The Task Force is composed of personal representatives of the heads of state of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia, and Sweden. The overall objective of the Task Force is to strengthen these countries' ability to prevent and combat organized crime. This is to be done through close cooperation among the law enforcement agencies in each country, including police, customs and coast/border guard, and immigration authorities. The focus of the Task Force is the illegal trafficking in drugs, stolen vehicles, arms and radioactive material, high-taxed goods, and human beings; the forgery of money and securities; money laundering; and violent crimes. Existing structures of cooperation in the region form the framework for the work of the Task Force. The work of the Task Force has been divided into four main categories: improved and increased exchange of information; joint concrete and operative measures/actions; judicial cooperation; and special surveys, training, and other cooperation. Work done to date under these various task categories is described, and evaluation results are reported. It is expected that the Task Force work will continue at least until the end of 2004 and report directly to the heads of state every second year.