Chapter I addresses the global context of international crime, as it identifies those factors that have contributed to the growing problem of international crime. These factors include the implications of a changing world, the greater sophistication of criminal organizations, and institutional shortcomings elsewhere in the world. Chapter II provides a comprehensive overview of specific international crimes that affect United States interests, including their effect on American lives and livelihood, costs to U.S. business interests at home and abroad, and impact on U.S. national security interests around the world. Chapter III addresses worldwide areas of international criminal activity, particularly as source areas for specific crimes and bases of operations for international criminal organizations. This section includes an analysis of the factors in various countries and regions that allow criminal organizations and international criminal activity to flourish, as well as an assessment of the impact of international criminal activity on stability in these countries and regions. These include threats to the growth and nurturing of democratic and free-market systems. Finally, this section discusses the characteristics, criminal operations, and international presence of organized crime groups that originate in these countries or regions. Chapter IV addresses the consequences of international crime for U.S. strategic interests, including the ability to work cooperatively with foreign governments and the problem of criminal safe-havens, kleptocracies, and failed states. Chapter V offers a perspective on the future of international crime as it is projected to develop in the next 10 years. Extensive figures