Transnational Crime
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The Annual Threat Assessment from the U.S. Director of National Intelligence, released on February 5, 2024, warns that “transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) threaten U.S. and allied public health systems, exploit the international financial system, and degrade the safety and security of the United States and partner nations.” TCOs incite instability and violence, drive migration, and provide some U.S. adversaries with additional avenues to advance their geopolitical interests.”
The following year, the 2025 Annual Threat Assessment warned:
Profit-motivated transnational criminals are using corruption, intimidation, and enabling technologies to expand their illegal activities into new markets and to diversify their sources of income, which increase their resiliency to U.S. and international law enforcement and financial regulatory efforts. TCOs are defrauding U.S. citizens, businesses, and government programs, while laundering billions of dollars of illicit proceeds through U.S. and international financial institutions. TCOs sometimes outsource money laundering operations and investments to individuals and networks with legal and banking expertise to circumvent financial regulations.
TCOs and their financial facilitators use a myriad of methods to launder and repatriate illicit proceeds and to evade law enforcement and regulatory pressures. Some TCOs use digital currencies for money laundering and sanctions evasion activities because of its perceived anonymity and weaker international regulations compared to fiat currencies.
Financially motivated cyber criminals continue to prey on inadequately defended U.S. targets, such as healthcare systems and municipal governments, that could have broad impact on the U.S. populace and economy. Others have conducted attacks on critical infrastructure, disrupting utility company business networks or manipulating poorly secured control systems.
Ransomware actors in mid-2024 attacked the largest payment processor for U.S. healthcare transactions, hampering prescriptions and causing extended delays in accessing electronic health records, patient communications, and medication ordering systems, and forcing some ambulances to divert patients to other hospitals.
U.S. water infrastructure has become a more common target. In October 2024, criminal actors conducted cyber-attacks against both large and small water utilities in the United States, possibly inspired by attacks against water infrastructure by Russian hacktivists and Iranian cyber actors in 2023 that had little effect but drew substantial publicity.
Foreign and U.S.-based human traffickers exploit vulnerable individuals and groups by promising well-paying jobs, confiscating identification documents, coercing victims to engage in risky behaviors and to work in inhumane conditions. TCOs that engage in human trafficking may also engage in other criminal activity threatening the United States, including fraud scams, drug trafficking, and weapons and human smuggling.
Criminal actors, including Mexico-based TCOs, exploit migrants transiting the Western Hemisphere to the United States through kidnapping for ransom, forced labor, and sex trafficking operations. For example, some victims are forced to repay their smuggling fees through debt bondage once they arrive in the United States. These migrants are typically forced to become domestic servants, to work in the fishing, agriculture, and meat processing industries for low wages, or to work in illegal marijuana grow houses.
1787's Solutions
Improve and reinforce bilateral partnerships between Mexican and U.S. law enforcement agencies.
Fortify the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). Establish more effective ways to measure the agency’s long-term impact and ensure there is proper oversight of its programs in foreign countries.
Disrupt transnational crime and enforce strong criminal penalties against transnational criminal networks.
Help foreign governments build effective law enforcement institutions that counter transnational crime.
Combat corruption by helping governments and civil society build transparent and accountable public institutions.
Establish and implement international treaties for combating crime and provide tools for legal cooperation in criminal cases among countries.
Work with international partners to develop effective approaches to border and maritime security.
Disrupt and dismantle human trafficking networks before migrants reach the United States.
Support the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA).
Work with Canada to increase joint law enforcement efforts and fortify cross-border security operations.