National Drug Intelligence Center: The Key to Drug Intelligence

As long as there is access to illegal drugs in this country, there needs to be information gathered on the details surrounding the substances. This information may pertain to illegal activities, the manufacture, distribution or ingestion of the substance, and the affect the drug can have on the human body.

The Department of Defense established the National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC) through the Appropriations Act and was signed into law in 1992. The NDIC is under the jurisdiction of the Attorney General and was established in an effort to coordinate and consolidate intelligence surrounding the trade of illegal drugs. Intelligence would be gathered from all national security and law enforcement agencies to produce information for attempts to control drug activity.

Through strategic analytical studies on illegal drug trafficking, the NDIC supports the policy makers and individuals within the Intelligence Community seeking to protect the nation and its citizens from outside threats. Any activity that threatens national security is under scrutiny by the NDIC, including activities committed by citizens of the United States if those actions conflict with the legal use of narcotics.

There is a well-identified link between drug trafficking and terrorism. The threat from Mexico is increasing, although the demand created within the United States is certainly partially responsible for this criminal activity. In working with the Department of Homeland Security Office of Counternarcotics Enforcement, the NDIC aims to provide critical intelligence that lends to the identification, tracking and even elimination of the tie between the trafficking of drugs and terrorist activities.

Money laundering is another key focus of the NDIC as this activity is often involved in the drug trade. With intelligence and other information gathered by the NDIC, policy and law makers are better equipped to understand the current climate in order to implement anti-money laundering initiatives that can actually work to the best interest of the nation. By identifying and understanding methods by which wholesale drug traffickers launder money, such methods can be better interceded or prevented.

To gather its information and intelligence, the NDIC gains access to databases within government and commercial organizations, using available technology to search for and extract information that points to a bigger picture. In using technology developed within the NDIC, the organization can recognize patterns in information to assist in the development of more effective prevention and law enforcement tools.

Tackling the overall drug trafficking, distribution, marketing and use within the United States is a major undertaking and requires a focused effort from the top-down. This was the thinking behind the NDIC and will continue to drive its efforts. Measurable results are required to continue to justify such an organization; yet given the economic impact of the current drug situation, the country cannot afford to continue on without the NDIC.