Human Intelligence Analysis

HUMINT 2
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HUMINT 2
Human Intelligence (HUMINT) refers to all data collected directly from human sources. This intelligence-gathering strategy can range from the use of spies to direct reconnaissance to the use of informants to even observation. HUMINT is an excellent method of gathering relevant data in anti-drug trafficking activities. Human sources have access to data that other ways cannot obtain. For instance, HUMINT can provide information about malicious intent and plans and adversarial decisions and developments before any undesirable action is even taken. Using individuals as a source of data requires a particular ability. While it is not efficient as other intelligence approaches, HUMINT provides access to data that might be useful. Due to the covert nature of the Sinaloa Cartel’s operations, the war on drugs, for example, may substantially benefit from the use of HUMINT gathering. The Sinaloa Cartel hires people from within the United States, making gathering collection through other intelligence approaches more challenging. The DEA may later exploit these infiltrations by generating new in-roads into the Cartel’s supply chain. HUMINT gathering can therefore be a helpful instrument in the battle against narcotics. The thesis of this paper is: HUMINT is the best intelligence source, although it requires active collaboration between intelligence agencies and rigorous training of operatives to collect information of DTO intentions, organizational structure, and activities safely and legitimately.
[Todd Gleghorn and Derek Johnson, “How Internal Human Intelligence Networks (HUMINT) Develop External Pr…,” Aurora WDC, May 1, 2014, /IntelCollab/how-internal-human-networks-humint.]
Problem Scenario
HUMINT might help the US fight drug trafficking. The Sinaloa in Mexico, in particular, is the earliest and most developed of the DTOs that the US is confronting in the drug war. Even though Joaquin “El Chapo” has been caught and incarcerated in the US, the Sinaloa Cartel still maintains its position as the main DTO, regardless of internal difficulties and management pressure.[McDermott, W. T. DEA State Reciprocity. 2020]
DTOs from Mexico, such as the Sinaloa Cartel, have significant clout in several US cities, including Phoenix, Los Angeles, Denver, and Chicago. The Sinaloa Cartel uses intimidation, bribery, and other forms of coercion to influence people. Because of the developed corporation and networks on both sides of the Mexican-American border, narcotics can still be transported more readily into these US hub cities. The majority of these narcotics are transported across the border through border crossing points and complex underground networks that are difficult to detect.
Why the Particular Problem?
Due to the secretive nature of DTO activities and organizational arrangement, the drug war would benefit from HUMINT deployment. Using HUMINT, it may be feasible to expose corrupt government officials and learn more quickly about entry points to underground tunnels. While other intelligence regulations are used, HUMINT would provide up-to-date and actionable intelligence.[Ibid 1]
Historical Background in Relation to the Problem
The Mexican government has a long history of corruption, hindering any HUMINT efforts against the Sinaloa Cartel. As a result of jurisdictional concerns and a lack of collaboration between tribal law enforcement agencies and federal states, the use of ethnic lands along the Southwest Border to transport narcotics is a setback. Because of this lack of collaboration, there are blind areas where criminals associated with the Sinaloa Cartel cannot be captured and interrogated. Another intelligence challenge relating to the topic is the Sinaloa Cartel’s existing organizational structure and leadership. The Cartel is currently split into two sections, one commanded by Garcia, dubbed “El Mayo,” and the other by El Chapo’s offspring, dubbed “Los Chapitos.”[The Merida Initiative. 2018.]
Effective Solution
Human Intelligence can open up new routes into the Sinaloa Cartel’s drug distribution network. It offers the possibility of intercepting consignments of illicit cargo throughout the supply sequence and apprehending the heads of cells operating inside the US by locating and utilizing human information sources. HUMINT would also help the American and Mexican governments identify instances of a law violation. HUMINT might be specifically beneficial in obtaining data from cartel members who are hesitant to cooperate. Several prospective sources are in or coming from the Sinaloa area and many of the central hub cities in the United States, owing to many individuals being forced into aiding the Cartel.[Ibid 3]
Section 2: DEA
Chartered Organization
The DEA is in charge of anti-narcotics operations and has complete HUMINT capabilities against the Sinaloa Cartel. It is in charge of tracking, seizing, and gathering intelligence on suspected unlawful shipments and traffickers. They can also collaborate with drug enforcement authorities in other nations and international organizations like Interpol. As a result, the DEA can work with the Mexican authorities and government to gather HUMINT data both in US and Mexico. The DEA formerly financed Operation Knight Moves, which included human “gathering of intelligence on the smuggling, transit, and crossing of drugs across Mexico and along the Southwest Border,” as well as various other HUMINT activities.[Vignettes, Mario. "Mexico's Intelligence Community: A Critical Description." International Journal of Intelligence and Counterintelligence 32, no. 2 (2019): 295–321]
Mission Statement
“The mission of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is to enforce the United States controlled substances laws and regulations and to bring those organizations and principal participants of organizations involved in the manufacturing, growing or distribution of controlled substances appearing in or fated for illegal traffic in the United States to the criminal and civil justice systems of the United States, or any other proficient ruling,” according to the DEA’s website. The DEA’s goal is to apprehend people creating restricted narcotics and unlawfully trafficking them into the US to decrease their accessibility worldwide and shrunken drug markets.[Ibid 1]
Participants
Governments, aptitude agencies, regulators, and military from Mexico and the United States are friendly participants. Department of State will be in charge of coordinating with the Mexican government. DEA will collect HUMINT, while the US Department Of justice will punish any drug smugglers captured in or extradited to the United States. The Mexican government will coordinate military assets such as the Mexican National Guard and the Federal Police. In detecting crime, the Drug Enforcement Administration is anticipated to work closely with Mexico’s National Center for Planning, Analysis, and Information (API). Both Mexican and American border police may identify illicit drug smuggling at numerous entry points along the border.[NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL STRATEGY Southwest Border Counternarcotics Strategy 2020.” Office of National Drug Control Policy, February 2020]
The antagonistic entities engaging in the endeavor are the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico and its collaborators and distributors in American hub towns. There will probably be corrupt government officials engaged as well. The Sinaloa Cartel might be divided into two groups, commanded by El Mayo or Los Chapitos. This has yet to be confirmed, but it is a clear possibility. The Sinaloa Cartel is also notorious for trafficking and distributing illegal narcotics through local gangs in the United States. The Sinaloa Cartel’s gangs and gang members are hard to identify as cartel agents. The latter gives the Cartel many disposable operators and access to new markets.[Ibid 5]
Operations and Activities
The Scenario
The DEA will work with the Mexican government to identify regions with informers who have access to intelligence-relevant data about entry points for drug smuggling over the border. A HUMINT operator will monitor individuals of interest after the region has been selected. Before dealing with a target, the HUMINT operator will inform the authorities that the target has been identified. Based on the amount of collaboration from the objective, information might be acquired through interrogation or debriefing. Any information gathered from the target will be checked and backed up by intelligence from other sources, such as photography intelligence. For instance, if the goal is to expose the site of the underground tunnel system way in, tunnel detecting technology will be employed to validate the burrow’s existence if feasible. Once the existence of the channels is suspected, the DEA will work with Mexican authorities to shut them down and apprehend anyone who may be running them. The offenders who have been apprehended will then be probed for any additional information before being handed over to be impeached in Mexico.[Drug Enforcement Administration. "2017 National Drug Threat Assessment." US Department of Justice, October 2017.]
The Activities
The HUMINT process must follow the FM 2-22.3 standards and regulations. Screening and monitoring will be employed in the early phases of the HUMINT operation to identify possible informants, including tactical interrogation whenever necessary Screening guarantees that the community or individual under investigation has access to the needed intelligence, while monitoring can supply additional sources. Dead crashes can be used to communicate between an undercover agent and their unit to avoid detection. Any unobtrusive sending a message or transferring documents can be used as a dead drop. If a target is uncooperative, they can be questioned; if they are cooperative, they can be debriefed. When a criminal is captured or a source is located, interrogation and debriefing might be employed several times during the operation. Interview and cross-examination can reveal significant intelligence based on the interrogated person and their access to critical data. The source must be monitored to see what information he or she is most likely to have before being interrogated or debriefed. This makes it easy to spot misleading information. Lastly, a detailed account documenting the mission’s occurrences should be produced after the operation.
Issues That Will Require Coordination with External Agencies
The HUMINT mission is an intercontinental operation involving the US and Mexico and will necessitate active cooperation between the two countries. It will be necessary to agree on the rules of engagement and jurisdiction ahead of time and the practicalities of placing and employing a HUMINT operator. The DEA will very certainly have to work with the State Department on the regulations and plan of actions that must be followed throughout the operation. The DEA will have to work with the US Border Patrol when it comes to safeguarding subterranean tunnels and tunnel entrances.[Drug Enforcement Administration. "2017 National Drug Threat Assessment." US Department of Justice, October 2017.]
Organization Regulatory and Legal Requirements
The DEA is also responsible for enforcing the Controlled Substances Act, which c...