NCJ Number
177151
Journal
Trends in Organized Crime Volume: 4 Issue: 2 Dated: Winter 1998 Pages: 44-58
Date Published
1998
Length
15 pages
Annotation
These two papers discuss activities of the Italian-American Working Group established in 1984 to facilitate the two countries' efforts to address organized crime and examine the possibility of adapting this model to efforts against organized crime in Mexico, Colombia, and Russia.
Abstract
The discussion notes that law enforcement cooperation between the United States and Italy has gone from ordinary to excellent in the 13 years since the Working Group was formed. The countries attacked and dismantled one of the largest and most powerful drug trafficking organizations in the world and made historic inroads against organized crime. The Working Group provided the political support necessary to develop a level of cooperation between the two countries that forever changed their relationship in the area of law enforcement. Both countries cite the Working Group as a model in the worldwide efforts against organized crime and drug trafficking, as well as terrorism. Among the reasons for the working group's success included the sharing of a common problem that received attention from their political leaderships at the same time and the mutual respect that developed between police and prosecutors. In addition, certain individuals had crucial roles in making the Working Group a success. Participants in a discussion about the Working Group suggested that its experience and approach be applied to other countries. Notes