Intelligence forum response

Intelligence Collection and Analysis

To combat the illicit drug trade, agencies attempt to detect, disrupt, and dismantle drug-trafficking organizations. To do this, agencies use counter-narcotics intelligence collection and analysis to learn about the operational methods of drug trafficking organizations in order to determine their vulnerabilities. Intelligence is also used by policymakers to formulate counter-narcotics policy.

 

Intelligence Collection

 

To combat illicit drug trade and decrease the supply of illicit drugs available in the United States, intelligence must be collected at every point in the trafficking process—cultivation, production, transportation, and distribution, both domestically and abroad. Both national foreign intelligence agencies and federal law enforcement agencies collect counter-narcotics intelligence. “Generally, law enforcement organizations such as the DEA and FBI collect both domestic and foreign counterdrug intelligence information, whereas national foreign intelligence organizations such as the CIA, NSA, and DIA collect foreign intelligence information” (GAO 6)

 

Agencies collect intelligence using both human and technical methods. There are five major intelligence collection disciplines, which are used to varying degrees in counter-narcotics efforts.

 

Human-Source Intelligence (HUMINT)

HUMINT, collection from human sources, is one of the most common collection disciplines for counter-narcotics investigations. For instance, law enforcement will use confidential informants and cooperating witnesses to collect information on their conspirators in drug trafficking is a common technique used by agencies.

 

Signals Intelligence (SIGINT)

SIGINT, collection from electronic transmissions, is used carried out primarily by NSA. However, agencies often collect their own communications intelligence (COMINT), a component of SIGINT. For instance, law enforcement often intercepted conversations through telephone, radio, or other communication devices using wiretaps. 

NSA Satellite                          Source: NSA  

Imagery Intelligence (IMINT)

IMINT, collection from imagery or photographs, is collected primarily by NGA, while the NRO is responsible for operating the satellites. IMINT is used in counter-narcotics efforts; for instance, it assists in detecting illicit drug cultivation areas.

 

Measurement and Signature Intelligence (MASINT)

MASINT is measurement and signature intelligence collected through DIA; it is used largely for collecting on weapons and industrial activities with limited use in counter-narcotics efforts.

 

Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT)

GEOINT uses imagery and geospatial information to produce geospatial intelligence, and its use in counter-narcotics efforts is similar to that of IMINT, a component of GEOINT. IMINT, collection from imagery or photographs, is collected primarily by NGA, while the NRO is responsible for operating the satellites. IMINT is used in counter-narcotics efforts; for instance, it assists in detecting illicit drug cultivation areas.

 

Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT)

OSNT intelligence is information that is publicly available. Although there are designated open-source analysts such as at ODNI’s Open Source Center, OSINT is not the responsibility of any one agency and is widely used for counter-narcotics operations. For instance, agencies can find connections between suspects from social media sights or a newspaper article.                                      

This collection information is a general view of collection discipline relative to counter-narcotics efforts. Because of the collaboration among organizations, agencies have access to each of this collection disciplines when needed regardless of if they have an in-house collection effort in the discipline. Intelligence collected using one method, ie HUMINT, SIGINT, etc, often is used to generate leads that necessitate the use of another collection method in order to further an investigation. For example, information collected using lawful telephone intercepts (SIGINT) is often skillfully by investigators to maximize the capabilities and effectiveness of their human sources. Collaboration is thus essential to intelligence collection for counter-narcotics efforts.

 

Intelligence Analysis

 

Many organizations involved in the counter-narcotics mission do not collect their own information but instead analyze and produce intelligence based on information collected from other agencies. Because of this, effective inter-agency cooperation is essential to the counter-narcotics efforts. Organizations produce and use several types of intelligence analysis products—strategic, operational, and/or tactical intelligence; each has a distinct purpose within counter-narcotics efforts. The following definitions are taken from GAO report Drug Control: An Overview of U.S. Counterdrug Intelligence Activities:

 

• Strategic intelligence is information concerning broad drug-trafficking patterns and trends that can be used by U.S. policymakers, including department and agency heads, for strategic planning and programming purposes. Examples include information on coca leaf crop estimates; foreign country or regional drug threat assessments; broad patterns or trends in cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, or other drug production and trafficking; and information on the financial, transportation, structure, and other workings of major drug-trafficking organizations and their leadership hierarchy.

 

• Operational/investigative intelligence is information that can be used to provide analytic support to an ongoing criminal investigation or prosecution or can be useful in resource planning, such as where to station agents to obtain evidence over a period of time. Examples include information about specific persons, organizations, facilities, or routes being investigated and/or prosecuted for illegal drug- trafficking.

 

• Tactical intelligence is information that is of immediate use in supporting an ongoing drug investigation; positioning federal assets to monitor the activities of suspected drug traffickers; or positioning federal, state, or local law enforcement assets to interdict, seize, and/or apprehend a vehicle or other conveyance and/or person suspected of trafficking in drugs. This can include information such as the current or imminent location or mode of transportation of specific drug shipments. (GAO 8-9)

 

Agencies participating in the counter-narcotic efforts produce each of these types of intelligence reporting. Some agencies focus primarily at one level of intelligence production. For instance, INL production focuses largely on strategic issues to support policy making while local law enforcement agencies focus on tactical and operational reporting for the cases they are currently investigating. Among federal agencies, most devote resources to produce each type of reporting. This is largely because once the intelligence is collected, it can be used several times to produce an intelligence product—one piece of collected intelligence can be used in for tactical, operational, and strategic reporting. For instance, IMINT collects intelligence on a marijuana cultivation site in a national park in which bear traps are seen on the perimeter of the grow site. From a tactical angle, law enforcement learn from this intelligence that the traps are set and adjust their strategy for confiscating the grow site to avoid injury. From an operational view, the agency is now aware that this organization booby traps the cultivation sites and will use the information for future encounters with the organization. From a strategic viewpoint, a new method of operations for drug trafficking organizations has been discovered; a strategic reporting will provide information to other agencies to be aware that booby traps may be a new trend at cultivation sties.

 

Your main reading this week is the National Southwest Border Counter-Narcotics Strategy. This strategy focuses on the primary illicit drug smuggling area for the United States – the Southwest Border (between the United States and Mexico). The strategy focuses on the specific goals for combating drug trafficking and includes collection disciplines to be used and the agencies involved within each action. Although it focuses on only one segment of the illicit drug threat, the strategy will provide a comprehensive look at the numerous intelligence components inherent in combating illicit drug trafficking. The Southwest Border

                                                                                          Source: FBI

The two JIATF-South readings for the week are both short documents on operations at JIATF-South. These readings will give the perspective of combating illicit drug smuggling via water. It is not as comprehensive as the above strategy, but it will give an understanding of operations in that theater.   

 

References:

U.S. General Accounting Office. Drug Control: An Overview of U.S. Counterdrug Intelligence Activities. Washington, DC, July 1998.

 

Office of National Drug Control Policy, National Southwest Border Counter-narcotics Strategy. Washington, DC, 2011.