NCJ Number
132213
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 60 Issue: 9 Dated: (September 1991) Pages: 10-14
Date Published
1991
Length
5 pages
Annotation
A major investigative responsibility of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) involves foreign counterintelligence (FCI), and this mission is accomplished with the assistance of State and local law enforcement agencies.
Abstract
The FCI mission of the FBI is to collect, analyze, and use information to identify and neutralize the activities of foreign powers and their agents that adversely affect national security. The FBI also conducts and/or supervises espionage investigations in U.S. diplomatic establishments abroad and investigates worldwide espionage activity directed against the United States that involves nonmilitary U.S. citizens. Since FCI investigations are usually classified, little information is ever disseminated to the public. Nonetheless, between 1976 and 1990, there were 67 successful espionage prosecutions in the United States. In addition to arrests and prosecutions, the FBI attempts to identify those involved in espionage activities and to stop them before they pass classified or sensitive information. Every FBI field office has designated personnel whose primary investigative responsibility is FCI. Law enforcement personnel at State and local levels are urged to be aware of vehicles registered to foreign embassies, consulates, and United Nations missions. In addition, Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies are being sought to provide crime fighting assistance to Eastern European and Soviet counterparts. The FBI has expanded its FCI awareness education program for defense contractors to include U.S. law enforcement agencies involved in exchange programs with other countries. 5 footnotes and 1 illustration