The Intelligence Center for Counter-Terrorism and Organized Crime (Spanish:Centro de Inteligencia contra el Terrorismo y el Crimen Organizado,CITCO) is theSpanishdomestic intelligence agency responsible for the prevention ofterrorism,organized crime and other violent radical organizations by managing and analyzing all internal information of the country. It was formed in October 2014 by merging of the National Anti-Terrorism Coordination Center and Intelligence Center against Organized Crime.
The agency was created on October 15, 2014 by the Royal Decree 873/2014, of 10 October 2014, which modified the Royal Decree 400/2012, of 17 February 2014, by which the basic structure of theMinistry of the Interior was developed.[1] The agency resulted from the merged of two predecessor domestic intelligence agencies, theNational Anti-Terrorism Coordination Center (CNCA) and theIntelligence Center against Organized Crime (CICO) under theSecretariat of State for Security within theMinistry of the Interior.[further explanation needed] The purpose of the union was to optimize efforts and take advantage of economic resources of both agencies in the face of growing threats and the link between violentextremist,terrorist organizations andorganized crime.[2]
CITCO is responsible for the reception, integration and analysis of the strategic information available in the fight againstorganized crime,terrorism and violentradicalism, the design of specific strategies against these threats, and, where appropriate, the establishment of criteria for Action and operational coordination of the bodies acting in the cases of coincidence or concurrence in the investigations, and in particular:[3][4]
To receive, integrate and analyze information and operational analysis related to organized or especially serious crime, terrorism and violent radicalism that are relevant or necessary for the elaboration of strategic and prospectivecriminal intelligence in relation to these phenomena, both in its national and international projection, integrating and channeling to theState Security Forces and Corps all the operational information that it receives or captures.
To dictate, determine and establish, in the cases of joint or concurrent intervention, the coordination and action criteria of the operative units of the State Security Forces and Corps, and of those with other intervening agencies, according to their competencies support the intervention.
To prepare annual reports on the situation of organized crime, terrorism and violent radicalism inSpain, as well as a periodic assessment of the threat in these fields.
To develop and disseminate statistical information related to these matters and in particular todrug trafficking.
To propose national strategies against organized crime, terrorism and violent radicalism and update them on a permanent basis, coordinating and verifying their development and implementation.
To establish, within the scope of their powers, the corresponding relationships with other centers or similar units of theEuropean Union, theirMember States or third countries
Spain