Columbia International Affairs Online: Policy Briefs

CIAO DATE: 02/2010

Contending with the PKK's Narco-Terrorism

Benjamin Freedman, Matthew Levitt

December 2009

The Washington Institute for Near East Policy

Abstract

On December 8, the United Nations Security Council will host its first-ever thematic debate on drug trafficking as a threat to international security. This focus is notable. U.S. officials are increasingly concerned with the evolving threat of drug trafficking, especially as terrorist organizations stake a bigger claim in this illegal arena. In fact, on November 18, FBI director Robert Mueller met with senior Turkish officials to address U.S.-Turkish efforts targeting the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), also known as Kongra-Gel.