964: Miles Johnson | The Secret World of International Crime

Sting Ops

The DEA's sting operations have been pivotal in capturing high-profile figures like Viktor Bout, the infamous Russian arms dealer. Miles Johnson explains that these operations often involve undercover agents posing as members of terrorist organizations, leading to significant arrests. Johnson notes, "They would pose as members of FARC, for example, the Colombian paramilitary, and go down a whole sort of business arrangement." 1 These aggressive tactics have surprised many and highlighted the interconnectedness of global crime networks.

   

Jurisdiction

The DEA's jurisdiction has expanded significantly to include terrorism and international crime. Johnson discusses how the agency's role has evolved, often involving complex legal and moral issues. He mentions, "There's corruption, there's people kind of skimming off money, or there are people acting more autonomously." 2 This expansion has led to the DEA tackling a broader range of criminal activities, often intersecting with other international law enforcement agencies.

   

Crime Links

The complexities of international crime often lead the DEA into unexpected territories. Johnson explains how drug enforcement agents end up chasing arms dealers and other high-profile criminals due to their connections with drug trafficking. He states, "They have a huge amount of sources... it sort of leads through these various stages into higher and higher levels of these sort of international criminal conspiracies." 3 This interconnectedness is evident in the Syrian government's involvement in the Captagon trade, which Johnson describes as larger than all Mexican cartels combined. 4

   

Money Tactics

Money laundering in international crime involves both low-tech and high-tech methods. Johnson highlights the use of traditional systems like Hawala, where money doesn't physically move but is balanced through a network of trust-based exchanges. He explains, "It's like someone wants to sort of do one thing on one side of the network, and then that corresponds with a customer on the other side of the network who wants to do the opposite thing." 5 These methods make it extremely difficult for law enforcement to trace illicit funds.