The Subcommittee on Terrorism and Illicit Finance spearheaded a recent meeting designed to address transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and their relationship to terrorists, the international economy and national defense.
“Transnational criminal organizations operate on a global scale, crossing international boundaries to further their pursuit of power, influence, and profits,” Rep. Steve Pearce (R-NM), the subcommittee’s chairman, said. “TCO’s are able to access global supply chains across the land, sea, air and cyber domains to move goods, people, services, money, and data. The massive profits also ensure that these criminal groups are powerful enough to influence the political, judicial, and law enforcement branches of more vulnerable countries, providing them the protection to continue their illegal schemes and further expand their influence.”
Pearce said the hearing served as an opportunity to dissect the connection of transnational terrorism, crime, and corruption.
Officials said the meeting underscored the diversified illicit activities underpinning TCOs are wreaking havoc on the international economy; terrorists are increasingly turning to TCOs to gain logistical and financial support for their activities in unstable regions of the world; and the U.S. government should institute a national strategy for combating the financing of TCOs to inform and supplement other policy tools aimed at dismantling transnational organized crime.
“The threats to this great country are moving at lightning speed and we need a sense of urgency at this point,” Derek Maltz, executive director of Government Relations at Pen-Link, Ltd, said.