAL THREAT

Al-Qaeda

Al-Qā‘eda (‫القاعدة‬, al-qā‘ida /more proper), "the base". In an interview
given by Osama bin Laden to Al Jazeera journalist Tayseer Alouni in 2001
said that the name “Al-Qaeda” was established a long time ago when the
late Abu Ubaidah al-Banshiri (Egyptian born policeman, whose brother
participated in the assassination of Egyptian president Anwar El Sadat, left
Egypt to join anti-Soviet efforts in Afghanistan where Osama bin Laden
made him Commander of the Afghan Arabs. Died in a boat accident in
Lake Victoria in 1996) established the training camps for the mujahedeen
against Russia's terrorism. They used to call the training camp Al-Qaeda.
The name stayed.

Other opinions are available for the name, one given by U.K. newspaper
The Guardian in an interview with former Foreign Minister Robin Cook
says that Cook believed that the name Al-Qaeda meant “data-base” and it
was a data-base of the U.S. government with the names of thousands of
mujahedeen enrolled by CIA to fight against the Soviet troop in
Afghanistan.
(source: Open Sources)
DRUGS AND TERRORISM
A GLOBAL THREAT

Al-Qaeda

Al-Qaeda was not funded by Bin Laden himself but was
supported by fundraising from various Islamic charities in the
Gulf region, mostly from Saudi Arabia who stopped financing
in 1993, as well as "financial facilitators who gathered money
from both witting and unwitting donors”.

At the time of the 9/11 attacks, Al Qaeda operated with $30
million per year, including $20 million that annually went to
support the Taliban. Funds were also used for training camps
in Afghanistan, to create terrorist networks and alliances, and
support the jihadists and their families. A relatively small
amount of money went to finance operations, including the
9/11 attacks.
(source: Open Sources)
DRUGS AND TERRORISM
A GLOBAL THREAT

Al-Qaeda

The U.S. Commission Report on the September 11,
2001 attacks to the Twin Towers in New York,
Pentagon in Washington and the Pennsylvania
crash, stated that it might have cost Al-Qaeda
between $400,000 and $500,000 to execute them
considering that the operatives spent more than
$270,000 in the United States. And they say that, at
the time of publication (2004) they did not see any
connection with drugs, although the could not
identify where the money was coming from:
(see next page)
DRUGS AND TERRORISM
A GLOBAL THREAT
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“ …we have not been able to determine the origin of
the money used for the 9/11 attacks. Al Qaeda had
many sources of funding and a pre 9/11 annual
budget of $30 million. If a particular source of funds
had dried up, Al Qaeda could easily have found
enough money elsewhere to fund the attack…“.
Allegations that Al Qaeda used a variety of
illegitimate means to finance itself, both before and
after 9/11, continue to surface. The most common
involve the drug trade, conflict diamonds, and state
support; none can be confirmed…
(Source: The 9/11 Commission Report, Executive Summary, page 14)
DRUGS AND TERRORISM
A GLOBAL THREAT

“ …After reviewing the relevant intelligence on Al Qaeda’s involvement in
drug trafficking and interviewing the leading authorities on the subject, we
have seen no substantial evidence that Al Qaeda played a major role in the
drug trade or relied on it as an important source of revenue either before or
after 9/11. While the drug trade was an important source of income for the
Taliban before 9/11, it did not serve the same purpose for Al Qaeda.
Although there is some fragmentary reporting alleging that Bin Laden may
have been an investor, or even had an operational role, in drug trafficking
before 9/11, this intelligence cannot be substantiated and the sourcing is
probably suspect. One intelligence analyst described the reporting as
“bizarre.” Bin Laden may, however, have encouraged drug traffickers to
sell to Westerners as part of his overall plan to weaken the West (though
much of that intelligence is also suspect)”…
Source:
National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, Chapter 2.
Terrorist Financing Staff Monograph, 2004
DRUGS AND TERRORISM
A GLOBAL THREAT
Arabian Gulf (Dec. 16, 2003) – A U.S. Navy boarding team
operation from the guided missile destroyer USS Decatur
(DDG 73) discovered an estimated two tons of narcotics with a
street value of around eight to ten million dollars aboard a 40foot dhow intercepted in the Arabian Gulf. The dhow’s 12
crewmembers were taken into custody and transferred to USS
Decatur, and Decatur sailors are in control of the dhow. The
smuggling routes are known to be used by Al-Qaeda and three
of the 12-crew members are believed to have links to the
organization.
U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class Michael Sandberg.
(RELEASED)
Source: Navy.Mil
Official Website of the United States Navy
December 16, 2003
DRUGS AND TERRORISM
A GLOBAL THREAT
A report from the US Department of State by the title:
Afghanistan: Narcotics and U.S. Policy
“Narco-Terrorism”:
Afghan and U.S. officials believe that Taliban insurgents and
regional groups associated with Al Qaeda continue to profit from
Afghanistan’s burgeoning narcotics trade. Officials also suspect that
drug profits provide some Al Qaeda operatives with financial and
logistical support. U.S. officials believe that financial and logistical
relationships between narcotics traffickers, terrorists, and criminal
groups pose threats to the security of Afghanistan and the wider
international community.
page 12
Source: Department of State
International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs 2005
Updated January 25, 2006
DRUGS AND TERRORISM
A GLOBAL THREAT
A new book published in 2009:
 SEEDS OF TERROR
 HOW HEROIN IS
BANKROLLING THE TALIBAN
AND AL-QAEDA

See next page
DRUGS AND TERRORISM
A GLOBAL THREAT
“This isn’t a fanciful conspiracy theory. Seeds
of Terror is based on hundreds of interviews
with Taliban fighters, smugglers and law
enforcement and intelligence agencies. Their
information is matched by intelligence reports
shown to the author by frustrated U.S. officials
who fear the next 9/11 will be far deadlier than
the first-and paid for with drug profits.”
 Seeds of Terror makes the case that we must
cut terrorists off their drug earnings if we ever
hope to beat them.
(quote from the dust jacket)
Seeds of Terror
by Gretchen Peters
Thomas Dunne Books
St. Martin’s Press
New York
May 2009
NARCOTERRORISM
The same illegal drug production funds that
attack civilized society also destabilize
democracies across the globe. Illegal drug
production undermines worldwide’s culture; it
funds terror; and it erodes democracy. And they
all represent a clear and present danger to our
security.
Asa Hutchinson, Director, Drug Enforcement Administration
Heritage Foundation: Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for International Studies
Washington, DC, April 2, 2002
GLOBAL
COOPERATION
IS THE KEY