ON THE SOUTHWEST BORDER The Importance of Intelligence

09/29/10

It’s just before 9:30 a.m., and people are gathering in a large operations room at the El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC) for the daily morning briefing. Soon, eyes are drawn to the maps and monitors around the room as representatives from a variety of federal and state agencies provide their most current information on crime and law enforcement activities along the Southwest border.

EPIC provides 24/7 tactical intelligence to law enforcement around the world through watch operations, analytical support, and access to a variety of state and federal databases. Led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, it is also the nerve center for intelligence efforts on the Southwest border—and home base for the FBI’s Southwest Intelligence Group (SWIG).

About This Series


FBI.gov recently visited the Southwest border region for a firsthand look at what the Bureau and its law enforcement partners are doing there to combat crime.

Part I: Border Crime | Gallery | Video
Part II: Public Corruption | Video
Part III: Violence Too Close to Home
Part IV: Forging Ties in Tijuana | Video
Part V: A Drug Buy in El Paso
Part VI: Going After the Major Players
Part VII: The Gang Threat

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Video: Our Role on Border
Graphic: By the Numbers

“EPIC is a valuable asset in the fight against the cartels,â€