State Department - Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL)

Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) 

Assistant Secretary: William Brownfield Located within the Under Secretary for Political Affairs for the US Department of State, the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) is charged with combating the worldwide drug trade and other major crimes through programs involving other federal agencies and national governments. Anti-drug operations represent the dominant mission of the bureau. However, its mission has expanded since its founding, encompassing initiatives for strengthening criminal justice systems, rule of law, and justice sector institutional development. 

Established: 1968 

Website: http://www.state.gov/j/inl/ 

Development Objectives and Goals 

• Preventing the Production, Trafficking, and Abuse of Illicit Drugs

 INL programs focus on building interdiction capabilities, eradication, sustainable alternative development, and demand reduction. Further, they include strengthening the ability of law enforcement and judicial authorities in both source and transit countries to investigate and prosecute major drug trafficking organizations and their leaders, and to seize and block their assets. 

• Combating Criminal Elements

INL programs focus on the full spectrum of law enforcement, rule of law, and justice sector institutional development. The Bureau leads U.S. delegations that negotiate UN crime-related conventions, works with international organizations to develop international standards to stop terrorist financing and money laundering, and provides technical assistance and training to help key countries implement these standards. INL also provides technical assistance and training to foreign partners in the fight to prevent alien smuggling and enhance border security, while other INL-led initiatives help protect the U.S. and global economies against cybercrime and intellectual property piracy. Regional Programs: • The Central Asia Counternarcotics Initiative (CACI): The Central Asia Counternarcotics Initiative (CACI) is designed to improve the ability of Central Asian countries to disrupt drug trafficking originating from Afghanistan and dismantle related criminal organizations through effective investigation, prosecution and conviction of mid to high level traffickers. CACI will focus on regional cooperation and help establish counter-narcotics task forces that will serve as a preliminary step for further reform, facilitate increased information sharing, and form a foundation for further institutional capacity building. The Department of State has allocated $4.2 million to support counternarcotics agencies in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. 

 • Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership (TSCTP)

This multi-year strategy aims at defeating terrorist organizations by strengthening regional counterterrorism capabilities, enhancing and institutionalizing cooperation among security forces in the region. The program support civilian law enforcement and border security organizations improving their capacity to prevent and to respond to terrorist events through training, technical assistance and equipment support. The program includes also training and technical assistance to build criminal justice system capacity to prosecute and incarcerate terrorists. 

• East Asia and Pacific Regional Initiative

The strategy for the region aims at facilitating cooperation among law enforcement agencies in Southeast Asia to help them address cross-border crime, as well as to enhance the security and stability of the ASEAN sub-region and EAP region more broadly. The INL is also involved in initiatives to disrupt and suppress the movement of illicit goods throughout Southeast Asia, including narcotics and other contraband, some of which is ultimately destined for the United States. Funds are also allocated for projects to combat corruption within and among law enforcement agencies.

• Central America Regional Security Initiative (CARSI) 

 U.S. partnership developed with Central American countries focus on the effects of gangs, narcotics and arms trafficking, and organized crime on citizen safety. CARSI initiative provides funding in a range of areas, including direct law enforcement cooperation, assistance for capacity, and prevention programs to face the root causes of crime and violence. The program is developed on three phases to address the immediate need to combat the criminal organizations and associated violence; the medium term requirement to augment the capabilities of civilian law enforcement and security entities; and the long-term necessity of strengthening judicial and other state institutions to resist corruption and improve the administration of justice. The Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) The initiative addresses the increasing crime and violence, largely driven by drug and other illicit trafficking, that affects the safety of both U.S. and Caribbean citizens. CBSI supports CARICOM’s “Organized Crime Strategy” through projects to reduce illicit trafficking, advance public safety and security; and promote social justice. 

Main Country Programs:

 • Sudan ($53.9 million): Funding will support implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and assist programs that contribute toward stabilizing Darfur. Funds will provide technical assistance and training for Southern Sudan’s criminal justice sector and law enforcement institutions, as well as contribute toward UN civilian police and formed police units in Southern Sudan and Darfur. 

• Liberia ($17.0 million): Assistance will continue to fund a civilian police contribution to UNMIL and increase support to critical bilateral police and justice reform projects. Advisors and material assistance such as infrastructure support, communications equipment, and legal supplies will be provided to the police, the judiciary, the corrections system, and the justice ministry throughout the country.

 • Iraq ($314.6 million): The Bureau is supporting the Department of State to assume full responsibility for the Iraqi police development program at the beginning of 2012, currently managed by the Department of Defense. Funds will support start-up requirements such as facilities upgrades, security infrastructure, and procurement of aircraft, as well as costs associated with recruiting; hiring; training; deploying; and supporting key program, support, and security personnel. Funds will also contribute to programs that continue to build the capacity of the criminal justice sector. This critical assistance will continue training, advice, and technical assistance to the Iraqi courts and judiciary; support the development of the Iraqi Corrections Service (ICS) as a professional corrections service; and transition prison operations to full ICS control. Funds will also develop programs designed to reduce the demand for narcotics and other harmful substances in Iraq through targeted, culturally appropriate initiatives. 

• West Bank/Gaza ($150.0 million): Funding will support efforts to reform the security sector by training and equipping Palestinian Authority Security Forces and by providing the Ministry of Interior with technical assistance and program support to improve its ability to manage the security forces. Additional training, equipment, and technical assistance will be provided for the justice and corrections sectors to ensure their development keeps pace with the increased performance of the security forces. 

• Afghanistan ($450.0 million): All funding requested is in direct support of the Administration’s top national security priorities in Afghanistan. Funding will focus on accelerating and expanding efforts in the justice sector by increasing direct assistance to select Afghan ministries; broadening support and engagement at the provincial and district levels to enhance the visibility, effectiveness, and accountability of the institutions; and providing economic opportunities that increase stability while reducing the strength of the insurgency. Justice and rule of law programs will focus on expanding regional efforts to incorporate more trainees and reaching more prosecutors; creating alternative dispute resolution mechanisms; and developing more responsive, visible, and accountable institutions in Kabul and at the provincial, district, and local level. An increase in the number of civilian technical advisers will increase the availability of training in the regional centers and in Kabul, and emphasize Afghan efforts to reduce corruption. Other initiatives will include partnering with the Ministry of Justice and the Attorney General’s Office to raise the profile of justice efforts among the Afghan district and village level constituents, and building and improving corrections institutions, to be supported by a model prisons initiative. Continued focus on counternarcotics efforts will reduce the drug trade by interdicting drug traffickers and disrupting their networks. Programs such as the Good Performers Initiative will complement the agriculture redevelopment strategy to drain the income of the insurgency from the narcotics trade. Drug demand reduction efforts will increase the number of rehabilitation, treatment, and outreach efforts aimed at directly benefitting Afghans; and public information efforts will focus on improving access to mobile phones, radio, and television.

 • Pakistan ($140.0 million): In support of the Administration’s top national security priorities, funding will expand civilian law enforcement assistance throughout Pakistan and support an expanded border security aviation fleet. This critical support will provide training, equipment, infrastructure, and aviation assistance to civilian law enforcement and border security agencies that are responsible for maintaining peace and security following military operations. Funds will also continue current border security, law enforcement, and judicial system reform; and counternarcotics programs.

• Mexico ($292.0 million): In moving beyond the initial Mérida Initiative commitment, the United States and Mexican Governments will focus on four pillars of cooperation: disrupting and dismantling criminal organizations, institutionalizing the rule of law, building a 21st Century border, and building strong and resilient communities. In implementing this new program, support will shift from providing aircraft, equipment, and other high-cost items to institutional development, training, and technical assistance. Federal level programs will support the four pillars by providing assistance to criminal justice sector institutions, including law enforcement, prosecutorial and judicial institutions, and corrections institutions.  

• Colombia ($204.0 million): Funding will continue to improve the interdiction and eradication of illegal drugs before traversing Mexico and Central America and entering the United States in order to assist the Government of Colombia to consolidate and advance the security and counternarcotics progress achieved under Plan Colombia. U.S. assistance in 2011 will help improve Colombia’s judicial institutions, including enhancing the protection of human rights and developing local capacity to address sensitive criminal cases. 

 • Peru ($37.0 million): Funding will be used to support efforts by the Peruvian Government to eliminate the illicit drug industry, which includes extending state presence in the Apurimac and Ene River Valleys in order to oppose drug traffickers aligned with the Shining Path terrorist group. The program will intensify interdiction and eradication operations, increase precursor chemical seizures, improve controls at ports and airports, modernize and refurbish police stations and bases, and maintain and replace communications equipment and vehicles.

 • Bolivia ($20.0 million): To counter increased production of cocaine in Bolivia due to expansion of coca cultivation, funding will shift assistance to interdiction, including training for police, while continuing to support the Bolivian Government’s eradication program to avoid unchecked cultivation. Funding will continue extensive training programs for counternarcotics and other police, and will highlight public diplomacy efforts that focus on the damage caused to Bolivian society by drug trafficking and consumption. 

• Haiti ($19.4 million): On January 12, 2010 an immense earthquake struck Haiti with devastating impact, creating unforeseen program and resource needs. The Administration is evaluating current and future needs in Haiti in the aftermath of this disaster. Prior to the earthquake, funds in the FY 2011 request were intended to support the UN stabilization mission (MINUSTAH) efforts to transform the Haitian National Police (HNP) into a law enforcement institution capable of providing security for Haitians and enforcing the rule of law; rebuild operational capacity of the HNP with infrastructure improvements and specialized equipment and training; and support bilateral counterdrug programs.