Countering Foreign Terrorist Organization Use of Illicit Mining

The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Counterterrorism (CT) is seeking proposals for an initiative that will address the exploitation of illicit mining by violent Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs). The goal of this program is to disrupt FTO activities by countering illicit mining operations, with a focus on the Western Hemisphere. The program will support investigatory mentorship, multi-disciplinary approaches, and technology solutions to improve supply chain traceability and identify irregular trade patterns linked to illegal mining. • The program will address the relationship and involvement of FTOs and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) in illicit mining. • The program will enhance the ability of law enforcement to identify, detect, and dismantle illegal mining operations. • The program will support evidence-gathering capabilities that can support prosecutions. • The program will incorporate strategies for cross-border coordination and regional harmonization of legal frameworks to prevent FTOs and TCOs from exploiting jurisdictional gaps.