A continuing intrinsic investigation and analysis of organized criminal activity allows for more far reaching control of a crime war that follows a comprehensive and multi-national one-way transit route north and into the United States.

How must these nations combat the high levels of organized crime, institutional corruption, drug cartel activity, and massive violence and death?

Identifying the most pressing problem is the common denominator, albeit many additional sinister tentacles radiate like an earthquake from this most crucial issue.  The issue is not drugs themselves or other criminal contraband.  The US and Latin America have been obsessed with seizure of commodity for far too long as the main priority. Much of that is due to the immediate impact - it is exciting, visible, and appeases some that feel they are getting something for their money invested in a so-called drug war.

Success in this war against organized crime in this hemisphere should not be judged or measured by the number of narcotics' seizures, but by primarily targeting those who profit in massive and handsome abundance.

In the US alone, Mexican drug trafficking organizations have easily infiltrated major cities nationwide using additional violent gangs as proxies to perform for them.  The huge amounts of cash flows back, out of the country, to the higher level benefactors that pay off police, military, border officials, and other government officials as the traditional right-of-passage to operate on such a high level with such relentless impunity.

Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom recently said it best as he told reporters that drug gangs were "invading" Central America to move contraband from South America, through Central America, and into the US.  Too, he stated, "These individuals were not just preparing to confront our security forces; they were preparing to take control of the country."

Conspiracy laws sighting all of the participants with a euphemistic bull's eye on their backs was the most proactive and strategic instrument ever designed to hunt organized criminals.  These laws allow for the holding of all players culpable at all levels, regardless if they know of each other's existence; or whether or not they see or touch the contraband.

Conspiracy laws are not isolated from power, wealth, or respectability, and in fact they can and do target businessmen, politicians, and diplomats.  Los Zetas, in Guatemala alone, have been accused of rampant attempts to payoff political candidates; kidnapping and extortion; and plain torture and murder.  It has been reported that in 2010 57.7 percent of the country's murders occurred in and around Guatemala City.

Mexico like Guatemala is faced with much more than simply contraband seizures, but too with creating and sustaining responsive, capable, and durable law enforcement institutions for the long haul.  This obviously is no easy goal against a superiorly trained enemy with billions of dollars in profits and sophisticated armaments to protect it.

A more comprehensive strategy that coordinates the efforts of several U.S. federal agencies at various levels is a key ingredient that is capable of waging war with superior intelligence gathering (a major component against organized crime) for interdiction participants.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon, who has to continually defend his rationale for the use of the military in this war to take back the nation from organized crime, realized wisely that the use of the military for much of the internal security of Mexico was critical to match or surpass the firepower and expertise by this paramilitary-style of insurgents.

The US is quickly realizing the potential need in the same manner for its southern border.

Calderon's frustrations have been echoed by those sheepishly suggesting an explicit truce with the gangs as a practical way to make criminal groups more defensive and less violent, and thus create a safer Mexico.  Calderon even somewhat sarcastically threatened to seek the legalization of drugs without more help from the US.

With what seems like a Mission Impossible answer for the short or long term, wise government officials know that this has escalated far beyond drugs.  The mass murders of migrants, tortured and killed and thrown into pits; human and sex trafficking; and rampant kidnapping for ransom and extortion are exciting alternatives for organized criminals.  After all, it is about them and their quest for the big payoff.  And they must also pay off to stay in this blood generating business.

**Jerry Brewer is C.E.O. of Criminal Justice International Associates, a global threat mitigation firm headquartered in northern Virginia.  His website is located at http://www.cjiausa.org/.