The U.S. and Transnational Criminal Operations in Belize

Daniel Erikson

Daniel Erikson, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Western Hemisphere, responded to specific questions on transnational crime. Erikson was asked to elaborate on specific commitments that the United States government has made in partnership with Belize to aid in the fight against transnational drug-trafficking organizations. He was also asked to comment on how the U.S. government is working to curb the demand in its country that fuels these crimes.

Daniel Erikson, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense

“It’s the challenge posed by transnational criminal organizations doesn’t only affect Belize. It affects the United States. Of course, it has a broader regional dynamic as well throughout Central America. There are several steps that we are taking and can take. I referenced previously in my remarks the work that we’re doing with the Joint Intelligence Operations Center, which is really intended to provide much better awareness for Belize of these air tracks that you referenced, so that the country’s authorities can have a sense of what is coming in and going out of the country in terms of over flights. With respect to the border, you’re absolutely right, border security is a, a key concern that you have essentially on the western side of Belize, a border where it’s much of its jungle. As you know, parts of it are impassable, but there is, I think, an increasing challenge that’s posed by trafficking in that area. And so we have discussed the government’s plans and strategies to address that and to see what more that the Department of Defense could potentially do to support, of course when you look at border security and the effort to ensure that rule of law is upheld.  With respect to transnational organized crime, a lot of that burden also falls on the law, domestic law enforcement agencies and not necessarily on the military, although there are ways that we could work together on that.”

Paul Lopez

“How do you respond to the notion that these operations are fueled by the demand?”

Danile Erikson, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense

“There’s a lot of work being done within the United States to, for example, address demand reduction which is an important part of the equation. But I also think that it means that all of the governments in the region are incumbent to work together, both in terms of sharing information, law enforcement cooperation,  and ensuring that the challenge posed by transnational criminal organizations can be addressed  and  reduced over time.”