Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs


The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs is an agency that reports to the Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights within the Department of State. Under the umbrella of its general mission of developing policies and programs to combat international narcotics and crime, INL plays an important role in the training of partner nation security forces.
INL programs support two of the Department of State's strategic goals: to reduce the entry of illegal drugs into the United States; and to minimize the impact of international crime on the United States and its citizens. Counternarcotics and anticrime programs also complement counterterrorism efforts, both directly and indirectly, by promoting modernization of and supporting operations by foreign criminal justice systems and law enforcement agencies charged with the counter-terrorism mission. The head of the bureau is the Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, who is currently Kirsten D Madison.
The bureau manages the Department of State's Narcotics Rewards Program in close coordination with the Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other interested U.S. agencies.
INL is not a law enforcement organization but it specializes in managing large law enforcement training programs, e.g. in Afghanistan, Colombia, and Iraq.