By Public Affairs Office
George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies

GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany (Aug. 2, 2018) – The Marshall Center is hosting the Program on Countering Transnational Organized Crime 18-14 from Aug. 2 to 24. The Program on Countering Transnational Organized Crime (CTOC) is a three-week resident program that focuses on 21st century national security threats as a result of illicit trafficking and other criminal activities. This program examines the major methods by which transnational criminal and terrorist organizations engage in illegal narcotics trafficking and other criminal activities for profit.

Fast Facts:  Countering Transnational Organized Crime 18-14

Dates: Aug. 2 to 24, 2018

Language: English Only

Program Description: Held twice a year, the Program on Countering Transnational Organized Crime (CTOC) focuses on how transnational organized crime threatens the national security of countries. Lectures and case studies are used to examine the major methods by which transnational criminal organizations engage in illegal activities. Seminar activities focus on methods to combat this threat through the development of CTOC strategies, whole-of-government, and inter-regional solutions.

Program Focus: Lectures, case studies, and seminar discussions will provide in-depth knowledge about the activities of drug cartels, terrorists and transnational criminal organizations with a goal of understanding the necessary strategic level approaches to combating these threats.

Program Director: Professor Joe Vann

Deputy Course Directors: Special Agent John Fencsak; U.S. Army Lt. Col Chris Kreiler

Class Composition/demographics:  88 participants from 54 countries; 33 military, 55 civilian, 74 males and 14 females; and, 12 alumni.

Combatant Commands represented: 12 from U.S. Africa Command; three from U.S. Central Command; 48 from U.S. European Command; four from U.S. Northern Command; six from U.S. Pacific Command; and 15 from U.S. Southern Command.

Organizations: 13 from Ministry of Defense; seven from Ministry of Foreign Affairs; 18 from Ministry of Interior/Internal Security; two from Defense Security Cooperation Agency Regional Centers; one from Ministry of Finance; seven from government Ministry of Justice; four from military command or service; 19 from other ministries, one from government executive office; three from government legislative branch; and, one from state/local government.

Origins: Part of the Marshall Center’s transnational curriculum, this will be the eighth iteration of the CTOC program, the sixth under this name. The program was previously titled Countering Narcotics and Illicit Trafficking (CNIT) and was created in 2015.

Last Time Held: April 5 to 27, 2018

Next Time Held: Scheduled for FY19

Follow this event on Marshall Center Twitter and Facebook with the hashtag:  #IllicitTrafficking #DrugTrafficking #OrganizedCrime #Anticorruption #corruption #combatpoaching #moneylaundering #traffickers

Photos from CTOC 18-14 can be found on the Marshall Center Photo Gallery.