ABSTRACT
Enhancing investigations: Going beyond the traditional Terrorist groups, regardless of their ideological ilk, geographic location, or organizational structure, have certain basic needs in common, such as funding, security, operatives/ support, propaganda, and means and/or appearance of force. In order to meet these needs, terrorists engage in a series of activities, some of which are legal and many of which are not. Terrorist precursor crimes, offenses committed to facilitate a particular attack or promote a terrorist campaign’s objectives, are thought to be often carried out far away from the primary theater of con¦ict associated with a terrorist group. Many of the precursor activities, especially regarding crimes conducted for the purpose of fundraising, take place in wealthy Western countries, including the United States. Precursor crimes, known or alleged or both, include various fraud schemes, petty crimes, identity and immigration crimes, counterfeiting of goods, narcotics trade, and illegal weapons procurement, among others.1
