DUBLIN – US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Deputy Commissioner Troy Miller joined his law enforcement counterparts from the US, UK, Spain today and the Republic of Ireland to launch a cooperative criminal justice initiative targeting global organized crime. Participants in this initiative,Cooperate internationally to protect communities from organized and serious crimeinclude US law enforcement agencies such as CBP, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), as well as the US State Department and Europol’s global partners, the UK National Crime Agency, National Police and An Garda Síochána (National Police Service of the Republic of Ireland).
Senior officials from participating agencies met in Dublin this week to discuss cooperative efforts and collaborated on a number of critical law enforcement issues. As part of this joint effort, these partners today announced OFAC sanctions against individuals and entities associated with the Kinahan Organized Crime Group (KOCG), a global illicit network involved in trafficking drugs, money laundering, fraud, murder, extortion and other organized crimes. Activities.
Deputy Commissioner Miller was one of several law enforcement officials who spoke to attendees today at Dublin City Hall. Here is the prepared text of his remarks:
“Thank you and hello everyone.
“It is an honor to be here today to represent United States Customs and Border Protection at this important announcement and to stand with our partners in our shared commitment to cooperation.
“On behalf of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, I would like to thank the following individuals:
- Commissioner Harris and the An Garda Síochána;
- The UK National Crime Agency;
- US Ambassador to Ireland Cronin and our colleagues from the US State Department; and
- The Office of Foreign Assets Control and the United States Department of the Treasury;
- Our partners at the United States Drug Enforcement Administration.
- And the team of international investigators, analysts and other law enforcement personnel who facilitated the global success story featured today.
“Your partnership and commitment to working together is why we can make this designation today and announce the reward of justice.
“It’s our job at CBP to protect the American public and our allies from terrorists and criminal groups who seek to exploit commerce and travel to do harm.
“If we’ve learned anything as an agency over the past 20 years, it’s that we can only be successful in this endeavor when we work together within the U.S. government and with our international allies to protect the public from illicit activities.
“The days of only communicating internally, targeting one bad actor at a time are long gone. When we partner with other government agencies like the DEA, Treasury, and State Departments, the government can improve knowledge of entire networks – how they operate, move around the world, pay for things and communicate with each other.We can then use this information to comprehensively target criminal networks and restrict their ability to commit crimes. crimes and harming the public.
“We have worked tirelessly at CBP to build an infrastructure that prioritizes information sharing, cooperation, and leveraging joint operations across the U.S. government to target bad actors and criminal organizations.
“CBP is proud to be a world leader in the use of traveler and cargo data where our legal authorities enable to assist domestic and international law enforcement.
“Today’s announcement is the result of three years of intensive interagency and international work.
“I am proud to be here today to impress on the world our common goals and values – that drug trafficking, money laundering, fraud, murder and extortion have no place in our countries. We will use all the authorities at our disposal to reduce these threats and prevent damage.
“And we will continue to work with our Irish and UK colleagues to bring bad actors to justice and protect the global public from these criminals.
“With this in mind, I want it known that foreign members of this organization are not welcome in the United States. CBP will deny entry to individuals wishing to travel to the United States.
“We should be proud of the work that has been done to get here, while remaining firm and vigilant for the work that lies ahead.
“Today’s announcement is a shining example of our mutual commitment to collaboration and demonstrates that the the world becomes a safer place when we work together.”
The US Treasury OFAC press release can be viewed at: https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases.
Department of State International Bureau of Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) press release at: https://www.state.gov/releases-bureau-of-international-narcotics-and-law-enforcement-affairs/
