Transnational Crimes Blog

Although the end of the year is still three days away, a number of law enforcement agencies across the world have released some end of the year transnational crime statistics.

The FBI, for example, has announced that its biometric database, which was recently implemented at the nation’s borders by US Customs and Border Protection, is responsible for returning “hits” on 118,557 criminal subjects trying to enter the US illegally.^[1] The Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System is now in operation at all 136 border patrol stations, and it has led to the arrests of:

460 individuals for homicide;
155 for kidnapping;
599 for sexual assault;
870 for robbery;
5,919 for assault; and
12,077 for drug-related charges.^[2]

The DEA has also announced some year-end statistics. According to that agency, its operations have resulted in US$1.9 billion worth of seizures, including US$1.4 billion in asset seizures and US$477 million in drug seizures.^[3] Additionally, financial investigations have led to the seizure of more than 2.5 tons of cocaine, 10 tons of marijuana, 15 pounds of heroin, $36.2 million worth of laundered funds, 181 vehicles, 72 firearms, and the arrest of more than 230 people.^[4] The DEA has also aggressively investigated internet drug trafficking through its Virtual Enforcement Initiative. Through this program, the DEA has identified more than 200 web sites that illegally sold pharmaceutical drugs, leading to the arrest of more than 20 people in eight US cities and four foreign countries.^[5]

Last week, the Department of Homeland Security [hereinafter DHS] noted that more than 1 million illegal immigrants were caught attempting to enter the United States.^[6] In addition, more than US$100 million in counterfeit goods were seized, as well as more than 2 million pounds of illegal drugs.^[7] 1,300 human traffickers were convicted, along with 5,700 drug smugglers.^[8] The DHS also mentioned that it is working to “build partnerships overseas.”^[9] With Canada and Mexico, the Security and Prosperity Partnership was launched to develop joint trusted traveler programs, and in Europe and Asia, screening, data-sharing, and cargo inspection programs have been developed to “dismantle threats before they reach our shores.”^[10]

Interpol has recently announced that 20 months after Austria became the first country to sign the charter governing the use of Interpol’s DNA Gateway program, at least 50 matches have been made from information submitted by Austria alone.^[11] 41 of Interpol’s member countries operate national criminal DNA profile databases, and 33 have submitted more than 55,000 records to Interpol.^[12] The UK has the world’s largest database of DNA profiles, and, in November of this year, it became the second country to adopt the charter.^[13] It is expected to start submitting records to the DNA Gateway in early 2006.^[14]

Europol is expected to release its year-end statistics soon.