Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs

The Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) advises the President, Secretary of State, other bureaus in the Department of State, and other departments and agencies within the U.S. Government on the development of policies and programs to combat international narcotics and crime. The bureau is headed by Assistant Secretary Robert B. Charles under the direction of the Under Secretary for Global Affairs.

INL programs support two of the Department's strategic goals: (1) to reduce the entry of illegal drugs into the United States; and (2) to minimize the impact of international crime on the United States and its citizens.

Counternarcotics and anticrime programs also complement the war on terrorism, 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.

INL was highlighted as the Bureau of the Month in the December 1999 and May 1997 issues of State magazine. These articles describe the history of the bureau and the wide range of international drug and crime issues that INL addresses on a daily basis.