“Transnational Drug Enterprises (Part II): U.S. Government Perspectives on the Threats to Global Stability and U.S. National Security”

On March 3, 2010, the Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs held a hearing entitled, “Transnational Drug Enterprises (Part II): U.S. Government Perspectives on the Threats to Global Stability and U.S. National Security.”  This hearing explored the linkages between transnational illicit drug enterprises (e.g., drug cartels), weak and fragile states, and the resulting threats to U.S. national security.

It followed up on the Subcommittee’s October 1, 2009 hearing, which featured non-government experts in drug policy, counternarcotics, and drug trafficking organizations in Latin America, Afghanistan and West Africa.  Witnesses included the White House Director of National Drug Control Policy and principals from the leading U.S. Government departments and agencies responsible for international counternarcotics, who responded to recommendations from the first hearing and provided insights into ongoing counternarcotics policies, priorities, and operations.

Witness List

• Mr. R. Gil Kerlikowske, White House Director of National Drug Control Policy
• Ambassador David T. Johnson, Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, U.S. State Department
• Mr. Anthony P. Placido, Assistant Administrator and Chief of Intelligence, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Department of Justice
• Mr. Adam J. Szubin, Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control, U.S. Treasury
• Mr. William F. Wechsler, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Counternarcotics and Global Threats, U.S. Department of Defense 

To view more information about Part I of this hearing series, click here

To watch a webcast of the hearing, click here

Documents and Links

Opening Statement of Chairman John F. Tierney
Prepared Testimony of Mr. R. Gil Kerlikowske

Prepared Testimony of Ambassador David T. Johnson

Prepared Testimony of Anthony P. Placido

Prepared Testimony of Mr. Adam Szubin

Prepared Testimony of Mr. William F. Wechsler

Statement for the Record of Mr. James A. Bever