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

GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany (Aug. 19, 2015) – The three-week Countering Narcotics and Illicit Trafficking resident began today with a question that goes to the heart of this resident program.

“What’s the transnational organized crime threat you believe it is most important for law enforcement to control?” asks Professor Steve Monaco, course director of the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies’ Countering Narcotics and Illicit Trafficking resident course.

The 79 students from 49 countries typed their answers from their seats using Marshall Center provided tablets that are then displayed in real-time on a large display screen in front of the plenary. 

One of the main answers was that drug trafficking was the issue of most concern for the students. Cybercrime and trafficking in counterfeit goods were considered the most neglected threats in their countries.

The three-week CNIT course discusses strategies to combat transnational threats.

The CNIT program focuses on the national security threats posed by a wide range of transnational criminal activities.

This program examines how transnational criminal organizations impact a country’s national security.

It is designed for government officials and practitioners who are engaged in policy development, law enforcement, intelligence, and interdiction activities aimed at countering illicit narcotics trafficking, terrorist involvement in criminal activity, and the associated elements of transnational crime and corruption.