The Nexus Among Terrorists, Narcotics Traffickers, Weapons Proliferators, and Organized Crime Networks in Western Europe

This report describes linkages among narcotics-trafficking, weapons-trafficking, and terrorist activities of groups active in or directly connected with countries in Western Europe. Anecdotal evidence provides examples of transactions among various types of criminal organizations, terrorist organizations, and suppliers of narcotics and arms. Based on that evidence, the report evaluates current trends in such transactions and analyzes the implications and structures of relationships formed by the types of groups under consideration. The report, which covers events and trends of 2000-2002, relies heavily on reports in periodicals. Conclusions have been guided by the work of terrorism and criminology experts such as Tamara Makarenko, Nikos Passas, and Phil Williams.