Lexington Books Transnational Organized Crime in Latin America and the Caribbean: From Evolving Threats and Responses to Integrated, Adaptive Solutions (Security in the Americas in the Twenty-First Century)

Transnational Organized Crime in Latin America and the Caribbean: From Evolving Threats and Responses to Integrated, Adaptive Solutions provides a comprehensive overview of and introduction to transnational organized crime in Latin America for the student and practitioner. It addresses the geography of illicit activities, including relationships between source, transit, and consumption zones, as well as illicit activities beyond narcotrafficking, such as illegal mining, contraband, human smuggling, and money laundering. It applies a typology of cartels, intermediate groups, gangs, and ideological groups to examine specific criminal organizations and the relationships between them. It makes a comparative assessment of government approaches to combatting transnational organized crime in the region, including discussions of interagency coordination, interdiction, targeting of criminal group leaders, the use of the military in law enforcement, law enforcement reform efforts, prison control, and international cooperation. It concludes by applying these thorough analyses to make concrete recommendations for both Latin American and United States policymakers. Review Ellis is a prolific defense intellectual who recently joined the U.S. State Department's Policy Planning Staff. In this comprehensive and thoughtful book, he underscores the serious threat to U.S. national interests posed by organized criminal groups in Latin America.--Foreign AffairsOne of the country's top experts on security and defense in the Americas, R. Evan Ellis, offers a comprehensive analysis of one of the most significant security and governance challenges facing the hemisphere. Dr. Ellis aptly emphasizes the need for collaborative, integrative approaches to confronting transnational criminal organizations. I expect this book to be required reading for all policymakers and academics interested in understanding and responding to this very complex challenge.--Frank O. Mora, Florida International UniversityThe book is well annotated and is a very useful resource for policymakers, academicians, and students of criminal justice and international relations. . . . the book is extremely valuable for practitioners and academicians because of its wide coverage of some many countries, transnational organized crime groups, and comparative solutions. Its many annotations make it valuable for further research. Finally, the author's experience in the subject matter area and his work with so many high-level intelligence and security people in the region make many of the analyses worthwhile.--International Enforcement Law ReporterCrime--organized, transnational, ruthless, wealthy, and stealthy--is one of the biggest threats to stability, security, and prosperity in the Americas. In these pages R. Evan Ellis, one of the foremost experts on the subject, lucidly disentangles the complexities of this threat and offers useful ideas about how to combat it. This book will become an obligatory reference for all future work on this important subject.--Moises Naím, Carnegie Endowment for International PeaceDr. R. Evan Ellis provides a comprehensive look at the scope and detrimental impact of transnational organized crime networks undermining societies across Latin America, the Caribbean, and the United States. Detailing the uneven success of governments throughout the region in countering these dangerous networks, Dr. Ellis recommends taking a different, broader, international approach. I recommend you read this comprehensive look from this very well-known expert on Latin America and the Caribbean.--Douglas M. Fraser About the Author R. Evan Ellis is research professor of Latin American studies at the U.S. Army War College Strategic Studies Institute.