Cartel and Organized Criminal Use of Artificial Intelligence (GEN AI)

C/O Futures Cartels & Narco-Terrorism Subject Bibliography

Kaden K. Bunker and Robert J. Bunker

August 2025

18 Pages

This subject bibliography, which contains resources published between 2013 and 2025 with an emphasis on newer works, explores the evolving intersection of artificial intelligence (AI), logistics, and autonomous systems as they relate to transnational criminal and narco-terrorist organizations, with a primary focus on Latin American cartels. Specifically, it examines how AI- driven tools—such as machine learning, geospatial analytics, and natural language processing— are being leveraged both by illicit networks to optimize trafficking routes and by law enforcement agencies to disrupt them. The latter can, in turn, be ‘blue teamed’ by illicit organizations for countermeasures development. The work focuses on extracting, analyzing, and organizing the academic literature alongside news reports to better understand how contemporary AI—typically, but not exclusively, generative artificial intelligence (GEN AI)—is being weaponized and/or operationally employed by organized criminal organizations and across illicit flows...

Cartel and Org Criminal AI Use CO Futures.pdf

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Dr. John P. Sullivan and Dr. Robert J. Bunker Provide Training at Safe Communities Institute (SCI), Sol Price USC

On 5 June 2025, Dr. John P. Sullivan and Dr. Robert J. Bunker provided 4 hours of training at the Safe Communities Institute (SCI), Sol Price School of Public Policy, University of Southern California. The training was delivered to the mid-level public safety managers attending the Spring 2025 Public Safety Leadership Certificate Program (PSLP). Per the program website:

"Public safety in the 21st century requires a holistic approach. Effective leadership and collaboration between public safety disciplines is essential to meet the complex challenges facing society today.

The Public Safety Leadership Certificate Program provides students with a solutions-centered approach to public safety by adopting a multidisciplinary and 'whole-of-community' methodology." https://sci.usc.edu/courses-programs/public-safety-leadership-certificate-program-usc/

Dr. Sullivan and Dr. Bunker provided training related to drug cartels, gangs, criminal insurgency, and the use of weaponry and technologies utilized by criminal armed groups. A component of the training also focused on active shooters and their use of symbology on their weaponry and gear. Their training falls within the Global Threats and Technology themes of the PSLP course modules.

Dr. John P. Sullivan and Dr. Robert J. Bunker Provide Training at the Safe Communities Institute at the University of Southern California

On 5 December 2024, Dr. John P. Sullivan and Dr. Robert J. Bunker provided a 3 hour training block on Gangs and Cartels, Criminal Insurgency, Narco Spirituality (Narco Cults), and Cartel Weaponry. Additionally, a 1 hour training block on Active Shooter Symbology-Text Narratives Inscribed on Weaponry & Gear was delivered.

The training was provided in support of the Safe Communities Institute (SCI) Fall 2024 Public Safety Leadership Program taking place at the Sol Price School of Public Policy, University of Southern California. Students attending included personnel from the Rialto Police Department, Torrance Police Department, Los Angeles Police Department, El Monte Police Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Orange County Sheriff's Department, Port of Long Beach, and Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Dr. John P. Sullivan (LASD, Ret.) Speaking on Mexican Cartels and Gangs