Terrorism has always been linked with other forms of crime. But the most notable link is the one between terrorism and guerilla organizations and illicit drug trafficking. There are various examples that support this. Take the case of Colombia where cocaine drug lord Pablo Escobar joined hands with The National Liberation Army or the ELN guerillas to execute series of car bombs in 1993. The Basque ETA has been linked with a Spanish terrorist organization and a Columbian drug cartel for a bomb explosion in front of the Department of Administrative Security in Bogota. This proves that there is a link between drug traffickers and terrorist organizations.

Why terrorist organizations are helping organized crimes? The link between drug traffickers and terrorist organizations take many forms ranging from facilitation to transportation and even taxation. The one similar need that drug traffickers and terror groups have is money. The terrorist organizations help the traffickers and also get help from them financially.

The relationship between drug traffickers and terrorists is a form of symbiosis. Terrorists gain a source of revenue through illicit transfer of drugs and laundering of proceeds from illegal transactions; whereas drug traffickers get access to supply of weapons, military skills and many other organizations to further their so-called business. Both groups rely on informal money transfer systems. There are various methods where drug traffickers move and launder money for financing terrorist activities. Drug traffickers take advantage of poorly regulated banking structure of some countries by transferring money to terrorist organizations through online transfers. This is quite easy for them as there is no disclosure of owners. Moreover, bulk cash smuggling methods and informal systems are some other ways to efficiently transfer money from drug traffickers to terror groups.